SINGAPORE: As a People’s Action Party ( PAP ) MP, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, 85, had contributed much to Singapore and to the Ayer Rajah ward where he had served for many years, said National Development Minister Desmond Lee on Sunday ( Apr 20 )
Adding that he respects Dr Tan for what he has achieved, Mr Lee said he yet hopes to give people living in West Coast-Jurong West GRC a mix of younger and more skilled individuals “in order to tackle the new problems that we face in the decades ahead”.
Mr Lee was answering a question about the Progress Singapore Party ( PSP) founder, who will be contesting West Coast-Jurong West GRC in the May 3 polls, facing off against Mr Lee’s team.
Dr Tan, who was first elected into legislature in 1980 under the PAP and had served at the district for 26 times until 2006, said on Sunday that the approaching elections is likely to be his last.
“( Dr Tan ) has brought benefits to the residents, and my team and I respect the work he’s done and the contributions he’s made to Singapore and to Ayer Rajah, ” said Mr Lee.
He was speaking to the media at the sidelines after the launch of a National Trades Union Congress ’ (NTUC) Employment and Employability Institute (e2i ) job fair at Boon Lay Community Club, where the media asked several questions related to the PSP team that will be contesting the hospital.
The criticism party unveiled its portfolio of individuals in the district on Sunday. Aside from Dr Tan, the stone even includes secretary-general Leong Mun Wai, vice-chairperson Hazel Poa, as well as new eyes Sani Ismail and Sumarleki Amjah.
Dr Tan, Mr Leong, and Ms Poa were part of the PSP crew that just lost to PAP in West Coast GRC during the 2020 General Election.
Asked about the possibility of a fight between PSP and PAP this election, Mr Lee noted that the candidates on both sides are “known levels ” that have interacted with each other over the ages, whether in parliament or in the area.
“We know each other. We’ve interacted with each other over the centuries in parliament, but also in the neighborhood, ” said Mr Lee.
He added: “These are items that Singaporeans know, and so it’s not a matter of doubt coming into this General Election and in a way, I think, better supply Singaporeans the opportunity to consider. ”
The GRC, originally known as West Coast, was the most hotly contested district in the 2020 General Election. Finally, the PAP won with 51. 69 per cent of the vote against PSP, which secured two Non-Constituency MP (NCMP ) seats for Mr Leong and Ms Poa.
On Sunday, Mr Lee was joined by new experience, Dr Hamid Razak, who was introduced earlier this year as part of the PAP’s staff in West Coast-Jurong West GRC in the future General Election.
The five-member stone includes fresh face, attorney Cassandra Lee, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Shawn Huang, and original West Coast GRC former MP Ang Wei Neng.
The clinic has undergone major limit changes following the latest political map review.
It now includes elements of Jurong West and Taman Jurong, leading to its new title – West Coast-Jurong West GRC. The public has grown to 158,581 citizens.