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Ng Chee Meng Joins Teo Chee Hean In Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

The People’s Action Party (PAP) has introduced two new faces in the six-member Pasir Ris-Punggol team for the coming election.

They are former defence chief Ng Chee Meng, 47, and Temasek Holdings investment director Sun Xueling, 36, also known as Soon Sher Rene.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean announced the line-up at the PAP Punggol North Branch at Edgedale Plains on Saturday morning.

The others on the slate are Mr Teo, Minister of State and Mayor Teo Ser Luck, Mr Zainal Sapari, and Dr Janil Puthucheary.

Ms Penny Low, 48, announced that she was stepping down after three terms as MP in the GRC.

Current Pasir Ris-Punggol MP Gan Thiam Poh, 51, has joined the Ang Mo Kio team after his Punggol South ward was absorbed into the GRC in the recent boundary changes.

Mr Ng retired from the Singapore Armed Forces on Aug 18, and is seen as a potential office-holder.

The three-star general is the highest-ranking Singapore Armed Forces officer to join the PAP to date.

Ms Sun started helping out at grassroots events in Buona Vista in 2001 before she joined Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

In the 2011 election, the PAP team fielded in Pasir Ris-Punggol polled 64.8 per cent against a Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) team.

The SDA has said it will be contesting there again in the coming election.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 22, 2015
SDP Asking Elections Department To Clarify Rules For Coming GE

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has written to the Elections Department seeking clarification on several elections rules, especially those on the use of promotional material and access to counting centres .

The letter from SDP chairman Jeffrey George, which was released to media on Friday, said the party was seeking “clear, concise and written rules that will be practised by all Returning Officers”. The letter goes on to outline incidents in previous elections where the party said there was confusion over procedures its polling agents and counting agents were required to follow.

“In short, the multiple standards of operations by the Elections Officials at the various Polling and the Counting centres resulted in us not being able to fully utilise our resources and ground supporters/ volunteers,” wrote Mr George.

The SDP is also asking if it can play party music during campaign rallies and also if it can have a decorated campaign bus.

“We have the intention to advertise via bus wrapping advertisement on a Private Hire Bus for the nine days of electoral campaigning starting from Nomination Day for the upcoming General Election,” said the letter.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

August 22, 2015
PAP’s Tampines GRC Team Unveiled

The People’s Action Parts (PAP) today (Aug 22) announced its slate of candidates for Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC). New face Ms Cheng Li Hui will join the five-member GRC team, along with NTUC deputy director Desmond Choo who previously contested the Hougang Single Member Constituency (SMC) during the 2011 General Election and the 2012 by-election.

Ms Cheng, who is the deputy chief executive of Hai Leck Holdings, has been Councillor in the Northwest CDC since 2004. She is also the Vice-Chairperson of the Tampines East Citizens’ Consultative Committee and the Tampines East Community Club Management Committee.

It was earlier announced that the two current Members of Parliament (MPs) for Tampines, former National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan and Ms Irene Ng will be leaving politics

The other PAP candidates to contest in Tampines GRC are Education Minister Heng Swee Keat, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Mr Masagos Zulkifli and Mr Baey Yam Keng.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 22, 2015
Tin Pei Ling Confirms Candidacy For Macpherson SMC

Fresh from giving birth earlier this month, Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency Tin Pei Ling confirmed today (Aug 21) that she is the People’s Action Party (PAP) candidate for the newly created MacPherson SMC.

Holding a press conference today at PAP MacPherson Branch just two weeks after she had a baby boy, the first-term MP chose to surround herself with grassroots volunteers as a show of appreciation and said she and her team have been here “from day one, dedicating our time and energy” to serve residents.

She said that they have rolled out various programmes to help vulnerable families and the elderly, upgrading projects and social initiatives over the past four years. “My team and I have delivered more than what we have promised,” she said, adding that they hope to do more.

She also thanked residents for their support, adding that she has developed emotional attachments to them and hopes to continue helping them and being their voice in Parliament.

Ms Tin’s MacPherson ward was carved out of Marine Parade GRC during recent electoral boundary changes.

In the 2011 election, Ms Tin, who was the PAP’s youngest candidate at age 27, was the subject of harsh criticism, with many questioning her maturity and capabilities.

After the GRC won 56.6 per cent of votes, the party’s second-lowest winning percentage in a group representation constituency, Ms Tin quit her job at Ernst & Young to become a full-time MP. She currently sits on the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law.

Asked about MacPherson SMC heading for a three-cornered fight after the National Solidarity Party made a U-turn over its decision not to contest the single seat to make way for the Workers’ Party, Ms Tin said her main motivation is to serve the residents. Her team is observing the happenings and will “prepare accordingly”, no matter which opposition party comes forward to contest the constituency, she said.

As for the negative publicity she had attracted previously, Ms Tin acknowledged her “rocky and painful start” but said she pressed on because of the desire to help others and make a difference. When she hears her residents’ issues, what she has endured back then “pales in comparison”.

If she is able to help someone and make an impact, it would have been worth it, she added.

Source: www.todayonline.com

August 22, 2015
Teo Ho Pin To Defend Bukit Panjang SMC For PAP

The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Teo Ho Pin will defend his Bukit Panjang seat in the coming General Election (GE).

Dr Teo, 55, was first elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in 1997. He then served as MP for the former Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC from 2001 to 2006, before taking charge of the Bukit Panjang Single Member Constituency (SMC) from 2006.

Dr Teo is also the Mayor of the North West District and a Deputy Government Whip. Prior to entering politics, he was a lecturer at the National University of Singapore from 1985 to 1999.

(Photo: Lam Shushan)

At the last GE in 2011, Dr Teo defeated Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) candidate Alec Tok with 66.27 per cent of the vote. This time, the SDP has declared it will contest the Bukit Panjang seat once again.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

August 22, 2015