SINGAPORE - Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin and his fellow Marine Parade GRC MP Tin Pei Ling on Sunday visited residents in MacPherson that is set to become a single-seat constituency in the next election.

Ms Tin said the walkabout had been arranged before the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report was released on Friday (July 24).

Among the committee's recommendations was for Ms Tin's MacPherson ward to be carved out of Marine Parade GRC.

MacPherson has a history of going it alone and had been a single-seat constituency since it was formed in 1968, save for two elections in 1991 and 2011 when it was part of Marine Parade GRC.

Mr Tan and Ms Tin started their walkabout at the Circuit Road market and food centre at Block 89.

A group of residents asked Mr Tan when the next general election would be, and said many people felt it may happen soon.

To this, Mr Tan replied in Mandarin: "It should be soon, but I don't know when exactly. We'll have to wait for the announcement for the precise date."

He also said: "Support Pei Lin, she really cares for you."

Ms Tin, who is heavily pregnant, was stopped along the way by residents wanting to chat and to take photos with her.

Some also asked her to rest, but she quipped: "I heard walking around is better for me, it'll make my delivery easier."

Ms Tin, in a Facebook post after the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report was released, said she would like to continue to serve MacPherson residents.