3 remaining Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC MPs to build on Halimah’s good work

SINGAPORE — The three remaining Members of Parliament in Marsiling-Yew Tee Group Representation Constituency will build on Madam Halimah Yacob’s “good work” and ensure the programmes and services in her ward run smoothly, Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong assured residents yesterday.

With Mdm Halimah stepping down as Speaker of Parliament and MP to run in the Presidential Election next month, the GRC slate will now comprise Mr Wong, Mr Alex Yam and Mr Ong Teng Koon.

Speaking to reporters after Mdm Halimah declared her intention to contest, Mr Wong said: “I will be spending more time in Marsiling and I look forward to seeing the residents here in future.”

Waving aside suggestions of a heavier workload for the remaining MPs, he said: “This is not new. If there is a person in the GRC who has stepped down, or who is ill, or something prevents him from doing his work, then the others cover. We’ve done it before in other GRCs and we’ll do it here in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.”

He added that there was no timeline to bring in a new adviser, a move Mdm Halimah will suggest to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in her letter of resignation to be submitted today.

Mdm Halimah was an MP for Jurong GRC for 14 years before she moved to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the 2015 General Election.

Mr Wong praised her for introducing many new programmes and services in Marsiling over the past two years, including estate upgrading and support for needy residents.

The other two remaining MPs also paid tribute to her contributions. Mr Ong said they would leverage on the strong foundation of activists that Mdm Halimah has left behind. “We stand ready to go the extra mile to make sure that the residents of Marsiling are taken care of,” he added.

Mr Yam said that he saw Mdm Halimah as a mentor, having worked with her in the unions, as well as in the GRC, and there was “no better person” to run for president. He added that the GRC was confident of sharing the workload, and they would split the duties “three ways first”.

“Then when someone else comes on board, we can also divide the work a little bit more equally,” said Mr Yam.

Asked whether the new adviser could be former potential Aljunied GRC candidate Kahar Hassan, who has been spotted volunteering with Mdm Halimah, Mr Yam would say only that Mr Kahar is a volunteer.

Mdm Halimah’s other colleagues in the People’s Action Party also gave their take on her candidacy.

Speaking to reporters ahead of the official opening of Our Tampines Hub, Environment and Water Resources Minister and Tampines GRC MP Masagos Zulkifli said: “This is the first time that our Presidential Election is reserved for Malay (candidates) and I’m glad that Malay candidates are coming forward. And whether it’s Mdm Halimah, our good friend, (or) whoever, if they qualify, I’m happy that there’ll be a Malay president that we’ll all be proud of.”

Fellow Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo noted Mdm Halimah’s deep connection with workers, adding that she was popular especially among the rank-and-file. “We’ll always hope that whichever president that we have would be someone who can empathise with workers and help to bridge workers from different walks of life,” said Mr Choo, who is the National Trades Union Congress’ industry transformation and productivity director.