No Chiam factor, but Sitoh versus Jose in Potong Pasir

Singapore

POTONG Pasir SMC will see the two-term incumbent People's Action Party MP Sitoh Yih Pin go head to head with Singapore People's Party (SPP) chairman Jose Raymond, who is expected to find it a tough fight without the Chiams.

With 19,740 voters, Potong Pasir SMC is one of the single member constituencies to watch, with SPP contesting for the first time without the "Chiam" factor.

Speaking after nomination proceedings, Mr Sitoh thanked Potong Pasir residents for their feedback, contributing to a new five-year plan for the constituency that will be unveiled soon. "I think one asset that we can carry in this election, is our track record over the last 10 years," he said.

"I treat every opponent with respect, I don't underestimate anyone," he added.

Addressing reporters, Mr Raymond said: "As you can tell, I'm not Chiam... I have to stand on my own two feet. The people will have to decide on the credibility, as well as the tenacity and the ability of both candidates."

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Asked about his chances of winning, he said it would be presumptious of him to talk about winning. "What's more important for me is to recognise Mr Sitoh is a formidable opponent who has been in Potong Pasir for 20 years... and who has the respect of the residents," he said.

The party's manifesto for Potong Pasir will be revealed tomorrow, the SPP candidate said, covering what is necessary for the town based on residents' feedback. It will have programmes to support families, the elderly and young people, as well as provide wheelchair support for some residents.

This does not imply that the town has not been looked after, Mr Raymond added, but rather, new programmes will focus on how to make it better.

Potong Pasir SMC is the smallest constituency in terms of number of voters, and saw its electoral boundaries changed for the first time in more than three decades.

The ward has been enlarged to include parts of the new Bidadari housing estate.

Potong Pasir was the stronghold of opposition icon Chiam See Tong for 27 years until 2011, when he left to contest as a member of SPP's team in the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

Mr Chiam, 85, retired from politics last October.

Mr Raymond, 48, who is the chief strategy officer of communications firm SW Strategies, joined SPP in October 2017.

He was also a former journalist, and at one point a PAP member, as well as press secretary to Dr Vivian Balakrishnan when the latter was Environment and Water Resources Minister.

Political observers say Mr Raymond is astute not to try to claim the Chiam legacy. "The Chiam factor is weakening rapidly... to claim as successor is not a wise move - he's astute in that," said Eugene Tan, Singapore Management University law professor.

But he faces an uphill battle and if he can reduce Mr Sitoh's majority, it would be a "very good first outing for Mr Jose Raymond," said Prof Tan.

In 2011, Mr Chiam's wife Lina Chiam stood in the constituency, and narrowly lost to Mr Sitoh, who won 50.4 per cent of the votes - a 114-vote margin. In 2015, Mr Sitoh improved his showing with 66.4 per cent of the vote against Mrs Chiam.

Mr Sitoh's double-digit improved majority in 2015 was the best among PAP candidates, said Prof Tan.

In this election, SPP is being moderate in their expectations, starting small as they are contesting only two constituencies - Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Potong Pasir SMC - as the party is in the midst of remaking itself, he said.

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