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People’s Action Party (PAP) Ng Chee Meng was spotted meeting residents at Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency (SMC), this weekend.
A video, published on social media by the ‘Potong Pasir SMC’ Facebook page, shows Mr Ng surrounded by a group of men as he makes his way around a neighbourhood coffeeshop, smiling, shaking hands and making conversation with residents.
The video has caused some to speculate that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) is desperate to hold on to the ward, which belonged to the opposition for 27 years, from 1984 to 2011.
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Having joined politics during the 2015 General Election, Mr Ng is a former Chief of Defence Force who now serves as Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC).
He currently serves as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) – the labour movement of Singapore.
According to the 2015 Electoral Division Map, Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC is separated from Potong Pasir SMC by the Aljunied-Hougang stronghold controlled by the only other political party in Parliament, the Workers’ Party.
Potong Pasir SMC was controlled by the opposition until the 2011 General Election, when the PAP regained control of the Singapore People’s Party-held (SPP) ward when SPP secretary-general and former Potong Pasir MP Chiam See Tong left the constituency to contest Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.
Mr Chiam, who at one time was Singapore’s only elected opposition politician, represented Potong Pasir SMC from 1984 to 2011. In 2011, Mr Chiam chose to lead a team contesting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC while his wife Lina Chiam was fielded to Potong Pasir.
The SPP lost both Bishan-Toa Payoh and Potong Pasir and was unable to regain Potong Pasir SMC in the 2015 General Election. -/TISG
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