PAP's new face pounds the ground

Surgeon Koh Poh Koon spent the first Saturday following his introduction as the People's Action Party's (PAP's) candidate for Punggol East visiting temples, a community centre, a busy road junction and a shopping mall.

His first stop in the single-seat ward was to a Hindu temple and a Chinese temple, both at Rivervale Crescent.

Dr Koh, 40, told reporters later: "Singapore being a multi-racial and multi-religious society, it's important to understand and touch base with the key religious institutions here because these can be potential flashpoints of unhappiness."

He acknowledged that noise from the temples, especially over festive periods, is a grouse among residents.

Pasir-Ris Punggol GRC MP Teo Ser Luck giving Dr Koh Poh Koon, PAP's candidate for Punggol East, a rundown of traffic conditions at the junction of Sengkang East Way and Sengkang East Drive. --ST PHOTO: GOH CHIN LIAN