The People's Action Party (PAP) team for Marine Parade GRC has some big shoes to fill after Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong announced he will not be standing in GE2020.

But that doesn't mean that his influence will be gone entirely.

In response to a query from the media on Goh's departure, Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin said:

"I mean clearly, ESM is irreplaceable, given his experience, his stature, all of us have the greatest regard for him, as do many residents. And as I said, we're really really glad that he continues to be involved in our community here. I think he's a very special individual, and he's very precious to all of us."

Tan added that the things that Goh believe in will not fundamentally change, and the Marine Parade GRC team will build on that and take it further. The team comprises:

• Tan Chuan-Jin
• Edwin Tong
• Seah Kian Peng
• Mohd Fahmi
• Tan See Leng

Goh Chok Tong remains involved

Tong added that Goh will still be around, "remains very much involved", and is expected to appear on the campaign trail.

Tong also spoke of Goh's value system, namely his never-say-die attitude, his work ethic, and his fundamental ethos that places the resident in front of everything that the team does, and that's the system that the team will continue.

Beyond such principles, the team also took the traditional route of laying out initiatives and infrastructure improvements that residents of the GRC can expect to see, such as a caregiver support network, WE CARE programs that provide free meals for the needy, a new polyclinic, preschool and childcare centre, and a new MRT station.

Fatimah Lateef will provide advice

But Goh is not the only one missing in the Marine Parade line-up.

Fatimah Lateef, who has been a Member of Parliament for Marine Parade GRC since 2006, is also absent from the line-up.

When asked about her departure from the team, Tan said that Lateef has been heavily involved at the front line in the fight against COVID-19 in Singapore.

He said, "I think many of you will also know, in the COVID-19 fight, if you follow her Facebook, she’s right in the thick of it."

"And many of you will know, she’s a very very dedicated doctor working really hard on the ground," he added.

Fahmi Aliman said that he will look towards Fatimah as a "sounding board where [he] can bounce off certain ideas [and] ask for certain advice."

Anchor Speaker

Marine Parade also happens to be the only GRC without a Cabinet Minister or Senior Minister, although it does have the Speaker and a Senior Minister of State in Edwin Tong,

When asked if it was possible that a Marine Parade GRC team member could be made a full Cabinet Minister, Tan said that he will not take a victory for granted, and that the team will put the residents first.

He added that the Prime Minister may ask MPs to do certain things, or designate certain roles to them, but that is for the future, and currently he "co-leads" the team together with the others.

Tan's team will take on a Workers' Party team in Marine Parade GRC.

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Top image from PAP.