ESM ‘undecided’ on standing in GE, reveals likely GRC slate

SINGAPORE —  A week after the Workers’ Party (WP) declared its intention to contest the Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC), the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) likely line-up to defend its turf was made known today (Aug 4). 

This makes Marine Parade the first GRC where the PAP slate could be settled for the coming General Election (GE), although a question mark still hangs over whether Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong — a Marine Parade Member of Parliament (MP) since 1976, when he first entered politics — will stand for elections. 

Writing on Facebook, Mr Goh, 74, left the door open for speculation. He said he will announce his decision at Marine Parade’s National Day dinner on Aug 14. 

“A few friends have suggested that I retire as I have done enough for the country. But Marine Parade residents and many others urge me to stay on. They say the country and Marine Parade still need me. Well, I will explain my decision at our (National Day) dinner ... Wish me wisdom,” he wrote.

Political analysts said Mr Goh’s decision would be too close to call, and it could swing either way. They were also divided on whether he should stay and help the ruling party win the Marine Parade GRC, and with its campaign as a whole.

National University of Singapore (NUS) sociologist Tan Ern Ser said Mr Goh, who was Singapore’s second Prime Minister, is well respected and has a strong following on the ground. 

However, NUS political scientist Bilveer Singh said that Mr Goh had served for an “exceptionally long” period, and the PAP would be sending a wrong signal on the pace of leadership renewal if he stays on.

“It will be good (for Mr Goh) to assist the party and nation from outside, and let new leaders run the show,” he said. 

Mr Goh posted on Facebook a picture of what he said was the likely PAP Marine Parade GRC team for the GE: Apart from himself, the picture had three fellow Marine Parade GRC MPs — Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin, Dr Fatimah Lateef and Mr Seah Kian Peng — and Mr Edwin Tong, who was tipped to move to the GRC from Moulmein-Kallang GRC, which will cease to exist under the new electoral boundaries. 

Mr Tong is likely to replace incumbent Marine Parade GRC MP Tin Pei Ling, who is expected to stand in the newly carved-out MacPherson single-seat ward. 

Mr Goh said he had requested for Mr Tong to be redeployed to Marine Parade “to be tested” in Joo Chiat — a single-seat ward in the 2011 GE that has been absorbed into Marine Parade GRC for the coming GE. 

Assuming that Mr Goh contests, the PAP’s likely line-up in Marine Parade GRC would be “strong” and “tried and tested” given the absence of new faces, said the analysts. 

Associate Professor Eugene Tan from the Singapore Management University (SMU) noted that the make-up of the relatively experienced slate was a departure from previous GEs, where Marine Parade GRC was seen as a “very safe” constituency for the PAP. 

“The PAP takes every contest seriously, but even more so when it is up against the WP,” he said. 

In the 2011 GE, the PAP won 56.6 per cent of the vote in Marine Parade GRC, against the National Solidarity Party (NSP). The PAP’s winning margin was closer than analysts had expected. 

Mr Ng Eng Hen, the PAP’s organising secretary, said last week that the ruling party’s line-up of candidates across the 29 GRCs and Single Member Constituencies would be all but revealed prior to Nomination Day, when candidates officially confirm their candidacy for the GE. 

By unveiling its likely line-up in Marine Parade GRC — which could be the stage for a three-cornered fight, with the NSP retaining an interest in the constituency — the PAP may put pressure on the opposition parties to match the calibre of its slate, SMU’s Assoc Prof Tan said.

“If the Opposition is unable to match the PAP team, that puts the latter in a more favourable light even before the formal campaigning begins,” he said. NUS’ Dr Tan added: “It may influence one of the two opposition parties to decide not to stand in Marine Parade.”