Joo Chiat ‘natural fit’ for Marine Parade GRC

SINGAPORE — Joo Chiat is a “natural fit” for Marine Parade Group Representative Constituency (GRC), said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who is Member of Parliament at Marine Parade GRC.

Mr Goh was commenting on the changes to electoral boundaries for the next General Election, which will see Joo Chiat absorbed into Marine Parade GRC. In a post on the MParader Facebook page today (July 26), Mr Goh wrote: “Two precincts are already in. Good that JC is organically united again. Moreover, it being wholly private will complement the all HDB Marine Parade.” 

He added: “I cut my political teeth in 1976 in JC (Joo Chiat). I am emotionally attached to it. It is like having an elder brother return home.” 

Mr Goh also noted: “Whatever the boundary changes, however much the inconveniences, we take them in our stride. After all, voters are all Singaporeans. We will win their hearts and serve them.”

Bishan Toa-Payoh Member of Parliament Josephine Teo also weighed in on the electoral boundary changes yesterday, during a dengue outreach visit to Bishan North. 

Mrs Teo, who is Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance, gave the assurance that there would be smooth transition in services for residents of the dissolved Moulmein-Kallang GRC. Part of the ward will be absorbed by Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, while others would be part of the newly-constituted Jalan Besar GRC. 

“We look forward to welcoming this new group of residents who will come within the Bishan-Toa Payoh boundary,” she said. “We will find out more from the grassroots that have been helping the MP to take care of the residents over in these areas and then we will find the right opportunities to get to know them better, so that we can extend the same care, the same services to them.”