SINGAPORE - The elections are heating up, as the campaign passes the midway stage.
The various political parties will hold 10 election rallies today (Sept 7), including a lunchtime rally by the Singapore Democratic Party.
The lunchtime rally will take place from 12pm to 2pm, while the other nine evening rallies will be from 7pm to 10pm.
1. Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) at the promenade area beside UOB Plaza
The SDP will be the first to hold a lunchtime rally in the city this election season.
It is not known how many parties applied for the spot before the SDP, led by Dr Chee Soon Juan, won the ballot.
The People's Action Party (PAP) has re-applied to hold a rally at the same site tomorrow (Sept 8).
The UOB Plaza promenade has symbolic significance as it is the successor venue to Fullerton Square, where founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew spoke from the 1960s through the 1980s, delivering some of his most stirring speeches.
It is also the only site available for lunchtime rallies.
2. Sembawang GRC by PAP at the field opposite Block 540, Woodlands Drive 16
The PAP team in Sembawang comprises National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, backbenchers Dr Lim Wee Kiak and Mr Vikram Nair, new face Mr Amrin Amin and Mr Ong Ye Kung, who contested in Aljunied GRC in the 2011 election.
They will face a National Solidarity Party (NSP) team formed by Mr Spencer Ng, Mr Eugene Yeo, Ms Kevryn Lim, Mr Yadzeth Haris and Mr Abdul Rasheed.
A PAP team won the GRC in 2011 with 63.9 per cent of the votes against the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP).
3. Bukit Batok SMC by SDP at the field in front of Block 265, Toh Guan Road
SDP candidate Sadasivam Veriyah faces a three-cornered fight with PAP incumbent David Ong and independent candidate Samir Salim Neji.
The last time Bukit Batok was a single seat, in 1991, the PAP beat the SDP narrowly, with a margin of 4 percentage points.
Bukit Batok SMC, comprising 27,077 voters, is made up mostly of public housing, with 4 per cent of residents living in condominiums.
4. MacPherson SMC by NSP at the field bounded by the Pan-Island Expressway, Paya Lebar Road and Circuit Road
The NSP's charge in MacPherson SMC is led by former opposition MP Cheo Chai Chen.
He is in a three-cornered fight for the single-seat ward with PAP incumbent Tin Pei Ling, and Workers' Party candidate Bernard Chen. MacPherson was carved out of Marine Parade GRC and has 28,511 voters.
Mr Cheo has touted his experience as an advantage over both Ms Tin and Mr Chen. However, he also sparked a backlash when he said Ms Tin's new status as a mother was a weakness. He later said he was joking.
5. Yuhua SMC by the PAP at Jurong East Stadium, 21 Jurong East Street 31
PAP incumbent Grace Fu is squaring off against the SDP's Jaslyn Go for the single-seat ward, which has 22,617 voters.
Ms Fu won the 2011 election with 66.9 per cent of the vote. She unveiled a five-year plan for the ward last week, which included national plans such as the Jurong Lake District and municipal ones like improving local connectivity.
6. Chua Chu Kang GRC by People's Power Party (PPP) at the field of Chua Chu Kang Secondary School, 3 Teck Whye Crescent
Led by Mr Goh Meng Seng, the PPP will contest the four-member group representation constituency against a PAP team anchored by Health Minister Gan Kim Yong.
Mr Goh's teammates are Ms Low Wai Choo, Mr Lee Tze Shih, and Mr Syafarin Sarif.
The former five-member GRC lost Mr Alex Yam's Yew Tee ward to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC in the recent boundary changes. The PAP got 61.2 per cent of the vote against the NSP in 2011.
7. Holland-Bukit Timah GRC by PAP at the field along Commonwealth Avenue, beside Commonwealth MRT station
Pundits are expecting a fierce fight between the PAP team of Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Ms Sim Ann, Mr Liang Eng Hwa and Mr Chris De Souza, and an SDP team led by party chief Chee Soon Juan.
Dr Chee's teammates are Dr Paul Tambyah, Mr Sidek Mallek and Ms Chong Wai Fung.
Dr Balakrishnan and Dr Chee traded barbs over the SDP's policies last week.
Holland-Bukit Timah is the GRC with the highest share of private housing. The PAP took 60.1 per cent of the vote in 2011 against the SDP.
8. Jurong GRC by SingFirst at the field along Boon Lay Way, beside Chinese Garden MRT station
The five-member SingFirst team comprises information technology consultant Wong Chee Wai, retired army colonel Tan Peng Ann, sales director Wong Soon Hong, chemist David Foo and retired police officer Sukdeu Singh.
They face a PAP team led by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, whose teammates are Mr Desmond Lee, Mr Ang Wei Neng and newcomers, Mr Tan Wu Meng and Ms Rahayu Mahzam.
Jurong GRC lostBukit Batok ward but gained Clementi from West Coast GRC in the recent boundary changes. It saw the PAP's second-best performance in a GRC in 2011, with 67 per cent of the vote.
9. Marine Parade GRC by Workers' Party at field opposite Block 344, Ubi Avenue 1
A fierce battle is expected between the WP team led by Mr Yee Jenn Jong and a PAP team led by anchor minister Tan Chuan-Jin.
The GRC has absorbed Joo Chiat ward, which Mr Yee narrowly lost in 2011. His team includes lawyer Terence Tan, chocolate factory owner Firuz Khan, corporate lawyer He Ting Ru and wealth manager Dylan Ng.
Mr Tan is joined by Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, as well as backbenchers Seah Kian Peng, Fatimah Lateef, and Edwin Tong.
On Sunday (Sept 6), Mr Tong said traditional means-testing measures need to be relooked to ensure private home dwellers are not left out of the Government's social help programmes.
10. Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC by the Singapore Democratic Alliance at the field opposite Block 274C, Compassvale Bow, beside Buangkok MRT station
The SDA is contesting Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC for the third time.
Its team comprises party chief Desmond Lim Bak Chuan, Mr Ong Teik Seng, Mr Abu Mohamed, Mr Wong Way Weng, Mr Desmond Lim, Mr Harminder Pal Singh, and Mr Arthero Lim Tung Hee.
The PAP team helmed by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean won in the 2011 General Election with 64.79 per cent of the vote.
His team includes former chief of defence force Ng Chee Meng, Minister of State Teo Ser Luck, Mr Zainal Sapari, Mr Janil Puthucheary and Ms Sun Xueling.
Time | Party | Electoral division | Rally site |
---|---|---|---|
12 -2 pm | SDP | - | Promenade area beside UOB Plaza |
7-10 pm | PAP | Sembawang GRC | Field opposite Block 540 Woodlands Dr 16 |
7-10 pm | SDP | Bukit Batok SMC | Field in front of Block 265 Toh Guan Road |
7-10 pm | NSP | MacPherson SMC | Field bounded by PIE, Paya Lebar Road and Circuit Rd |
7-10 pm | PAP | Yuhua SMC | Jurong East Stadium, 21 Jurong East St 31 |
7-10 pm | PPP | Chua Chu Kang GRC | Field of Chua Chu Kang Secondary School, 3 Teck Whye Crescent |
7-10 pm | PAP | Holland-Bukit Timah GRC | Field along Commonwealth Avenue, beside Commonwealth MRT Station |
7-10 pm | SingFirst | Jurong GRC | Field along Boon Lay Way, beside Chinese Garden MRT Station |
7-10 pm | WP | Marine Parade GRC | Field opposite Block 344 Ubi Avenue 1 |
7-10 pm | SDA | Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC | Field opposite Block 274C Compassvale Bow, beside Buangkok MRT Station |