Lets see if the Tharman Jurong residents will still vote for PAP after Shawn Ingkiriwang replace Tharman there
SDP's Chee Soon Juan to contest new Sembawang West SMC, Paul Tambyah to stand in Bukit Panjang
Chee said this is part of the party's "northern strategy".
Chee Soon Juan, Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), announced that he intends to stand for election in Sembawang West SMC for the upcoming general election.
This comes after Bukit Batok SMC, where he contested at in the last election, was absorbed into the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
"That means I have to leave Bukit Batok, and I do that with a heavy heart," he said at a party address on the morning of Mar. 23.
He added that he felt a "void" after spending 10 years getting to know the residents and building up the community there, only to see Bukit Batok SMC absorbed into a GRC for the upcoming election.
He thanked the residents of Bukit Batok for allowing him into their community, and added that he would not "leave them behind", as he intends to go into Parliament for them and with them.
Northern strategy
At the same time, Sembawang is not a new area to the SDP, Chee said at a media doorstop following the address.
SDP chairman Paul Tambyah was also present and spoke at the doorstop.
Previously in 2022, Tambyah announced that the party would contest in Sembawang GRC in the next election.
The party also campaigned in the region in the 2000s, with Tambyah recalling that he delivered his first political speech at an SDP rally in Sembawang in 2011.
"So it's in a way, back to old stomping grounds," Chee said.
Explaining that the party will be embarking on a "northern strategy", Chee added that the party intends to field a team in Sembawang GRC as well.
Paul Tambyah to stand in Bukit Panjang again
Meanwhile, Tambyah will once again stand in Bukit Panjang SMC, where he contested in last election but lost to the PAP's Liang Eng Hwa with 46.26 per cent of the vote.
Chee acknowledged that the upcoming contest in Sembawang West SMC will regardless be an "uphill battle", with the party having to condense years of effort into a matter of weeks.
The team spent the morning of Mar. 23 delivering flyers to households in the estate, and will in the coming weeks start on house visits.
Chee also revealed that he previously had a "very pleasant exchange" with current Sembawang West PAP MP Poh Li San.
"They're in for a good fight," he remarked.
Background
Chee had contested Bukit Batok SMC in GE2020, securing 45.2 per cent of the vote against PAP's Murali Pillai.
However, following the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, Bukit Batok SMC was dissolved and merged, along with Yuhua and Hong Kah North SMCs, into Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
The EBRC explained its rationale for the change:
"Hong Kah North SMC has grown significantly and will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, due to new housing developments in Tengah and Bukit Batok West. It has become too big to remain as an SMC.
The Committee recommended that the Tengah estates be absorbed into Chua Chu Kang GRC. To maintain Chua Chu Kang GRC as a 4-MP GRC while accommodating significant future population growth in Tengah, the Committee recommended carving out the Bukit Gombak and Hillview estates to form a new Bukit Gombak SMC.
Considerations and recommendations for the remaining Bukit Batok West estates in Hong Kah North SMC are in paragraph 14.
Even with the Tengah estates being absorbed into Chua Chu Kang GRC (paragraph 8), the remaining Hong Kah North SMC, comprising Bukit Batok West estates, is still too big and growing.
The Committee recommended that the remaining polling districts of Hong Kah North SMC, together with the adjacent polling districts in Bukit Batok and Yuhua SMCs, merge with Jurong GRC to form a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC."
Responding to the change, Chee expressed his disappointment.
He added that he would have to "rethink" his strategy following the release of the EBRC report.
Top image by Ilyda Chua
Wah, she aged a lot.
SDP's Chee Soon Juan to contest new Sembawang West SMC, Paul Tambyah to stand in Bukit Panjang
Chee said this is part of the party's "northern strategy".
Chee Soon Juan, Secretary-General of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), announced that he intends to stand for election in Sembawang West SMC for the upcoming general election.
This comes after Bukit Batok SMC, where he contested at in the last election, was absorbed into the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
"That means I have to leave Bukit Batok, and I do that with a heavy heart," he said at a party address on the morning of Mar. 23.
He added that he felt a "void" after spending 10 years getting to know the residents and building up the community there, only to see Bukit Batok SMC absorbed into a GRC for the upcoming election.
He thanked the residents of Bukit Batok for allowing him into their community, and added that he would not "leave them behind", as he intends to go into Parliament for them and with them.
Northern strategy
At the same time, Sembawang is not a new area to the SDP, Chee said at a media doorstop following the address.
SDP chairman Paul Tambyah was also present and spoke at the doorstop.
Previously in 2022, Tambyah announced that the party would contest in Sembawang GRC in the next election.
The party also campaigned in the region in the 2000s, with Tambyah recalling that he delivered his first political speech at an SDP rally in Sembawang in 2011.
"So it's in a way, back to old stomping grounds," Chee said.
Explaining that the party will be embarking on a "northern strategy", Chee added that the party intends to field a team in Sembawang GRC as well.
Paul Tambyah to stand in Bukit Panjang again
Meanwhile, Tambyah will once again stand in Bukit Panjang SMC, where he contested in last election but lost to the PAP's Liang Eng Hwa with 46.26 per cent of the vote.
Chee acknowledged that the upcoming contest in Sembawang West SMC will regardless be an "uphill battle", with the party having to condense years of effort into a matter of weeks.
The team spent the morning of Mar. 23 delivering flyers to households in the estate, and will in the coming weeks start on house visits.
Chee also revealed that he previously had a "very pleasant exchange" with current Sembawang West PAP MP Poh Li San.
"They're in for a good fight," he remarked.
Background
Chee had contested Bukit Batok SMC in GE2020, securing 45.2 per cent of the vote against PAP's Murali Pillai.
However, following the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report, Bukit Batok SMC was dissolved and merged, along with Yuhua and Hong Kah North SMCs, into Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
The EBRC explained its rationale for the change:
"Hong Kah North SMC has grown significantly and will continue to grow rapidly in the coming years, due to new housing developments in Tengah and Bukit Batok West. It has become too big to remain as an SMC.
The Committee recommended that the Tengah estates be absorbed into Chua Chu Kang GRC. To maintain Chua Chu Kang GRC as a 4-MP GRC while accommodating significant future population growth in Tengah, the Committee recommended carving out the Bukit Gombak and Hillview estates to form a new Bukit Gombak SMC.
Considerations and recommendations for the remaining Bukit Batok West estates in Hong Kah North SMC are in paragraph 14.
Even with the Tengah estates being absorbed into Chua Chu Kang GRC (paragraph 8), the remaining Hong Kah North SMC, comprising Bukit Batok West estates, is still too big and growing.
The Committee recommended that the remaining polling districts of Hong Kah North SMC, together with the adjacent polling districts in Bukit Batok and Yuhua SMCs, merge with Jurong GRC to form a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC."
Responding to the change, Chee expressed his disappointment.
He added that he would have to "rethink" his strategy following the release of the EBRC report.
Top image by Ilyda Chua
Should just focus on his family and business.
Departure of Tharman and bringing in Shawn, Nameless Tan or the Xie guy and TCB factor will swing the votes in Jurong towards PSP but not sure if its enough for PSP to win
