‘Mix of freshness, experience’ in PAP’s West Coast line-up

SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) will retain the majority of its line-up for West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the coming General Election (GE), with the team continuing to be co-anchored by Cabinet veterans Lim Hng Kiang and Mr S Iswaran.

The ruling party’s team for the GRC, which was downsized from five to four members by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, will also feature Ms Foo Mee Har and Mr Patrick Tay. 

Mr Tay, currently Member of Parliament (MP) for Nee Soon GRC, is the new member of the West Coast slate and will take over the Boon Lay division from Mr Lawrence Wong, who is moving to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. Mr Arthur Fong — whose Clementi division in the existing West Coast GRC has been merged with Jurong GRC — is retiring from politics.

The PAP announced its candidates for West Coast GRC and the Pioneer single-member seat at Boon Lay Place Food Village this morning (Aug 16). Pioneer incumbent Cedric Foo will be defending his seat in the coming
elections. 

Asked about the absence of political new faces to the West Coast team, Mr Lim, who is Trade and Industry Minister, pointed out that Mr Lawrence Wong was introduced at the last GE in 2011. “This renewal of leadership, as explained by (Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong), will take place over a couple of GEs. Because every GE, (the) PM is able to bring in four to six office-holders and to rebuild the team, he needs a period of time to do so,” he said.

The West Coast slate has a mix of experience and freshness, said Mr Lim, adding that they have over 50 years’ total experience as MPs.

There had been speculation that Mr Lim could step down in the coming elections, but Mr Iswaran said the team is happy that Mr Lim is staying on. Mr Iswaran, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry, said their backgrounds are well-matched to serve the interests of their residents.

Mr Tay said he aimed to ensure residents, especially the needy, continue to receive help. Western Singapore, which has factories and shipyards, is “not unfamiliar” to the unionist as he serviced the Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Employees’ Union in the past, he said. The team also shared plans for their constituencies. Mr Foo said groundbreaking for a new market and hawker centre in Pioneer will take place soon, and he is working with Frontier and Jurong West primary schools to set up student care centres. 

Ms Foo said the Ayer Rajah division is being systematically rejuvenated. Flats have been upgraded and there will be a new community club at the end of the year with a gym featuring equipment suited to the elderly, she said. New bus services have also improved connectivity to the estate.

Asked if challenging economic conditions would have any impact on ground sentiments, Mr Lim said Singapore is in a restructuring phase, and has to work in a more difficult global environment and with tighter domestic-resource constraints. But it is determined to succeed, he said. 

Mr Iswaran added that help is being given to businesses and workers to ensure they have skills to tap the opportunities available.

The PAP is likely to come up against the Reform Party in West Coast, while the National Solidarity Party is likely to contest in Pioneer.