DPM Heng welcomes contest in East Coast, confident that S'poreans are wise

People Action Party's East Coast team welcomes any opposition parties to contest in East Coast, said Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat on Apr. 5, 2025.

"At the end of the day, it's the voters' choice... I have the utmost confidence that Singaporeans are wise," he added.

@mothershipsg DPM Heng said that it was not so much about the election results, but about Singapore’s future. So he trusts that voters will make a good choice at the polls. #mothershipGE2025 #pap #singapore ♬ original sound - Mothership

He also said that Singapore is entering a much more turbulent time in the coming years.

"There is a serious risk that the global trading system, the global supply chain, will be rewired, will be fragmented and will need to be rewired."

DPM Heng was speaking at Yarrow Park after a walkabout in Siglap. Joining him at the walkabout were Culture, Community and Youth Minister Edwin Tong, Senior Minister of State Tan Kiat How, Deputy Speaker Jessica Tan and new faces Dinesh Vasu and Hazlina Abdul Halim.

Sharing a border

Tong told reporters that the integration of his Joo Chiat ward into East Coast GRC is "quite natural" as he shares a border constituency-wise with DPM Heng.

@mothershipsg With the expanded coastline following the merger of the constituencies, Tong said it opens up more possibilities for turning East Coast into a place for family bonding and recreation. #mothershipGE2025 #pap #edwintong #singapore ♬ original sound - Mothership

"I discussed with him (DPM Heng), and we found that we now have an expanded coastline, which we can do a lot with, and it gives us a lot more with in terms of planning," said Tong.

He added that his ward and the larger East Coast GRC share similarities such as culture, appreciation of food and even population demographics.

Meanwhile, DPM Heng described the integration as an interesting experience and emphasised how the East Coast MPs operate as a team.

"We operate as a team, and they can maximize the value of every part division, and we engage our residents in a way that allows us to reach out more effectively," said the DPM.

New faces

Former AIC CEO Dinesh Vasu Dash and former Make-A-Wish Singapore CEO Hazlina Abdul Halim were also in attendance, making it two appearances at East Coast GRC in less than a week. They were spotted at the mosque visit in Chai Chee on Mar. 31.

Dinesh told reporters on Apr. 5: "While I'm a newcomer, it's not really a new place for me, because I've spent some time on the ground not just walking around and understanding what the residents concerns are, but to also understand the senior landscape."

@mothershipsg Dinesh, who had been CEO of the Agency of Integrated Care before stepping down ahead of GE2025, has been seen in successive weekends with the PAP's East Coast team. #fyp #Tiktoksg #mothershipge2025 ♬ original sound - Mothership

Hazlina said that it's very heartening to experience the harmony in East Coast.

"I think one thing in particular that jumped out at me having the opportunity to join Minister Edwin and DPM Heng as well as the rest of the team, is how important harmony is here. The multicultural communities here really get together to defend the unity and the harmony of our Singapore. And that's been very heartening," she said.

Top image by Mothership