GE2025: Talks held to integrate plans for Joo Chiat, East Coast, says Edwin Tong

SINGAPORE – With his Joo Chiat ward

being drawn into East Coast GRC

, Mr Edwin Tong has been in talks with the constituency’s MPs on how to integrate existing plans.

The Minister for Culture, Community and Youth said there is a lot of synergy between work done under the East Coast Plan and what his team has been doing in Joo Chiat.

The emphasis will be on minimising disruption to residents, while ensuring that programmes that have been promised or have started will continue, he added.

Addressing the media on March 23, during a three-hour-long walkabout at the food centre at Block 16 Bedok South Road, Mr Tong said: “For one thing, the food on both sides of the border is equally good, so we are looking to use that to enhance the offerings for residents.”

It was his first public walkabout in East Coast GRC. He was accompanied by the constituency’s anchor minister, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, whose ward is Bedok. The GRC’s four other MPs were not present.

Mr Tong’s Joo Chiat ward was carved out of Marine Parade GRC in the

Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s report released on March 11

. His ward, along with some Housing Board blocks in Chai Chee, were drawn into East Coast GRC.

Asked about whether their appearance together means both men would run in the constituency, DPM Heng pointed to the fact that Joo Chiat will be a part of East Coast GRC. “So I look forward to having Edwin here as part of East Coast,” he said.

He added that he felt that the residents “have been very warm towards having Edwin join our team”.

Asked about the challenges of integration, Mr Tong said of his relationship with DPM Heng: “Just because we’re in different GRCs doesn’t mean we don’t know each other well.

“We came into politics in the same year, we do know each other personally.”

DPM Heng added that while Mr Tong has visited his ward for the walkabout on March 23, there are plans for the existing East Coast GRC team to also visit Mr Tong’s Joo Chiat ward.

As MP for a division newly added to the well-established East Coast GRC, Mr Tong said it is important for him to win residents’ confidence and trust. He added that he also wants to understand their needs in a way that allows him to serve them better.

When asked if he will visit other parts of East Coast, Mr Tong said: “I would like to, because I see that Joo Chiat will be, in future, part of the GRC… If I do want to serve in Joo Chiat, it means I’ll be in East Coast, so I therefore have to know about the other divisions as well.”

He said he has started meeting volunteers in other East Coast divisions, as well as those in Chai Chee.

DPM Heng has also shared his insights into the GRC, he added.

When asked about potential changes to the GRC’s line-up, DPM Heng said the full slate of candidates would be revealed by the People’s Action Party’s secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

“There is a schedule that he has. Please be patient,” he said.

He added: “I’ve given him my inputs and we will wait for Nomination Day or earlier.”