SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) Government will push ahead with its planned long-term national programmes, even though its candidate, Dr Koh Poh Koon, has been defeated in the Punggol East by-election.

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean gave this assurance last night and expressed hope that voters in the constituency will support the PAP at the next election.

Speaking at a news conference at the PAP Community Foundation kindergarten at Block 124A, Rivervale Drive, after the results of the by-election were announced, Mr Teo — who is the PAP’s First Assistant Secretary-General — noted that former Speaker of Parliament Michael Palmer’s resignation after an extramarital affair with an ex-employee of the People’s Association and local issues, such as stalled renovation work at Rivervale Plaza, had handicapped the party going into the contest.

“This is a by-election, and coming into the by-election, there were a number of circumstances which precipitated the by-election. And of course, there were also issues here, local issues, which we were aware of. So it was always going to be difficult,” Mr Teo said.

He added: “The Government will continue with our programmes for the long-term benefit of Singaporeans. There’s a lot of hard work ahead, because these are major programmes that we’re putting into place. For the voters of Punggol East, I think we are proud that we’ve been able to serve them and we hope that they will be able to support us the next time round.”

Noting that the campaign was “very intense”, Mr Teo, who described the stalled work at Rivervale Plaza, one of two shopping malls in the estate, as “an irritant to residents”, said that “it is very unfortunate that this has happened there”.

Plans to turn the mall into a fully air-conditioned building with a new facade and more shop space stalled when the original contractor went bust. A new contractor has been appointed and caretaker Member of Parliament Teo Ser Luck had promised that the project will be completed by June.

When polls closed last night, Dr Koh, 40, and party activists appeared to be in good spirits as they headed from the PAP’s Punggol East party branch to North Vista Secondary School, one of two counting centres.

He then visited the other counting centre at Rivervale Primary School but was seen shying away from the cameras before heading back to the party branch, where grassroots activists looked forlorn as they waited for the official results to be announced.

Dr Koh, who was touted to be a political office holder, said last night he would like to continue serving “where the party feels is appropriate and the best place for me going forward”.

Asked about his conversation with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong after the results were announced, Dr Koh said: “PM has said that he’s proud of what we’ve done here, and he would like us to continue to serve in the future in whatever capacity the party feels is appropriate for us.”

On the programmes put forward by Dr Koh during his campaign, such as expanding childcare centres and more feeder bus services in the estate, Mr Teo said: “Now that he is not the MP, then obviously he won’t have the same capability to carry out all those programmes.”