Possible contest in Marine Parade GRC: Having 'options' is good for residents: Tan Chuan-Jin
Left to right: Ms Tin Pei Ling and Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin meeting residents and stall holders at the Mcpherson Market and Food Centre. Photo: Jason Quah
SINGAPORE — A handful of opposition parties are interested in contesting in Marine Parade GRC and having these options is good for the residents, said Minister for Social and Family Development Tan Chuan-Jin today (July 26).
Mr Tan was responding to questions by the media about The Workers’ Party’s (WP) intention to contest in Marine Parade GRC and the newly-formed MacPherson single-seat ward, which was carved out of Marine Parade GRC in the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report released on Friday (July 24). Earlier today, WP chief Low Thia Khiang had indicated the party’s interest in contesting in the two constituencies, as well as the areas WP has contested before.
Mr Tan, who spoke on the sidelines of his visit to the MacPherson division with fellow Marine Parade GRC Member of Parliament Tin Pei Ling, said “quite a lot of people seemed interested” and cited the National Solidarity Party and Singaporeans First, which have been spotted making the rounds by residents. “Having options is always good, I’ve said that in the last election when I came in as well, I think having contest is always good... it offers options to residents,” he said.
On the possibility of Ms Tin being fielded as a candidate to contest MacPherson, Mr Tan felt she is quite well-prepared to do so, adding that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong “will have his own reasons” for letting her contest individually.
Ms Tin said she and her team have been working hard over the past four years and she is confident that their “actions will speak for itself”. “We are confident, but we are not complacent,” she added.
On the decision to merge Joo Chiat into Marine Parade GRC — which has drawn accusations of gerrymandering from the Opposition — Mr Tan said since the previous General Election, the focus has been on whether more Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) or smaller GRCs can be created. “But as a result of having more SMCs and on average smaller GRCs, inevitably, you will have readjustment of boundaries,” he said.
He noted that Fengshan and MacPherson were also areas that were heavily contested before, but have been carved out as SMCs. It may be a bit disruptive for some, but Mr Tan said it does not change the commitment to serving and making things better for the residents.
