GE2020: Workers' Party takes on incumbent PAP in fight for Marine Parade GRC

The People's Action Party (PAP) and The Workers' Party (WP) will once again go head to head in the battle for the five-seat Marine Parade GRC, in a repeat of the 2015 elections.

This year, however, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who has served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Marine Parade since 1976, is retiring. Also stepping down as MP for Marine Parade is Professor Fatimah Lateef.

Contesting again for Marine Parade is Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin, who is joined by Senior Minister of State Edwin Tong and NTUC Enterprise's group chief executive officer Seah Kian Peng. New to the line-up are former chief executive of IHH Healthcare Dr Tan See Leng and new face Mohd Fahmi bin Aliman, who is a National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) director.

The WP team taking on the incumbent PAP for Marine Parade GRC consists of Yee Jenn Jong, Ron Tan, lawyer Muhammad Fadli bin Mohammed Fawzi, Muhammad Azhar bin Abdul Latip and IT professional Nathaniel Koh. Mr Yee is the only member of the five-man team who contested in Marine Parade in the 2015 election.

Speaking to the media at nomination centre Kong Hwa School on Tuesday, Mr Tan Chuan-Jin said: "The world is facing a crisis, the likes of which we've not seen for many, many years. We need strong, decisive and effective leadership to see us through."

At a virtual press conference later that afternoon, Dr Tan See Leng singled out four pressing intiatives that have been identified for Marine Parade GRC in the near term - a care-givers' support network that will deliver respite care for care-givers; medical escorts for patients who need to attend follow-up appointments at polyclinics or hospitals; a social support network for new caregivers; and providing financial assistance for lower-income groups.

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Commenting on his team's plans for Marine Parade, the WP's Mr Ron Tan said that if his team wins, it will need to assess the programmes that are in place for Marine Parade before it makes any promises to residents. "We don't make empty promises to residents," he emphasised. The WP took a similar approach with Aljunied, he added.

Mr Tan went on to say: "Even though there's been some hiccups, right now Aljunied is functioning well, and we believe with the experiences of our fellow collegaues from the party and the town council as well, we do have the know-how to run the town council and make sure things are truly well for the residents of Marine Parade GRC."

Commenting on whether he thought that Mr Goh's retirement as an MP for Marine Parade might give an edge to the WP, Mr Tan pointed out that Marine Parade is a GRC, which requires a team effort and cannot be based on one person alone.

He added: "Mr Goh... is the pioneer of Marine Parade, he's been around for 40 years. Obviously, the connection with residents is very strong. We do experience that when we do our house visits."

"However, we are sure that with our sincerity and with our efforts, residents can see that we, too, are able to contribute and make sure they are well looked after."

In the 2015 General Election, the PAP emerged with 64.07 per cent of the vote in Marine Parade.

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