For the first time in 10 years, Joo Chiat is facing a contest for votes, with the People's Action Party up against an Independent candidate.

Joo Chiat, a new single-member constituency carved out of East Coast GRC, is home to 21,745 voters,

It consists mainly of private, low-rise homes, including some lovely Peranakan houses.

The opposition parties tend to shy away from such middle-class areas as they feel there is less chance of winning the voters over.

But this time, the PAP's Chan Soo Sen is facing off against Independent candidate Ooi Boon Ewe.

Mr Chan, who has been working the ground the last five years, says he is always ready for a contest and rates his chances as "very good."

"This is the first time we are contested so I have gone to some of the branches which have experience in contesting, for example Bukit Gombak. We have received quite a lot of useful tips from Bukit Gombak on how to run a good campaign," said Mr Chan, Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Minister for Health.

His opponent, Mr Ooi, is also warming up for the election race.

The athletic 60-year-old property executive tried to run for President in 1999 but failed to qualify.

He is pushing for a more transparent government.

"I'm a Peranakan and I know there are a lot of Peranakans in Katong and Joo Chiat district and I'm hoping the Peranakans will help me," Mr Ooi said.

"My chances would be, let's put it this way, from 15 to 55," he said.

For the Joo Chiat community, HDB upgrading is not a big issue as most live in private homes.

Instead, it is improvements to public facilities that matter to residents like Mrs Loo.

"This bus-stop, the bus service here, and some of the things like parking lots and all this. So we really got what we want," she said.

For another resident, it is the problem of crows nesting in trees in front of his home.

"We want a kind and helpful MP who listen to us and come and visit us every now and then, not once only during election," Edwin Leong said.

So the PAP's Mr Chan is promising residents that their voices will be heard by the government.

"They give their ideas and for the good ideas that they have, we send it to the government department and monitor the progress and we make sure the good ideas are implemented and realized," he said.