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.
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.
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.
The recent news of National Solidarity Party’s (NSP) secretary general Hazel Poa resignation, together with her downcast facial expression, came to my sight as I flipped through my newspapers. It was a smart move by the mainstream media to use the situation to the People’s Action Party’s advantage.
Moving the focus past that, I was more curious about what initially made NSP gave up both areas when they could have fought for at least one, even if it meant a three-cornered fight.
And if NSP had taken up the initial offer by Workers’ Party (WP), it would not have even led to the sudden resignation by Ms Poa. However, I can empathize that it was most likely because NSP did not want to give up Marine Parade GRC which they had fought for in 2011 (with a close margin of 43%). WP could also have chosen to not contest in Marine Parade since they know it was NSP’s “territory”.
The outcome of this entangled mess was 1) Ms Poa’s resignation as she “strongly disagreed” with NSP’s decision to contest in MacPherson SMC and 2) NSP’s return to MacPherson SMC due to what they claim was support and appeal by the residents from the constituency. This would mean a three-party fight, which could result in the increase of PAP’s chance of winning.
To give a fair picture, WP did contest in Joo Chiat SMC in 2011 which they nearly won (49%), and the area has now been absorbed into Marine Parade. This was their stated reason for wanting to contest in Marine Parade GRC this year. Still, since NSP contested in Marine Parade in 2011 and WP is already contesting in so many other wards, why not give way to other parties who gave way to you before?
If WP had not stepped into Marine Parade, might NSP even do better this year than the 43% they received in Marine Parade GRC during GE2011?
What does all this show? WP may feel they can easily win Marine Parade GRC this year since NSP was on the verge of winning in 2011. “Since we are the most established opposition party and have prominent supporters, the smaller parties will most likely give way to us.” To give some insight, NSP had also similarly given up Moulmein-Kallang GRC to WP in 2011.
In a sense, WP was very smart when it stuck to their plans and played the waiting game, letting the action and drama play out in NSP, which affects only NSP’s image. Lesson 1: The one who strategise in the long-term, instead of making quick decisions rashly, only stands to win. Lesson 2: More power = more control over the playing field = less prominent parties will give way to us. Does this mean more parties will have to give way to WP in the future?
Another reason for the three-cornered fight in MacPherson SMC could also be the opposition parties thinking they can win MacPherson because of Ms Tin Pei Ling’s presence. Yes, Ms Tin Pei Ling may have faced negative backlash 4 years back, but it seems her image has matured, and she has become more level-headed.
Furthermore, she had just given birth during the pre-election period – which could be an X-factor to draw in more voters, since she is a new mother; and is active even during this post-partum period, usually set aside as a resting period for a mother’s recovery.
Tin Pei Ling, husband and ESM Goh Chok Tong (image – ESM’s Facebook page)
“We have five years. If after five years, Tin Pei Ling remains what she is, then of course, she would still be a factor at the next election. But at this stage, looking at her action, in three years time, she would be a different Tin Pei Ling.” It seems like what Mr Goh Chok Tong said in 2011 did come true, and Ms Tin Pei Ling did persevere to stay on in the political scene. Let’s see if her effort will pay off and if she can prove her worth in September.
And lastly, the burning question: Is thereopposition unity in Singapore? No doubt, we saw separate parties contesting when they could have a higher chance of winning by combining forces. However, the opposition parties’ meeting and the fact that most parties gave way to each other to prevent three-cornered fights do show the mutual respect and amity they have for each other.
The People’s Action Party announced today (Aug 21) that first-term Members of Parliament Alex Yam and Ong Teng Koon will be contesting in new Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency, alongside team co-anchors Lawrence Wong and Mdm Halimah Yacob.
Mr Yam’s ward was carved out from Chua Chu Kang GRC into Marsiling-Yew Tee in the recent electoral boundaries review exercise, as was Mr Ong’s Woodgrove ward from Sembawang GRC.
Earlier last week, Mr Wong, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, announced that he would co-anchor the team with three-term MP Halimah Yacob, who will be moving to Marsiling-Yew Tee from Jurong GRC.
Mr Wong also said the division of boundaries and finding a place for him to operate within the entire GRC may be sorted out after the election. Mr Wong himself will be new to the constituency, having moved over from West Coast GRC.
Mr Yam and Mr Ong are expected to continue helming their respective wards while Mdm Halimah is expected to take over Marsiling from Mr Hawazi Daipi, who is retiring from politics.
At a press conference held at a void deck in Marsiling to confirm the PAP’s slate of candidates, Mr Wong said his team, with two incumbent MPs and two new MPs, brings together continuity and change, and youth and experience.
Ahead of the PAP press conference, the candidates mingled with residents and served up food as musicians entertained the crowd that had gathered at the void deck of Blk 3, Marsiling Drive.
