PAP MPs say changes are needed to their plans

SINGAPORE — People’s Action Party (PAP) Members of Parliament (MPs) TODAY spoke to largely took the boundary changes in stride, although some of them conceded they were caught off-guard and would have to adjust their plans.

MPs of Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency (GRC), for instance, did not expect the carving out of Yew Tee ward to form a new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.

“That was surprising,” said Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad, adding that he and his fellow MPs were still engaging in their usual chatter Thursday (July 23). They would now have to go back to the drawing board, he added.

He said while it was anticipated that “at least one” ward from the five-member GRC could be carved out as a single-seat ward, the expectation was that the change would be in the Nanyang area near Jurong West under MP Alvin Yeo.

Mr Alex Yam, who oversees the Yew Tee area, was equally surprised by the development, noting that the distance between parts of the two towns is a 20-minute drive away.

Mr Yam, who said he hopes to continue serving Yew Tee, added the work ahead is to ensure that delivery of services are uninterrupted and residents “feel nothing (has changed)”.

Jurong GRC MP David Ong, whose Bukit Batok constituency will now be an SMC, also said he did not expect the change. Adding that he will do his best if he was fielded in Bukit Batok, the first-time MP added: “We do expect the opposition to be more active” in a single-seat ward.

For Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Denise Phua, her Kampong Glam constituency is now under Jalan Besar GRC, which was last seen in the 2006 elections before the formation of Moulmein-Kallang GRC and Whampoa SMC in 2011.

“The profile of residents in the new Jalan Besar GRC divisions appears to be more similar, and there should be more synergy when serving them,” she said.

Like Ms Phua, fellow Moulmein-Kallang GRC MP Edwin Tong expressed hopes to continue serving the same group of residents.

The Moulmein area helmed by Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew was not included in the new four-member Jalan Besar GRC, and is now parked under Holland-Bukit Timah and Tanjong Pagar GRCs.

While noting that he does not exactly see the constituency changes coming, Mr Tong felt the new boundaries “rationalise (the) location better” where for instance, parts of Moulmein fits into the Holland-Bukit area better.

He added: “As far as for the change in name, Jalan Besar more accurately reflects the location and identity of the place”.

Whampoa SMC has also been absorbed into the new Jalan Besar GRC, and MP Heng Chee How said he will be integrating constituency plans with those forming the new GRC.

Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, who is the MP of the smallest single-member ward Potong Pasir, said he was glad the constituency was kept intact, even though there were expectations that it could be absorbed into a GRC given its size. Having wrested the seat from long-serving Opposition MP Chiam See Tong in the last GE in 2011, he hoped to contest in the constituency again.

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