Speaking to the media at a constituency event, DPM Tharman apologised to the Bukit Batok residents on behalf of the ruling party, reassuring them that the SMC's needs will be taken care of.
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Tharman apologises to Bukit Batok residents on behalf of PAP; says first priority is to make sure Bukit Batok is in good hands ahead of by-election. http://bit.ly/1plNv30
"Mr David Ong has apologised. But I want to say to Bukit Batok residents on behalf of the party that we are deeply sorry that this has happened. It is totally unexpected. But it has happened. And we must now rebuild. And we will. Our first priority is to make sure that Bukit Batok is in good hands until the by-election.
That's our first priority. It is a single member constituency, not part of the GRC. But it's part of the Jurong family, together with Jurong GRC and Yuhua (Minister Grace Fu's SMC). So we will make sure that it is taken care of. And that's why Mr Desmond Lee (Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Home Affairs & Ministry of National Development) will be here on the ground making sure that residents' needs are met. Making sure that the grassroots are together. We rebuild from here.
Secondly, Mr Ang Wei Neng (2nd term Jurong GRC MP) will take over as Chairman of the town council because it was David Ong who was also chairman of the town council and that will also happen with immediate effect.
So this is a set back. Residents will be disappointed. David Ong has worked extremely hard. I mean, he's a really hard-working MP, he spends 4-5 times a week in Bukit Batok, weekends, weekdays, nights. He will be disappointed, but please don't worry. We will take care of Bukit Batok."