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Lawrence Wong hits the ground at Marsiling-Yew Tee

SINGAPORE — Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong paid his first visit to the Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) today (Aug 2), a day after announcing he would be moving over from West Coast GRC for the coming General Election.

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SINGAPORE — Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong paid his first visit to the Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency (GRC) today (Aug 2), a day after announcing he would be moving over from West Coast GRC for the coming General Election.

Accompanied by grassroots activists and Chua Chu Kang Member of Parliament (MP) Alex Yam, whose ward is under the new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Mr Wong met some temple chairmen in the area and visited a food court at Limbang Shopping Centre. Mr Yam told reporters that Mr Wong’s presence in Marsiling-Yew Tee would be welcomed by residents, and said the minister is “approachable and friendly”.

With Mr Wong contesting in Marsiling-Yew Tee and Mr Yam and Mr Ong Teng Koon, who takes care of the Woodgrove ward, indicating they would like to continue serving in their respective wards, a question remains about the minority candidate who will be fielded in the GRC.

There has been speculation that Senior Parliamentary Secretary and Sembawang MP Hawazi Daipi could be retiring and that Jurong MP Halimah Yacob has been cited as a potential candidate in the new GRC.

Asked about this, Mr Yam said Mr Hawazi has helped build support for the People’s Action Party in Marsiling, but also welcomed the prospect of Mdm Halimah joining. “If Mdm Halimah does come when Encik Hawazi indicates his retirement, then it’ll be good for the GRC as a whole,” he said. “But again, we’ve speculated wrongly before.”

Mr Yam added that this was ultimately the Prime Minister’s decision.

Members of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) and Mr Yam conducted house visits in Yew Tee today, with party activists gathering tens of metres from one another at a pavilion and a housing block. The SDP said it would be fielding vice-chairman and party veteran John Tan in the election, but did not confirm if he would contest in Marsiling-Yew Tee.

“I certainly will be a candidate for the SDP, but whether I’m going to be here or elsewhere, the party will still have to decide later on,” said Mr Tan, 54, a psychology lecturer.

Asked about the PAP’s Mr Wong contesting in Marsiling-Yew Tee, SDP secretary-general Chee Soon Juan said his party takes it as a compliment. “We feel PAP is taking us seriously as well. We’ve been working in this area, Marsiling, so we feel very positive about our campaign at this stage.” The SDP’s teams for various constituencies will be announced closer to the election, said Dr Chee.

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