5 observations on Minister Lawrence Wong's move from West Coast GRC to anchor Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC

Congrats on the promotion, Minister Wong.

Martino Tan| August 02, 10:22 AM

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong will leave West Coast GRC to contest in the new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC at the next general election.

 

Thank'>
you Boon Lay for the friendships and memories!

Posted by Lawrence Wong on Saturday, August 1, 2015

Wong, 42, who now oversees Boon Lay ward in West Coast GRC, announced his move at a national day dinner in Woodgrove ward.

Woodgrove, which is helmed by MP Ong Teng Koon, is now part of the new four-MP group representation constituency.

What does that mean? We help you make sense of this move by the People's Action Party (PAP) with five observations: 

1. The fourth generation leaders emerge: All the first-term Ministers (Chan Chun Sing, Heng Swee Keat, Tan Chuan-Jin, and Lawrence Wong) will now anchor a GRC. Chan is leading Tanjong Pagar GRC, Heng is leading Tampines GRC, and Tan is leading Marine Parade GRC.

2. First young Minister to move: Wong will be the first minister who entered politics in 2011 to leave his original seat and lead a team in another.

3. The question on who will helm Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC is answered. In fact, the slate for the newly formed four-member constituency is almost confirmed: Wong, Ong, Alex Yam, and a replacement for four-term MP and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Hawazi Daipi. Word in the Chinese papers is that Speaker Halimah Yacob will be the fourth member. We think this will help increase the minority representation and lower the testosterone level.

4. How about potential Minister Ong Ye Kung? Lianhe Zaobao speculated last Saturday (July 25) that potential Minister and Aljunied GRC 2011 candidate Ong Ye Kung could lead Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. It is now more likely that Ong will be an understudy to Sembawang anchor Minister and PAP Chairman Khaw Boon Wan in this GE.

5. The Minister without a constituency: Another speculation was that Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew will lead the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC. Lui's Moulmein ward was split between the four surrounding GRCs when the electoral boundaries report was released last Friday. It appears that the poor Minister and former Rear-Admiral has no GRC to lead and no ward to manage. For now.

 

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