GE2020: Three-way fight in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

THE incumbent People's Action Party team in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will be squaring off against the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and Peoples Voice (PV) parties in a three-cornered fight.

Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, the second biggest GRC with 166,587 voters today, was cut down to size in the latest boundaries report, which saw Punggol West exiting to form a new single member constituency (SMC).

At the nomination centre St Anthony's Canossian Primary on Tuesday, it was confirmed that Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean, 65, is once again anchoring the PAP team to gun for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, together with Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information Janil Puthucheary.

The three new faces joining them are chief executive of Caregiver Asia Yeo Wan Ling, 44; former People's Association chief Desmond Tan, 49; and vice president for strategy and project management at Singapore Aero Engine Services Mohamed Sharael Mohd Taha, 39.

SDA fielded a team headed by its chairman Desmond Lim, 52, who said he will be stepping down from his position after the General Election. His team includes SDA's chief media officer Harminder Pal Singh, 48, who will step up to become party chairman, as well as secretary-general Abu Mohamed, 69. The trio were part of the SDA team, which ran against PAP in the 2015 elections. Facilities management manager Kelvin Ong, 34; and electrical engineer Kuswadi Atnawi, 57; are the two newcomers rounding off the team.

SDA's Mr Lim had earlier said that the opposition coalition would be contesting only in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

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The other challenger party is PV, led by career counsellor Gilbert Goh, 59, formerly of the Reform Party. He is joined by personal driver Jireh Lim Kay Cheow, business financial manager Prabu Ramachandran, lecturer Mohamed Nassir Ismail and preschool educator Vigneswari Ramachandran.

Speaking to the press at the nomination centre, Mr Teo said: "I've been in four cornered fights before. We welcome all those who are contesting. We hope that voters will see that we can offer them a better tomorrow and a safe and secure future. I think that is the most important thing at this point in time."

PV did not disclose its candidates until Nomination Day, although it had earlier made known its intention to compete there shortly after SDA's announcement.

Its leader Lim Tean had earlier said that it would contest in five constituencies. Aside from Pasir Ris- Punggol GRC, it was also aiming for single seats Pioneer, Mountbatten, and Punggol West, as well as Jalan Besar GRC.

SDA's Mr Harminder had said that the coalition had reached out to PV to discuss if a three-way fight in Pasir Ris-Punggol could be avoided in the upcoming election.

In 2015, PAP won Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC with 72.89 per cent of the votes, against a 27.11 per cent share for the opposing Singapore Democratic Alliance.

The PAP team was comprised of then-Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean, Teo Ser Luck, Zainal Sapari, Janil Puthucheary, Ng Chee Meng and Ms Sun Xueling.

SDA has stood against PAP in the GRC over the last three elections, starting in 2006.

Singapore goes to the polls on July 10.

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