SINGAPORE: The Progress Singapore Party (PSP) will again face the People’s Action Party (PAP) in Chua Chu Kang GRC this General Election, but in a twist on Nomination Day, it will be Manpower Minister Tan See Leng who anchors the PAP's team.
The previous anchor minister Gan Kim Yong of the ward, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, shifted to the newly carved out Punggol GRC in a surprise move on Wednesday (Apr 23).
Candidates from both parties successfully filed their nomination papers at Jurong Pioneer Junior College.
The PAP’s team comprises Dr Tan, former Chua Chu Kang MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, and two new faces: former permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow and Dr Choo Pei Ling, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology.
"In as fierce an election as this, I think we have to be open to all possibilities," Dr Tan told reporters at an interview following the confirmation of his team's candidacy.
He was answering questions about his last-minute switch – Dr Tan had been widely expected to stand in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
"I'm glad that the PM and the senior Cabinet members think that I'm qualified enough to be redeployed here, because DPM Gan has very, very big shoes for me to fill."
He said he was near Kong Hwa School – the nomination centre for Marine-Parade Braddell Heights GRC – in the morning, before he was asked to replace Mr Gan in the Chua Chu Kang team.
Dr Tan added that Marine Parade-Braddell Heights residents will continue to hold a special place his heart. The GRC was declared a walkover for the PAP as no contenders appeared at the nomination centre on Wednesday.
"It is because of their unwavering support, their commitment, their guidance, their encouragement, that we have been able to achieve such a walkover result," he said.
Asked about the change in PAP's slate, Mr Pek said it was an "interesting switch" and that he spoke to Dr Tan about it earlier.
But residents know the PSP's Chua Chu Kang team and know what the party stands for, he said.
"So it's not really about who we are against, but what we are for, and I think the residents of Chua Chu Kang knows this," said Mr Pek.
Mr Nallkaruppan said what is more important is the issues facing residents.
"Singaporeans generally feel the cost of living is becoming unbearable, especially with the rise of GST from 7 per cent to 9 per cent," he said.
"More importantly, rather than the candidates, we want to focus on the issues that Singaporeans care about."
He highlighted job priority for Singaporeans as another issue to address.
For PAP's Dr Tan, he told reporters that he spent the half an hour journey travelling from Kong Hwa School to Jurong Pioneer Junior College reading up on initiatives that Mr Gan initiated. "He has actually set up a fantastic infrastructure and I believe that his grand halo will rub off on all of us here."
The minister then said he intends to participate in walkabouts to talk to as many residents as possible in the nine-day campaigning period, adding that he has medical connections with some clinics in the area.
Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling and Mr Don Wee, who were elected in 2020, are not in the team. Ms Low is standing in the new Bukit Gombak SMC, while Mr Wee will not be running for election.
PSP’s slate is made up of the party’s second vice-chairperson A’bas Kasmani, women’s wing head Wendy Low, treasurer S Nallakaruppan and newcomer Mr Lawrence Pek, who used to be secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation.
Mr A’bas and Ms Low ran for election in Tanjong Pagar GRC in 2020, while Mr Nallkaruppan was part of a PSP team in Nee Soon GRC that year. None of the PSP’s four candidates for Chua Chu Kang GRC from the previous election are in this year’s team.
Chua Chu Kang GRC underwent boundary changes in the latest electoral boundaries review. It now includes parts of Hong Kah North – including Tengah estates – and areas from Holland-Bukit Timah. The GRC has 93,368 voters.
PAP won 58.64 per cent of the vote in 2020.
Continue reading...
The previous anchor minister Gan Kim Yong of the ward, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, shifted to the newly carved out Punggol GRC in a surprise move on Wednesday (Apr 23).
Candidates from both parties successfully filed their nomination papers at Jurong Pioneer Junior College.
The PAP’s team comprises Dr Tan, former Chua Chu Kang MP Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim, and two new faces: former permanent secretary Jeffrey Siow and Dr Choo Pei Ling, an assistant professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology.
AN ELEVENTH-HOUR SWITCH
"In as fierce an election as this, I think we have to be open to all possibilities," Dr Tan told reporters at an interview following the confirmation of his team's candidacy.
He was answering questions about his last-minute switch – Dr Tan had been widely expected to stand in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
"I'm glad that the PM and the senior Cabinet members think that I'm qualified enough to be redeployed here, because DPM Gan has very, very big shoes for me to fill."
He said he was near Kong Hwa School – the nomination centre for Marine-Parade Braddell Heights GRC – in the morning, before he was asked to replace Mr Gan in the Chua Chu Kang team.
Dr Tan added that Marine Parade-Braddell Heights residents will continue to hold a special place his heart. The GRC was declared a walkover for the PAP as no contenders appeared at the nomination centre on Wednesday.
"It is because of their unwavering support, their commitment, their guidance, their encouragement, that we have been able to achieve such a walkover result," he said.
Asked about the change in PAP's slate, Mr Pek said it was an "interesting switch" and that he spoke to Dr Tan about it earlier.
But residents know the PSP's Chua Chu Kang team and know what the party stands for, he said.
"So it's not really about who we are against, but what we are for, and I think the residents of Chua Chu Kang knows this," said Mr Pek.
WHAT PEOPLE CARE ABOUT
Mr Nallkaruppan said what is more important is the issues facing residents.
"Singaporeans generally feel the cost of living is becoming unbearable, especially with the rise of GST from 7 per cent to 9 per cent," he said.
"More importantly, rather than the candidates, we want to focus on the issues that Singaporeans care about."
He highlighted job priority for Singaporeans as another issue to address.
For PAP's Dr Tan, he told reporters that he spent the half an hour journey travelling from Kong Hwa School to Jurong Pioneer Junior College reading up on initiatives that Mr Gan initiated. "He has actually set up a fantastic infrastructure and I believe that his grand halo will rub off on all of us here."
The minister then said he intends to participate in walkabouts to talk to as many residents as possible in the nine-day campaigning period, adding that he has medical connections with some clinics in the area.
Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling and Mr Don Wee, who were elected in 2020, are not in the team. Ms Low is standing in the new Bukit Gombak SMC, while Mr Wee will not be running for election.
PSP’s slate is made up of the party’s second vice-chairperson A’bas Kasmani, women’s wing head Wendy Low, treasurer S Nallakaruppan and newcomer Mr Lawrence Pek, who used to be secretary-general of the Singapore Manufacturing Federation.
Mr A’bas and Ms Low ran for election in Tanjong Pagar GRC in 2020, while Mr Nallkaruppan was part of a PSP team in Nee Soon GRC that year. None of the PSP’s four candidates for Chua Chu Kang GRC from the previous election are in this year’s team.
Chua Chu Kang GRC underwent boundary changes in the latest electoral boundaries review. It now includes parts of Hong Kah North – including Tengah estates – and areas from Holland-Bukit Timah. The GRC has 93,368 voters.
PAP won 58.64 per cent of the vote in 2020.
Continue reading...