Electoral Boundaries Review Committee should have space to work independently & objectively: Chan Chun Sing

Requirements or instructions should not be imposed on the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) and instead the committee should be given space to do their work independently and objectively without fear or favour, said Minister-in-charge of Public Service Chan Chun Sing.

Chan was addressing Progress Singapore Party NCMP Hazel Poa's question in the parliament on Friday (Feb. 28).

Poa had asked why the prime minister "did not see the need" to instruct the EBRC to offer greater transparency on the rationale behind boundary changes.

Directing EBRC to provide greater transparency on reasons for boundary changes

Poa said the past three elections saw the EBRC closely adhering to the Terms of Reference set by former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2011, including that there should at least be 12 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) in the General Election (GE).

Not only that, the EBRC in the last three elections was also directed to reduce the average size of group representation constituencies (GRCs) and/or to increase the number of SMCs.

However, Poa said that this time, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong had directed the EBRC to keep the average size of GRCs, the proportion of members of parliament elected from SMCs, and the average ratio of electors to elected MPs about the same size as it was in the last GE.

She asked if PM Wong believed it would be in voters' best interest not to reduce the average GRC sizes or increase the proportion of MPs elected from SMCs.

"Does he not agree that [directing EBRC to provide greater transparency on reasons for boundary changes] would be conducive to building public trust and hence beneficial for the country?"

Government should avoid imposing instructions on EBRC that are "too prescriptive"

Responding to Poa, Chan said that the current Terms of Reference "provide some stability" in the current electoral landscape by having a balance in the proportion of GRCs and SMCs.

Chan pointed out that the EBRC has a limit to being asked repeatedly to reduce the number of GRCs, until all electoral divisions are SMCs.

Chan said that having MPs serve a similar average number of electors as in the last election will allow MPs in the coming parliament to continue to serve, and represent their residents effectively.

The minister added that the government should avoid imposing instructions on the EBRC that are "too prescriptive".

"[Instead,] give [the] EBRC, which comprises senior civil servants with the relevant professional knowledge and expertise, the space to do their work independently and objectively, without fear or favour."

When Poa pressed for further reasoning behind EBRC's decision, Chan replied: "I'm quite sure EBRC will explain its thinking in due course."

Background

In January, PM Wong convened the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.

Singapore's voter rolls for the general election were open for public inspection from Feb. 15 to Feb. 28.

From Mar. 12 to 19, a list of claims will be made available for inspection.

Singapore's general election must be held by November 2025.

Top image via Google Street View and MDDI/YouTube