A closer look at changes to the electoral boundaries of some key battlegrounds

SINGAPORE — The previous General Election (GE) in 2015 saw some key battles fought out at several constituencies.

Among these were Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC), East Coast GRC, Punggol East Single-Member Constituency (SMC), Fengshan SMC and Potong Pasir SMC.

For the coming GE, which must be held by April next year, all eyes will also be on West Coast GRC where former People’s Action Party (PAP) stalwart Tan Cheng Bock could lead a team from his newly-formed opposition party, Progress Singapore Party (PSP).

Here is how the boundaries of these constituencies have changed in the latest Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, released on Friday (Mar 13).

ALJUNIED GRC

The constituency is currently helmed by the Workers’ Party (WP). In the last GE held in 2015, WP won with 50.95 per cent of the vote, retaining the constituency which they first won from the PAP in GE2011 in a historic victory.

GE2015

• Number of MPs: 5

• Number of electors: 148,024

• Polling districts: Aljunied 01 to 50

• Result: WP won (50.95 per cent)

Next GE

• Number of MPs: 5

• Number of electors: 150,303

• Polling districts: Aljunied 01 to 51

What has changed: 

• Aljunied GRC now has 51 polling districts, up from 50. 

• There has been no change to the boundary of Aljunied GRC. The Elections Department said polling district Aljunied 51 was formed in 2017 by carving out a part of Aljunied 44 in view of the increased population in the area.

WEST COAST GRC

While West Coast GRC was not keenly contested in GE2015, the entry of Dr Tan into opposition politics might change the game.

Dr Tan served as the MP for the Ayer Rajah division, which is now under West Coast GRC, for 26 years. He stepped down as an MP before GE2006. Last year, he launched PSP which is expected to contest in several constituencies in the western part of the island. 

GE2015

• Number of MPs: 4

• Number of electors: 99,236

• Polling districts: West Coast 01 to 17, 28 to 36, 38 to 45

• Result: PAP won (78.57 per cent)

Next GE

• Number of MPs: 5

• Number of electors: 144,516

• Polling districts: West Coast 01 to 37, Chua Chu Kang 01 to 09 and 44, as well as Hong Kah North 01 to 04

What has changed:

• West Coast GRC has become a five-member GRC, up from four. 

• Some polling districts previously under Chua Chu Kang GRC and Hong Kah North SMC will be part of this GRC. 

• These areas include Jurong West Street 91, Jurong West Street 92, Jurong West Street 81, Jurong West Ave 5, Jurong West Street 75, as well as Jalan Bahar.

EAST COAST GRC, FENGSHAN SMC

In GE2015, both Fengshan SMC and East Coast GRC saw head-to-head battles between PAP and WP.

Fengshan SMC was a new constituency introduced in GE2015. PAP fielded new face Cheryl Chan, a senior executive in oil and gas, while her WP opponent was Mr Dennis Tan, a shipping law firm partner. Ms Chan won with 57.5 per cent of the vote.

Fengshan SMC was carved out of East Coast GRC following a tightly-fought contest in the latter during GE2011. Then, the PAP won East Coast GRC with 54.8 per cent of the vote — the lowest among the ruling party’s winning percentages in the GRCs.

But in GE2015, the PAP managed to widen the winning margin, clinching 60.7 per cent of the vote.

GE2015

• Number of MPs for East Coast GRC: 4

• Number of electors: 99,015

• Polling districts: East Coast 01 to 14, 18 to 24 and 30 to 40

• Result: PAP won (60.73 per cent)

• Number of MPs for Fengshan SMC: 1

• Number of electors: 23,404

• Polling districts: East Coast 15 to 17, 25 to 29

• Result: PAP won (57.52 per cent)

Next GE

• Fengshan SMC will be subsumed under East Coast GRC, which will now become a five-member GRC

• Number of electors: 120,339

• Polling districts: East Coast 01 to 32 and Fengshan 01 to 09

What has changed:

• Formerly a four-member GRC, East Coast GRC will now be a five-member GRC. 

• New polling districts — Fengshan 01 to 09 — have been created. 

• These include Bedok North Ave 4, Upper Bedok Road, parts of Upper Changi Road and Bedok North Road.

PUNGGOL EAST SMC 

Punggol East SMC was first won by WP via a by-election in 2013 after PAP MP Michael Palmer resigned due to an extra-marital affair. In 2015, PAP wrested the constituency back from WP’s Lee Li Lian who ended as the election’s “best loser”.

GE2015

• Number of MPs: 1

• Number of electors: 34,410

• Polling districts: Punggol East 01 to 12

• Results: PAP won (51.76 per cent)

Next GE

• Punggol East SMC will be subsumed under the newly-created Sengkang GRC. 

• Number of MPs in Sengkang GRC: 4

• Number of electors: 117,546

• Polling districts: Sengkang West 04 to 12, Pasir-Ris Punggol 61 to 78, Punggol East 01 to 12

What has changed:

Apart from Punggol East, Sengkang West SMC will also be incorporated into this new GRC. Parts of Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC, such as Rivervale Drive, Compassvale Street, Compassvale walk, will be moved to this GRC.

POTONG PASIR SMC

The former opposition stronghold — and smallest constituency — had been helmed by veteran opposition figure Chiam See Tong since 1984. But in GE2011, Mr Chiam left the constituency to lead a team to contest in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC where he eventually lost.

PAP’s Sitoh Yih Pin won the Potong Pasir seat in GE2011 against Mr Chiam’s wife, Lina, and managed to retain his seat with a wider margin in GE2015.

GE2015

• Number of MPs: 1

• Number of electors: 17,389

• Polling districts: Potong Pasir 01 to 05

• Result: PAP won (66.41 per cent)

Next GE

• Number of MPs: 1

• Number of electors: 18,551

• Polling district: Potong Pasir 02 to 05, Marine Parade 39 to 40

What has changed:

• Two new polling districts from Marine Parade — which include voters along Joo Seng Road and Bartley Road — will now be in Potong Pasir SMC. 

• Potong Pasir 01, a polling district which consists of Braddell Road and Lorong 8 Toa Payoh, will be moved to Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.