The new Sengkang GRC is expected to be one of the key battlegrounds in this General Election as both Workers' Party (WP) and incumbent People's Action Party (PAP) look set to clash heads.

4-person PAP team likely to contest in Sengkang GRC

On Sunday morning, June 28, Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress Ng Chee Meng led a four-man team (literally) to Block 263 Compassvale Street.

Within this quaint residential estate, there is a Koufu food court, Prime supermarket, as well as several mom and pop shops where the team met some residents in the late morning.

Ng was followed by 15-year Member of Parliament (MP) of the previous Sengkang SMC, Lam Pin Min, as well as former MP at Sembawang GRC Amrin Amin, and new candidate Raymond Lye.

Lam was also the Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport, while Amrin was the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs.

While this part of Sengkang was previously part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, the proximity to Anchorvale and Lam's long-time presence has also made him a familiar face to several residents.

Amrin Amin was also not entirely new to the area as he seemed to have been interacting with the Sengkang residents online for some time.

Earlier, he posted a music video on Facebook of him singing a Xinyao song, featuring some residents and sights in Sengkang.

Being introduced on the same day as helicopter pilot Poh Li San, one of the most prominent PAP candidates from this batch, Lye was inevitably overshadowed by Poh at the introduction session on June 25.

However, the 54-year-old managing partner of a law firm has proven himself to be quite natural at engaging residents, with close to 30 years of volunteering work in clans, societies and the community under his belt.

At the walkabout, the four men mostly engaged residents independently, including Lye, despite this being his first GE.

DPM Heng Swee Keat visits Sengkang GRC

Deputy Prime Minister and the party's first assistant secretary-general Heng Swee Keat also joined the walkabout in Sengkang on Sunday morning.

Heng said he is visiting Sengkang GRC to hear how residents are coping with the current situation and gather feedback for the Budget.

Heng added that he is glad to hear from many of them that businesses have gradually resumed and the measures, such as job support scheme and rental waiver, have been of "significant help" to them.

Heng also said that he was glad to meet many volunteers who are helping the local community and businesses during this trying period.

The walkabout concluded with a doorstop with both Heng, Ng and Amrin at a void deck nearby.

Focus on livelihood concerns of Sengkang residents

Ng said that the team has been walking the ground over the past few weeks and reiterated that the topline concern remains livelihoods.

Ng said that he hopes his team is able to move government policies to the ground so as to make these measures accessible for residents:

"We are bringing in a satellite job centre in Sengkang CC. This week, on July 2 and July 3, we'll be bringing in job fairs... trying to match displaced workers to new jobs.

Sengkang GRC is a new GRC, we are going around to hear what they are saying so that we can also strategise and plan for this new GRC... to bring the best outcome for the resident."

In response to the possible challenge from WP, Ng said the team is focusing on the needs and feedback from residents, regardless of which opposition party comes and contest in this constituency.

Over the past few weeks, Ng said that the livelihoods remain as the main concern that residents raised in the constituency.

"Through government policies, we hope to safeguard livelihoods, jobs, and businesses," Ng added.

Separately, Amrin acknowledged that a tough contest is expected and while he is sad to leave Sembawang GRC, he is committed to serving the residents in Sengkang with the same dedication.

Heng visiting various parts of Singapore

Heng was spotted visiting West Coast the day before on Saturday, and in response to a media query, Heng said he will be going around to understand Singaporeans' concerns better. Heng said:

"I'm also going to visit many places... and I'll be all over the place. I'll be going around to understand our Singaporeans' concerns better and to see, in particular, how the measures that we've been putting in over the last few months have been helping our people and whether more support will be needed."

Heng also emphasised that a clear mandate and support are important for the government to lead people through this pandemic promptly.

"It is likely that every seat will be contested, and therefore, the risk that everybody thinking the way that, 'It's okay, let's us just take a risk with this' it is not something I will recommend," Heng said in response to the competition against other opposition parties.

Heng added:

"We are facing unprecedented challenges on many fronts, on the healthcare front economic front, social front, geopolitical front, these are major challenges for many nations. For a young nation like us, it's very important for us not just to think about the election but think about our future. What are we going to do five years from now, 10 years from now? Will we emerge stronger? Will our people have a better life? Let's focus on the core issues."

Besides West Coast and Sengkang, Heng had also visited Marine Parade, as well as his home ground Tampines GRC on Sunday morning.

Top photo by Zheng Zhangxin