Jalan Besar GRC includes familiar, well established places like Whampoa and of course Jalan Besar itself.

But anyone comparing the plans of the competing political parties may also sense something else a little familiar.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance says the plan being put forward by the incumbent People's Action Party's is also its plan.

Five-seat Jalan Besar, in the south of Singapore, is the smallest among all the GRCs, with 100,268 voters.

Its name means "big road" in Malay and in this election, that road leads to five years in office.

It is a mature area, with many mature residents and residences.

That is why, besides job placement assistance, PAP candidate Heng Chee How and his team, led by Manpower Minister Lee Boon Yang, are promising more services for senior citizens, and upgrading of facilities.

They are also pushing for more upgrading of homes, like rental blocks.

In fact, the PAP team has a S$20 million redevelopment plan ready to be rolled out by the Town Council.

But the SDA is also laying claim to it.

"We want to get the $20 million plan out from the Jalan Besar Town Council -- they spend quite a lot of money getting a town planner architect to do the job. We're not going to waste it," SDA candidate Sin Kek Tong said.

"In short I should say their plan is our plan," said Mr Sin, a 55-year-old businessman.

But the PAP's Mr Heng said, "I'm not surprised that he does not have a plan, so far in the campaign, this was what exactly happened, absolutely no plans from the team from the SDA. Now they not only want to copy, they want to borrow wholesale."

"He talks about our plan involving professionals to draw it up, designers to draw it up -- that's absolutely right because we want to get the best for our residents, and he thinks that the way to save money is not to employ professionals," said Mr Heng, who is NTUC deputy secretary-general.

"I think that's a very important point that we should take note of, this man is saying that if he gets to be in charge of this area, you are not going to get professional services."

SDA's Mr Sin said, "I would say this is Jalan Besar Town Council's plan, it is not PAP's plan. You think the five PAP MPs drew out this plan?"

"When you elect a government and the government sets up that town council, the MP of the area runs the town council. For him to now come and say that the plans of the Jalan Besar Town Council can be just borrowed is laughable," said PAP's Mr Heng.

"He should know that, he belongs to the SDA. Mr Chiam See Tong, his mentor, runs the town council in Potong Pasir, that's why Potong Pasir is in the state that it is," he said, laughing.

Mr Sin is laughing too, but only because the PAP has labeled him a middleweight leading a team of flyweights.

"To the Senior Minister, I think I want to thank him because he give me the promotion, earlier on PM Goh Chok Tong said I'm a dwarf, so from a dwarf bypassing flyweight, lightweight and come to middleweight, I got a promotion!" the SDA candidate said.

The SDA team hopes public wisdom will deliver it victory, while the PAP team is banking on its strong ties with residents and its track record.

In the last election, it captured almost 68 percent of the vote.

"We will certainly work to match that and if possible to improve on that," PAP's Mr Heng said.