GE2020: PAP wins Tampines GRC with 66.41% of votes

THE People's Action Party (PAP) has won the five-member Tampines GRC, in a face off against National Solidarity Party (NSP). On Friday, PAP clinched 94,561 votes, representing 66.41 per cent, while NSP had 47,819 votes, representing 33.59 per cent. There were 142,380 valid votes and 3,516 rejected votes.

"A comfortable victory against a weak NSP slate," said Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University. "The departure of Heng Swee Keat was not a significant factor in the way of PAP's win. The difference in perceived 'weight' the two parties could punch was evident.''

The PAP team comprises Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli, 57; Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon, 48; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Culture, Community and Youth Baey Yam Keng, 49; Mr Desmond Choo, 42; and Ms Cheng Li Hui, 44. (see amendment note)

The National Solidarity Party slate for Tampines comprises party president Reno Fong Chin Leong, Mohamad Ridzwan, Eugene Yeo Ren Yuan, Choong Hon Heng and Vincent Ng Kian Guan.

Dr Koh, a former Member of Parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, replaces Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat, who is leading a five-member PAP team in the battle for East Coast GRC, which is being contested for the fourth time in electoral history.

The NSP has done battle before in Tampines, losing in 2011 and 2015 to the PAP. In 2011, it got 42.8 per cent of the votes cast, compared to PAP's 57.2 per cent. In 2015, it took 27.9 per cent of the votes, with the PAP widening its vote share to 72.1 per cent.

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Delivering their constituency political broadcasts for Tampines GRC on Wednesday, the PAP team stressed the importance of transforming businesses, jobs and upskilling workers to help them prepare for an uncertain future in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

They touched on upcoming developments, like the planned upgrading of Tampines Central Park, and the development of an agri-food innovation park to create opportunities for innovative agri-tech startups.

NSP drilled down into constituency-specific issues, outlining 14 plans the party has for Tampines GRC, which includes the construction of more barrier-free infrastructure for people with disabilities. The team is also looking at ways to ensure that Singapore's professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) have a level playing field when it comes to employment. It also objects to any increase in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and is looking at making basic necessities, such as rice and cooking oil, GST-free.

Amendment note: Dr Koh Poh Koon served at the Ministry of Trade & Industry and Ministry of National Development since Jan 1, 2016, and was appointed Senior Minister of State on May 1, 2017, and later, relinguished the National Development portfolio.

For more of our Singapore GE2020 coverage, go to bt.sg/ge2020