SINGAPORE: The opposition Workers ‘ Party ( WP ) noted” significant” changes to areas where it has been “working consistently for the last few years”, in revisions to , Singapore’s electoral boundaries , released on Tuesday ( Mar 11 ).
Meanwhile, the Progress Singapore Party ( PSP) questioned what it called “drastic” tweaks to the boundaries , ahead of a coming General Election, which left just nine constituencies untouched from the last polls.
The Singapore Democratic Party ( SDP ) also said it was “disappointed” with the disappearance of two , Single Member Constituencies ( SMCs )  , – Yuhua and Bukit Batok , – where it had previously contested.
Different smaller opposition parties to voiced dissatisfaction at some of the changes, yet as they expressed readiness to adjust to a revised electoral map.
Voters must head to the polls by November to elect 97 Members of Parliament ( MPs ) across 33 constituencies, up from 93 MPs and 31 constituencies previously.
This was after the Singapore government accepted recommendations released by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee ( EBRC ) on Tuesday.
In response, WP said the confirmation of the political restrictions was a crucial part of election procedures.
” The statement contains some simple justifications for the rewriting of limitations, such as the people growth of certain political districts”, the group said in a Facebook post.
WP added that it will share more information in due course on the good districts it will challenge and its possible prospects.
PSP said it was “heartened” that the EBRC disclosed more of the logic behind the advice in its review this time.
” However, PSP’s perspective is that much of the EBRC’s decision-making remains unknown, and the EBRC may have accounted for population shifts without making major changes to existing big political boundaries”, the party said in a statement.
” For instance, the population changes to Hong Kah North SMC because of the novel Tengah house could have been dealt with by merging it with Yuhua SMC and Bukit Batok SMC to form a new GRC.
” Otherwise, this was used to support changing the political boundaries of Jurong GRC, West Coast GRC, Chua Chu Kang GRC, Tanjong Pagar GRC and Radin Mas SMC.”
In an appointment with CNA, PSP Non-Constituency MP Hazel Poa moreover pointed to Telok Blangah hospital in West Coast GRC, which saw the tightest competition in the 2020 elections, with the PAP edging out PSP.
Noting that the hospital was moved to Tanjong Pagar GRC, she said this” made Tanjong Pagar GRC very great, so that they have to cut out an SMC”, in reference to the fresh Queenstown SMC.
Ms Poa said this” doesn’t produce feel, because you could have made Telok Blangah an SMC to begin with, and then keep Tanjong Pagar only”.
” So we do think that there are certain adjustments that are not entirely explained,” she added.
PSP said it would examine the EBRC report and make more disclosures about where it would contest the election.
Ms Poa said the group do” take into account how acquainted with we are with that location and whether we have been walking the grounds that properly “in deciding where to move.
In a speech to CNA, SDP said the whole procedure of redrawing political restrictions” lacks clarity, done without open dialogue among partners”.
The party added that it will have to analyze the information of all the changes cautiously and strengthen its plans.