Edwin Tong aims to integrate Joo Chiat into East Coast GRC seamlessly as possible

Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong, the newest addition to the East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) team, said on Mar. 23 that he has been discussing with the team about how to integrate his ward, Joo Chiat, into plans for the East Coast.

This hints that Tong — who is also Second Minister for Law — is likely to join the People's Action Party (PAP)'s East Coast line-up for the upcoming general election (GE).

Tong made these remarks at a media doorstop after a walkabout at the Pasar 16@ Bedok hawker centre, located at 16 Bedok South Road, on the morning of Mar. 23.

Tong and Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, who currently helms the East Coast GRC team, went from table to table to engage residents and converse with stallholders.

It was Tong's first walkabout in East Coast GRC since his Joo Chiat ward — currently part of Marine Parade GRC — was subsumed into East Coast.

This was the result of boundary changes announced in the Mar. 11 Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report.

Looking to integrate Joo Chiat into East Coast: Tong

Later, when asked by Mothership if he felt welcomed in East Coast GRC, Tong said, "I feel so".

Tong said he was warmly welcomed by the East Coast GRC team, and that he felt "a sense of genuine warmth" from residents in the area.

When asked about the new boundaries, Tong observed that his ward of Joo Chiat was "neighbours" with Heng's own Bedok ward.

"Electoral boundaries are just electoral boundaries, but people exist on both sides of the line, families on both sides...that's why I think there's a lot of synergy between what has been started at East Coast, via the East Coast Plan, and what we've been doing at Joo Chiat," he said.

Tong added that "food on both sides of the border is equally good" and they are looking to "build on that" by improving dining offerings and expanding recreational spaces such as along the East Coast Parkway (ECP) area.

"Now that we have a longer stretch that we can work with, we are looking at that and discussing with DPM and other colleagues some of their plans to see how we can integrate Joo Chiat into East Coast," said Tong.

Tong said that having served in Joo Chiat for the past 10 years, he had the opportunity to start a number of programmes there.

"Painful as it is to leave Marine Parade GRC, I hope that if I'm given an opportunity, I would be able to serve residents in Joo Chiat, but under East Coast GRC," he added.

East Coast Plan

Referring to the East Coast Plan introduced by Heng in the 2020 election, Tong said his first step was to understand the people and the way in which the plan impacts and improves of residents in East Coast.

Tong added he aims to minimise disruption for residents in Joo Chiat, and wished to integrate Joo Chiat into East Coast in as seamless a manner as possible.

"So that there's minimal disruption to them, the programmes that we have promised and we started in Joo Chiat will continue, and we plug into the East Coast programme quite seamlessly," Tong said.

Still not confirmed

When asked if the new boundaries means Tong will be contesting in East Coast, Heng caveated that the PAP's final lineup would be determined by PAP's secretary general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

"I've given him my inputs, so we will wait for Nomination Day", said Heng.

Tong added that he and Heng had entered politics in the same year, and know each other personally.

He also expressed gratitude for Heng welcoming him into the East Coast GRC team.

"He (Heng) has given me a lot of his time to give me insights, show me the ropes and give me a good understanding of East Coast GRC", said Tong.

Tong is still a Marine Parade GRC Member of Parliament (MP).

On Mar. 22, one day ago, Tong had been spotted on a walkabout at Marine Terrace Market with his fellow Marine Parade GRC MPs.

Top image by Azrizal Abu Che'