By Lynda Hong | Posted: 08 November 2010 1204
hrs
SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Trade &
Industry and Manpower Lee Yi Shyan has said that if he is asked to
stand as a candidate in Joo Chiat for the next General Election, he
will be "happy but reluctant".
He is the Second Adviser in Joo Chiat, a Single Member Constituency
(SMC), currently helmed by MP Chan Soo Sen.
Speaking to reporters on Monday ahead of a ministerial visit to
Kampong Chai Chee, Mr Lee cited his strong team of grassroots
leaders at Kampong Chai Chee as a reason for his reluctance to
leave his current ward.
He also spoke of the vision ahead for Kampong Chai Chee.
He said: "When we were working on Kampong Chai Chee, we really
worked on it wholeheartedly. I never had second thoughts about
going elsewhere because I owe it all my volunteers here, and my
residents here.
"It's really exciting to work towards a common vision of improving
a fairly old estate."
A rollerskate park and playground is about to make way to a new
sports hub to be integrated into Kampong Chai Chee Community
Centre.
The old Bedok Swimming Complex and other sporting amenities, except
the jogging track, will also be replaced by new HDB flats.
Mr Lee said: "If the new housing can come in, then we have a chance
to inject new housing and new families into Kampong Chai Chee, into
Bedok Centre. And that's a very good thing to do, from the point of
renewal, and from the point of adding dynamism to Bedok."
Plans also include a revamp of Bedok interchange - to become hubs
like Ang Mo Kio and Toa Payoh - housing 500 new residential
units.
Despite the ongoing work in Kampong Chai Chee, Mr Lee said if
asked, he would be "happy" to stand in Joo Chiat.
"I think the PAP looks at politics in a very serious way, in the
sense that our ultimate goal is really to secure the best future
for Singapore. Whether as individual candidates we compete in SMC
or GRC, it's really for a higher objective," he added.
In the past, office-holders like Mr Lee have been moved to contest
in single seat constituencies.
In the next General Election due by February 2012, at least three
new SMCs are expected to be carved out.
- CNA/wk/al
Would this hint suggest that "what's the name of that fella" from
JC is retiring? 
