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he is sleeping
after election
dont know how to do his job
now election around the corner
he is 'motivated' to work...
Exciting changes for Bedok, promises Jaya
New five-year plan for East Coast GRC to be unveiled next month
By Teo Wan Gek
NEXT month will see East Coast GRC unveiling a new five-year plan to further improve the division, which has already been given a $500 million upgrade since the 2006 General Election.
The impending upbeat news was announced yesterday by Senior Minister S. Jayakumar who, however, declined to lift the veil even slightly.
But he vowed that it will 'include exciting improvements and changes to Bedok estate', the ward where he was elected MP exactly 30 years ago yesterday, an anniversary his grassroots leaders and residents celebrated with a toast and video montage last night.
Later, on the sidelines of the event, the 71-year-old veteran politician spoke on whether he would stand in the next general election (GE), which is expected to be held in the first six months of next year.
Professor Jayakumar told The Straits Times, in response to the question: 'If PM and the party leadership request that I stand again at the next GE, I would consider it my duty to continue serving the people.
'However, I will have no qualms about stepping down because I know that East Coast will be in good hands and there will always be a strong team to continue to serve the GRC.'
The GRC, with five wards, was formed before the 1997 GE, with Prof Jayakumar as its team leader.
These five-year plans are part of the Government's master plan launched about a decade ago to transform ageing housing estates.
Constituencies held by the ruling People's Action Party have traditionally chosen to announce them in the months before a general election.
The East Coast GRC did so six months before the election in May 2006.
The Bedok ward has come a long way.
Recalling its early years, Prof Jayakumar said people were not keen to move there, viewing it as being 'in the ulus'.
'There were also all sorts of ghost stories as excavations had turned up the bodies of many killed by the Japanese during the Japanese Occupation,' he added.
But the 1970s scenes of coconut plantations and fishing kelongs off the coast have since morphed into a picture of a bustling town attracting many who want an HDB flat there.
Prof Jayakumar attributed it to the constant upgrading and rejuvenation of the estate, where nearly all flats in Bedok have been upgraded, including having a lift that stops on every floor.
Also, the town centre has been transformed, with markets and shops upgraded, he added.
Reflecting on the past five years and his team's estate renewal plan, he said: 'We have delivered on our promise.'
The achievement was among a list of significant milestones featured in a video montage that took Prof Jayakumar, his grassroots leaders and residents on a walk down memory lane last night.
Said the vice-chairman of the Citizens' Consultative Committee of Bedok ward, Mr Lim Joo Kwan, 66: 'This is to remember his contributions and dedicated service. He deserves a pat on the back.'
after election
dont know how to do his job
now election around the corner
he is 'motivated' to work...
Exciting changes for Bedok, promises Jaya
New five-year plan for East Coast GRC to be unveiled next month
By Teo Wan Gek
NEXT month will see East Coast GRC unveiling a new five-year plan to further improve the division, which has already been given a $500 million upgrade since the 2006 General Election.
The impending upbeat news was announced yesterday by Senior Minister S. Jayakumar who, however, declined to lift the veil even slightly.
But he vowed that it will 'include exciting improvements and changes to Bedok estate', the ward where he was elected MP exactly 30 years ago yesterday, an anniversary his grassroots leaders and residents celebrated with a toast and video montage last night.
Later, on the sidelines of the event, the 71-year-old veteran politician spoke on whether he would stand in the next general election (GE), which is expected to be held in the first six months of next year.
Professor Jayakumar told The Straits Times, in response to the question: 'If PM and the party leadership request that I stand again at the next GE, I would consider it my duty to continue serving the people.
'However, I will have no qualms about stepping down because I know that East Coast will be in good hands and there will always be a strong team to continue to serve the GRC.'
The GRC, with five wards, was formed before the 1997 GE, with Prof Jayakumar as its team leader.
These five-year plans are part of the Government's master plan launched about a decade ago to transform ageing housing estates.
Constituencies held by the ruling People's Action Party have traditionally chosen to announce them in the months before a general election.
The East Coast GRC did so six months before the election in May 2006.
The Bedok ward has come a long way.
Recalling its early years, Prof Jayakumar said people were not keen to move there, viewing it as being 'in the ulus'.
'There were also all sorts of ghost stories as excavations had turned up the bodies of many killed by the Japanese during the Japanese Occupation,' he added.
But the 1970s scenes of coconut plantations and fishing kelongs off the coast have since morphed into a picture of a bustling town attracting many who want an HDB flat there.
Prof Jayakumar attributed it to the constant upgrading and rejuvenation of the estate, where nearly all flats in Bedok have been upgraded, including having a lift that stops on every floor.
Also, the town centre has been transformed, with markets and shops upgraded, he added.
Reflecting on the past five years and his team's estate renewal plan, he said: 'We have delivered on our promise.'
The achievement was among a list of significant milestones featured in a video montage that took Prof Jayakumar, his grassroots leaders and residents on a walk down memory lane last night.
Said the vice-chairman of the Citizens' Consultative Committee of Bedok ward, Mr Lim Joo Kwan, 66: 'This is to remember his contributions and dedicated service. He deserves a pat on the back.'
