PAP's Xie Yao Quan 'hopes' for contest in new Jurong Central SMC, could face RDU's Emily Woo

Jurong GRC Member of Parliament (MP) Xie Yao Quan looks forward to a contest in Jurong Central Single Member Constituency (SMC), although with the caveat that he has not yet been confirmed as a candidate for the SMC.

Xie, 40, was elected in the 2020 General Election (GE) and helms the Jurong Central division of Jurong GRC.

This has since been carved out to become a separate SMC following the release and adoption of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's (EBRC) report on Mar. 11, 2025.

Hopes for a contest

CNA reported Xie as saying, on Mar. 23:

“I don't know who will come and contest this SMC. I also don't think it is the most productive exercise for me to be thinking about who will come and contest, but I do hope that someone will come and contest this SMC."

Xie added:

“I think it is important, I think it is going to be good for residents to have a chance to exercise their democratic right and to make a choice that's in their best interest.

So I hope somebody will come and contest.”

Potential face-off with Red Dot United

That "someone" Xie is hoping for could be from opposition party Red Dot United (RDU).

RDU told CNA, on Mar. 23, that it intends to contest Jurong Central SMC in the upcoming GE.

During a walkabout at Yuhua Market and Hawker Centre, RDU also introduced Emily Woo, a 59-year-old piano teacher, ST reported.

RDU made a Facebook post noting that Woo will be doing most of the ground work in the SMC ahead of the election, and will be taking the lead in the area:

When asked if Woo would be fielded by CNA, however, RDU's secretary-general Ravi Philemon was circumspect:

“It’s too early to say. But I mean, it's plain for everyone to see that Emily is here.

We have highlighted Emily to be the team lead for Jurong Central SMC."

Previously, RDU introduced Kala Manickam as their "groundwork leader" for Jalan Kayu SMC.

Jurong without President Tharman

Xie noted that whether he stands as a candidate in Jurong Central SMC will depend on Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is currently Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (PAP).

Xie, a first-time parliamentarian, was introduced by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam during the 2020 GE to replace Ivan Lim.

When asked about whether he was taking a different approach to the upcoming election, given he could be fielded as an SMC candidate without President Tharman at his side, Xie replied, "My mantra is, we take good care of residents. We let the rest take care of itself."

Jurong GRC has developed a reputation as a PAP stronghold.

Garnering nearly 75 per cent of the votes, Jurong GRC was the best performing constituency for PAP in GE 2020.

Jurong has seen four contests during its lifetime as a GRC, and they were the best performing constituency in 2015 as well.

In three of them, the PAP won with over 70 per cent of the votes, with the 2006 election an uncontested walkover.

With the one constant in all of these dominant wins, President Tharman, removed from the equation, it remains to be seen if PAP's dominance in the area will be affected.

Top photo from Xie Yao Quan/Facebook & Emily Woo/Facebook.