Ong Ye Kung, Grace Fu, SM Lee react to EBRC report, say nearby SMCs part of extended GRC 'family'

Changes to Sembawang Group Representation Constituency (GRC) are "not surprising", said Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung.

Ong, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Sembawang GRC since September 2015, pointed out in a Facebook post on Mar. 12 that more residents have moved into the area, and the population has "expanded considerably."

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee's (EBRC) report, published on Mar. 11, stated that given the growth in Sembawang GRC, the committee recommended carving out polling districts to form a new Sembawang West Single Member Constituency.

Other members of the Cabinet, including Minister Grace Fu and Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, have responded with similar messages.

Sembawang

Ong said that increasing the number of MPs in the area from five to six will help them better serve the residents' needs.

He added that the new Sembawang West SMC will be part of the "Sembawang family" as its upgrading and development plans will be part of the GRC and town development plan.

In addition, Sembawang West SMC will have more autonomy and flexibility to implement initiatives to address the specific needs of its residents.

"After the General Election, and if we are returned as MPs, I intend to assign [Woodlands] Galaxy Community Club (CC) to the SMC, even though the CC falls just outside of the SMC boundaries," said Ong.

Yuhua

Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu has been an MP for Yuhua SMC since 2006.

However, the EBRC's report recently recommended that Yuhua SMC merge with Bukit Batok SMC, parts of Hong Kah North SMC, and Jurong GRC to form a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Fu said in a Facebook post on Mar. 12 that Yuhua is the smallest electoral division, with a declining number of voters.

Fu noted the EBRC's decision to merge Yuhua with other divisions to form the new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

She also mentions EBRC's consideration of factors like population shifts between different electoral divisions and new housing developments to keep the average ratio of electors to elected MPs about the same as it was at the last GE.

"I will work with the other incumbent MPs on a smooth transition. We have your interest at heart and will continue to serve you to the best of our ability," said Fu.

Ang Mo Kio

The EBRC also recommended reducing the size of Ang Mo Kio GRC by carving out some polling districts to form a new Jalan Kayu SMC.

Ang Mo Kio GRC, headed by Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has the most electors of any electoral division, with 190,800 electors.

In a statement on the People's Action Party Teck Ghee branch's Facebook page, SM Lee stated that the new SMC will include private estates along Jalan Kayu Road, the Seletar Aerospace Park, and some public homes in Fernvale.

This reduction is a "natural process" as Ang Mo Kio's population has grown over the years, the GRC has been broken off to form separate SMCs, and the GRC's own area has reduced.

SM Lee noted that Yio Chu Kang SMC and Kebun Bahru SMC are also part of the "Ang Mo Kio extended family," working together in the Ang Mo Kio Town Council to deliver activities and services for residents.

"I look forward to looking after the residents of Jalan Kayu SMC in the same way too, after the forthcoming general elections."

Top photos via Ong Ye Kung/Facebook & Lee Hsien Loong/Facebook