NSP believes in ground-up group work and developing confidence with people, said Mr Ng.
” The promise we made with the residents here ( is ) cast in stone”, he said.
” So we ( would ) really like to understand more, why SDP would like to come in when they have a lot of other GRCs”.
SDP contested in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in 2020.
In 2020, a PAP team led by Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung won Sembawang GRC with 67.29 per share of votes. NSP garnered 32.71 per share of votes in 2020, and 27.72 per share of seats in 2015.
SDP lost to the ruling gathering in Sembawang in 2011 and 2006, gaining 36.1 per share and 23.3 per cent of votes respectively.
NSP COMMITTED TO SEMBAWANG
Mr Ng said the party has a “vested interest” in the GRC and Sembawang West Single Member Constituency ( SMC) because they have built trust with the people there.
” We are not the’ sail by day ‘ kind of celebration, and we will never retreat just because of military reasons and without proper substance”, he said.
” We are here to be because of the claim that we made to our citizens. We are here to offer them”.
He said the group may continue to voice out issues and champion people-centric plans that are useful to Singapore.  ,
Mr Ng even said it seems like SDP plans to “abandon” specific SMCs to work in a brand new one.  ,
” I am not too certain why”, he said.
SDP main Chee Quickly Juan said next month that he would work in the new Sembawang West SMC, which NSP has also staked a claim on.
In 2020, Dr Chee ran in Bukit Batok SMC, which , – along with Yuhua SMC which SDP also contested , – is then part of the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.
SDP president Paul Tambyah said on Sunday that the group is happy for others to battle in the same district.
” That’s the nature of a mature democracy”, he said.
” We want to offer people a choice, and so we welcome everyone who wants to battle and who is honest about doing something nice for Singapore”, he added.
On the PAP before, Mr Ong has introduced two new heads who are likely to challenge in Sembawang GRC.
He recently said that he expected more than one new experience in the group’s five-member Sembawang staff.
Mr Ng said he will be meeting SDP to know their reasons for contesting in Sembawang and that NSP supports unity among opposition events.
” We would like to prevent three-corner battles or multi-corner battles as much as possible, but certain points NSP cannot sacrifice – social morality and our policies”, he said.
” We have made a lot of dedication to Sembawang GRC and SMC people. But this is something that we never compromise”.
AT LEAST THREE NEW Heads
Aside from Sembawang GRC and Sembawang West SMC, NSP earlier said they intend to challenge in Jalan Besar GRC, Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, Tampines GRC and Tampines Changkat SMC, some of which are likely to notice three-way battles as effectively.
If programs do no change, the group will need to discipline 25 applicants.
Mr Ng said NSP has about 30 people who are interested in standing in the vote, but that the party is just “very positive” of the divisions in Sembawang and Tampines at this stage.
At the minimum, the group did industry three new eyes in this election, he said.