Foreign minister George Yeo hopes for minimal change to
Aljunied GRC’s boundaries. (Photo: Getty)
Foreign minister George Yeo hopes there will be minimal boundary
changes to the Aljunied GRC.
He told The Straits Times (ST) that he hoped
speculations that Serangoon, one of the five wards in the GRC,
might be carved out as a single seat would be proven false.
Said Mr Yeo, who heads the Aljunied GRC team, “The Aljunied MPs
have been tending to our patch for many years and would prefer to
reap what we sow.”
“It is a ground we have become very close to,” he said.
People’s Action Party stalwarts told ST
the speculation comes from the close contest from the Workers’ Party team led by chairman Sylvia Lim at the last election.
Then, the PAP won the GRC with only 56.1 per cent of the valid
votes.
Meanwhile, residents at Aljunied GRC can look forward to more
upgrading, with an announcement on Friday of a five-year estate
improvement plan.
Its last five-year plan cost S$160 million, and focused on
promoting sports and family bonding.
PAP town councils usually announce such plans half a year before
the GE, said ST.
At least five other GRCs – East Coast, Jalan Besar, Ang Mo Kio,
Marine Parade, and Hong Kah – are expected to unveil their
multi-million-dollar improvement plans over the coming weeks.
Marine Parade Town Council chairman Lim Biow Chuan said plans will be “targeted and
localised” to the needs of each ward.
Aljunied Town Council chairman Cynthia Phua said their upcoming plan is “very
comprehensive”.
In addition to promoting neighbourliness, it is “aimed at
enhancing the physical infrastructure and social well-being of
residents,” she said. “It is to ensure that Aljunied remains a
thriving, vibrant and people-centred township.”
One theme, it seems, is to make estates more elderly-friendly,
reported the paper. For instance, there are plans to convert
the community park and playgrounds in Serangoon into wellness and
fitness corners.
Mr Yeo also hinted of improvements to Hougang town, the area
around Hougang Avenue 10.
In a post on his Facebook page last month, he said he had “an
excellent meeting with HDB folks on exciting remaking of Hougang
and Kangkar.”
