GE2020: Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, Bukit-Panjang SMC to see straight fights

THE People's Action Party (PAP) is fielding a four-man team led by incumbent Vivian Balakrishnan in the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, which won big in the so-called "rich man's ward" in the 2015 General Election.

The PAP will face off with a fresh and somewhat unexpected line up from Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).

SDP's Tan Jee Say, the former SingFirst chief who rejoined SDP on Monday after dissolving his party last week, together with political scientist James Gomez, communications expert Cheong En Min and businessman Alfred Tan will contest at the four-man ward.

Mr Tan said: "SDP is a natural fit for me... it's aligned with my values and beliefs, including fighting for the underdog." He was responding to questions on his move to rejoin SDP.

PAP's Dr Balakrishnan, 59, leads a team of two familiar faces in the ward - Senior Minister of State for Culture, Community and Youth Sim Ann, 45, and 44-year old lawyer Christopher de Souza - and one of PAP's slate of new candidates Edward Chia, 36.

Dr Balakrishnan, Singapore's Foreign Affairs Minister, said recently that he expects this election to be "very tough", not least because of the Covid-19 outbreak that has hurt jobs and incomes.

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Referring to the pandemic, Dr Balakrishnan said: "This is an unprecedented Situation and stakes are very high. This calls for seasoned hands."

Mr Chia owns the Timbre Group, which runs food and beverage venues including Timbre+ and Yishun Park Hawker Centre. If he is elected to Parliament, he has said that helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) transform and ride out the current crisis as revenues fall and costs rise would be a top agenda.

Another twist is SDP party chairman Paul Tambyah will contest in Bukit Panjang SMC, in a straight fight with PAP's Liang Eng Hwa, 56.

Prof Tambyah is a National University of Singapore (NUS) professor who earlier this month became the first Singaporean to head US-based non-profit organisation International Society of Infectious Diseases.

"It (the election) is going to be as hot as 2011...hotter than the last one," replied Prof Tambyah, when asked if he thinks this election will be as heated as the one in 2015. He was asked the question upon arrival at the nomination centre at Methodist Girl's School.

The single-seat ward, Bukit Panjang, has been held by Dr Teo Ho Pin, 60, since 2006. Prior to that, the man also known as "Mr Town Council", served as MP for the former Holland-Bukit Panjang GRC from 2001 to 2006. Dr Teo is one of about 20 PAP veterans who are stepping down this election to make way for party renewal.

The Holland-Bukit Timah GRC was deemed a hot seat back in 2015, partly because SDP's four-man line-up was led by its chief Chee Soon Juan who made a comeback in the political scene after his bankruptcy status had kept him away in the previous two elections.

The fight was spiced up further by Dr Balakrishnan and Dr Chee trading barbs on wide-ranging issues from minimum wages and healthcare costs to ministers' salaries. One memorable remark then came from Dr Balakrishnan, who fired the first salvo at his political opponent that SDP's policy prescriptions on taxes and wages would lead Singapore "on the road to Greece". (Greece was wobbling on a massive debt crisis at that point and was in dire need of a bailout).

In the end, PAP won big and snagged a vote share of roughly double (66.62 per cent of votes) that of SDP's votes, surprising political watchers who were expecting a much closer contest.

For Nomination Day developments and more on Singapore GE2020, go to bt.sg/ge2020