January 27, 2010
Written by Our Correspondent
Veteran opposition leader Mr Chiam See Tong will be abandoning
his stronghold of Potong Pasir to lead a team to contest in
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC led by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan
Seng.
The stunning news was revealed today by Chairman of the
Singapore People’s Party Mr Sin Kek Tong to the media and was
published in Shin Min Daily.
It was not revealed who else will be running together with Mr
Chiam in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
Mr Chiam’s wife, retired nurse Ms Lina Loh will take over his
place in Potong Pasir.
Mr Chiam first won the single seat of Potong Pasir in 1984 when
he defeated PAP’s Mah Bow Tan by winning 60.8 per cent of the valid
votes.
He were to keep his seat by winning the subsequent 5 elections
and becoming the longest-serving opposition MP in Parliament.
Mr Chiam just celebrate his 25th anniversary as MP for Potong
Pasir and judging from the response he received from the residents
attending the dinner, it is evident that he is still highly popular
among them.
Ms Lina Loh has been working the ground for the last few years
and cuts a familiar figure in Potong Pasir.
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC has not witnessed any electoral contests
since 1988 while Mr Chiam won his seat during the last election by
55 per cent of the votes.
Mr Chiam has earlier indicated his desire to break the PAP’s
stranglehold on the GRCs by winning the one.
The closest the opposition has come to winning a GRC since the
scheme was first introduced in 1988 was at Eunos GRC during the
same year where the Workers’ Party trio of Francis Seow, Lee Siew
Choh and Mohamad Yackob won 49.1 per cent of the votes.
While Mr Wong may not be the most popular PAP leader in
Singapore, Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC has been his stronghold for over 20
years and it may be difficult for Mr Chiam to dislodge him.
News source: Shin Min Daily
A bit outdated. I think the Shin Min report showed the 5 faces
of those who will be contesting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC together with
Mr Chiam.
