PAP line-up for Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC includes Grace Fu as 'anchor minister' & ex-Hougang candidate

The People’s Action Party (PAP) unveiled its slate of candidates for the newly formed Jurong East–Bukit Batok Group Representation Constituency (GRC) ahead of the upcoming General Election.

The five candidates are Grace Fu, Murali Pillai, Rahayu Mahzam, and two new faces, David Hoe and Lee Hong Chuang.

Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC includes polling districts from the former Jurong GRC and three former Single Member Constituencies (SMCs): Hong Kah North, Bukit Batok, and Yuhua.

Jurong GRC, a PAP stronghold, was dissolved following the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s (EBRC) report, with its estates also being absorbed by Jurong Central SMC, and West Coast-Jurong West GRC.

The Line-up

Fu, Murali and Rahayu are familiar faces, and are the incumbent MPs of the estates in the region.

Fu is the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and is the current MP for Yuhua SMC.

Murali is the Minister of State for Law and Transport, and the current MP for Bukit Batok SMC.

Rahayu is the Minister of State of Digital Development & Information and Health, as well as the chair of the Bukit Batok East division under Jurong GRC.

Hoe is a new candidate being fielded for the first time while Lee isn’t exactly a new face.

He was PAP’s candidate for Hougang SMC in the 2020 and the 2015 general elections, losing to Workers’ Party candidates Dennis Tan and Png Eng Huat.

Lee was replaced as PAP’s Hougang branch chairman in 2023.

Outgoings

The 2020 Jurong GRC line-up included Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Tan Wu Meng and Shawn Huang, in addition to Rahayu and Xie.

Hong Kah North SMC was also won by Amy Khor.

Tharman was elected President in 2023, but Tan, Khor and Huang were not present at the press conference.

Fu acknowledged the contributions of Tan and Khor in her remarks, in a seeming nod to their withdrawal from Parliamentary politics:

"Finally, I'd like to express my heartfelt thanks to Dr Amy Khor and Dr Tan Wu Meng who have faithfully served Hong Kah North and Clementi over the years. Their legacy inspired us to continue their good work."

She did not mention Huang in this manner, but did say that the deployment of other MPs was the decision of the party's secretary-general, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

Another new face seen with Grace Fu in recent weeks, Cassandra Lee, was also not present at the press conference.

New-ish faces

David Hoe

Hoe, director of philanthropy at Majurity Trust, has been a volunteer with the PAP in Jurong since 2015.

Prior to The Majurity Trust, he was a principal business architect at YTL PowerSeraya Pte Ltd and a teacher at Eunoia Junior College where he was a recipient of the Caring Teacher Award.

Speaking to the media, Hoe said he want to be able to “make lives better” for every single Singaporeans by creating opportunities to realise their aspirations.

Lee Hong Chuang

Lee has been a party activist at Teck Ghee branch since 2004, and also served as a Branch Chairman for nine years in Hougang from 2014 to 2023.

He is currently working in an IT MNC, having obtained his Bachelor in Computer Science from NUS.

Lee said he has plans to implement more "family-centric programmes" to nurture greater rapport among families.

Possible opposition

Red Dot United (RDU) previously introduced its “team leads” for the GRC on Apr. 5, 2025, though they have yet to confirm their candidates.

RDU secretary-general Ravi Philemon introduced Liyana Dhamirah, Ben Puah, and Harish Mohanadas as members who will be leading the campaign in the Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC.

RDU previously contested in Jurong GRC during the 2020 general elections, facing off against the then-leader for PAP Jurong team and current President Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

PAP won with an overwhelming 75 per cent of the vote.

With the dissolution of Jurong GRC and the redistribution of voters across multiple constituencies, attention is now focused on how the new PAP team will perform in Jurong East–Bukit Batok GRC in this election.

Top photos by Azrizal Abuche/Mothership