SINGAPORE - Aljunied GRC MPs Sylvia Lim and Gerald Giam said they were sad to see three polling districts in their ward move to neighbouring Tampines GRC, part of a slew of changes to the electoral map ahead of Singapore’s next general election.
Ms Lim told reporters that the Aljunied MPs, especially Mr Giam, had been actively engaging residents there over the past years. The three districts being carved out are under Mr Giam’s care as they are currently part of Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division.
Ms Lim, who is Workers’ Party chairwoman, said the town council has also been working hard to solve some of the teething issues in the new GreenGem estate, which include a rat infestation and issues with food waste and debris disposal.
“It’s a pity that now they will no longer be under our charge and whatever work we have done, we’ll have to pass it on,” she added.
Mr Giam said residents in the affected areas have messaged him to express their sadness at being moved to another constituency.
He said he will continue to serve residents there until the end of his term as MP. “After that, hopefully whoever takes over will have a good slate to take over a good, well-maintained estate,” he added.
Mr Giam also noted that this is one of the few times that the boundaries of an opposition ward has been redrawn. He said the WP’s aim is to do their best, “whatever is thrown at us”.
“In politics, especially in Singapore, we always have to expect that the areas that we’re working on will be carved out,” he added.
Asked whether he will continue to stand in Aljunied at the 2025 polls, Mr Giam said his party will make that decision.
The Aljunied MPs’ comments on March 12 came a day after [the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report,](/singapore/politics/ge2025-electoral-boundaries-announced-15-smcs-and-18-grcs) which has been accepted by the Government.
The revisions mean electoral boundaries will change for 22 of the current 31 constituencies, including to several wards in the east and west that were hotly contested at the 2020 election.
The changes to Aljunied GRC are comparatively minor. It is one of three electoral divisions where the EBRC recommended adjustments to align electoral boundaries with key geographical features. The other constituencies with similar minor adjustments are Chua Chu Kang and Holland-Bukit Timah GRCs.
The three districts in Tampines West that are being carved out of the Workers’ Party-held ward have 3,834 voters in all.
Located east of Bedok Reservoir, they cover the Waterview and Tropica condominiums, as well as the new Tampines GreenGem Build-To-Order housing estate, which was fully completed in March 2024.
Mr Derrick Cheng, 48, who works in motor trade industry, moved to Tampines GreenGem about a year ago with his wife and daughter. He said he voted for WP at the last election, as his previous registered address was in Marine Parade.
Mr Cheng was not aware of the new boundary changes, and was surprised to learn about them. “Singapore needs an opposition voice in Parliament. If WP doesn’t contest in Tampines, then I won’t be voting. But if they do, I’ll vote for them,” he said.
On the other hand, Ms Kacey Phua, 28, who moved into Tampines GreenGem in October 2024, was happy she will be voting in Tampines GRC at the coming polls.
The tutor, who used to live in another part of Aljunied GRC, said she previously voted for the People’s Action Party because her family was dissatisfied with the cleanliness of the estate.
“After I moved into Tampines GreenGem, there was a very bad rat infestation and I feel it wasn’t resolved promptly. I still see rats around these days, although not as much,” she added.
With the boundary changes, Aljunied GRC will have 144,032 voters, compared with 147,866 if the boundaries had not been redrawn. It remains a five-member constituency.
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