Melissa Tan, potential PAP candidate, spotted with Cheryl Chan of East Coast GRC

Back in Nov. 2024, Mothership reported that a new face had been seen walking the ground in Fengshan, part of East Coast GRC.

That individual was Melissa Tan, Chief Executive Officer of waste management firm Wah and Hua.

Recently, she was seen at a walkabout together with Cheryl Chan, who happens to be a Member of Parliament for East Coast GRC.

Chan shared some photos of the event on her Facebook page.

In several of those photos, Tan could be see accompanying Chan, meeting and interacting with residents of Tanah Merah Kechil and Jalan Anak Patong.

Chan shared that she received feedback on the 2025 Budget and learned that some residents were "enthused" to give back to the community via various initiatives.

"That's what Forward SG is about. We can all play a part!" Chan said.

Tan also serves as the Chairwoman of the Waste Management & Recycling Association of Singapore (WMRAS).

She is also a Board Member representing the Asia-Pacific region at the International Solid Waste Association (ISWA).

Tan also holds a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and Finance from Curtin University, and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Leicester.

The Straits Times previously reported that Tan has been volunteering with the party for 20 years.

However, she was most active in Hong Kah North SMC, represented in Parliament by PAP's Amy Khor.

She only started joining the Fengshan team in early Nov. 2024.

Fengshan's electoral history

Fengshan has gone through a few changes in its electoral history.

It was initially created in 1984 out of Bedok, Changi and Chai Chee constituencies as an SMC.

The PAP had a walkover victory, and again in 1988. In 1991, it was absorbed as part of the Bedok GRC.

It was contested by the Workers' Party (WP), but won by the PAP.

Bedok GRC was merged with Eunos SMC to form East Coast GRC in 1997, where the PAP had a walkover victory.

It had another one in 2001.

In 2006, East Coast GRC saw its first contest, with the WP standing. Since then, East Coast GRC has been contested by the WP in every general election, with its good performances in 2011 and 2015 earning them Non-Constituency MP seats.

Fengshan was carved out of East Coast to become an SMC once more in 2015. Cheryl Chan, who was part of the East Coast team in 2011, stood again in 2015 against Dennis Tan of the WP, winning her contest.

However Fengshan's status as a revived SMC was short-lived, as it was yet again absorbed by East Coast GRC in 2020.

Who will run in East Coast GRC?

With Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong’s Joo Chiat ward being redrawn into East Coast ahead of GE2025, there are now potentially and six MPs who could be fielded in the five-seat GRC, including three cabinet ministers.

Top image from Cheryl Chan Facebook page.