SINGAPORE: Singapore’s electoral boundary changes are a reflection of the country’s population growth, said , Dr Janil Puthucheary,  , after the , Electoral Boundaries Review Committee ( EBRC ) released its report on Tuesday ( Mar 11 ).
Dr Janil, who is , Senior Minister of State for Digital Development and Information as well as Health, was replying to a problem by CNA938 on the logic behind what some have described as “extensive” adjustments to the political boundaries.
Five new , Group Representation Constituencies ( GRCs ) and six new Single Member Constituencies ( SMCs ) have been created, while some existing wards have been removed and redrawn, according to EBRC’s report. This leaves only five GRCs and four SMCs intact from the last election.
The total amount of political divisions for GE2025 is 33, comprising 18 GRCs and 15 SMCs. This is one more GRC and one more SMC than in 2020.  ,
Singapore’s following congress will also have 97 chairs, away from the current 93.
On the political map changes, Dr Janil , said:” What we do know and what we can see, it’s about the people development. It’s about the need to make sure that the number of delegates per MP remains within a particular boundary”.
He added that it is the first moment the Elections Department has discussed the justification for the political map shifts in such great information.
” I think it’s very clear to anyone who reads the report, yes, ( there are ) lots of speculation on the media, but I think if it’s one GRC, one SMC, four extra seats as a proportion of our existing legislature and our existing electoral base, would you call that extensive? I think it’s appropriate”.
According to EBRC’s review, the Pasir Ris-Punggol and Jurong GRCs have been removed, while five fresh GRCs -Pasir Ris-Changi, Punggol, Jurong East-Bukit Batok, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights and West Coast-Jurong West ,- have been added.
West Coast, East Coast and Marine Parade districts, which were among the most carefully fought in the previous General Election, will have major political boundary changes.
For example,  , West Coast GRC may be West Coast-Jurong West GRC after taking in lands from the adjacent Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC and losing electoral districts in Harbourfront, Sentosa, Dover and Telok Blangah estates.
On the adjustments to several GRCs on the political image, Dr Janil reiterated the role that community development played.
The fresh Punggol GRC was formed by carving out holdings from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC- which has seen the largest boost in votes since the last GE- and merging them with Punggol West SMC.
The fresh Pasir Ris-Changi GRC was created by merging the majority of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC with located voting districts in East Coast GRC.
Dr Janil, who is Member of Parliament ( MP ) for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, said the population in Punggol has grown so much that there is a need to carve out a new GRC.
That, in turn, will then have a” significant effect” on Pasir Ris.
” Pasir Ris without Punggol is now three political groups,  , and you need a little bit more community amount to support… a third MP.
” It’s a little bit like a game issue. You know, you type of fix one little, and then it has an effect all the way down through the sleep, but there’s a knock-on impact, “he added.