Singapore GE 2016 Prediction: The Battle for Aljunied GRC

Singapore General Elections 2016: Our Prediction ... Tan Chuan-Jin to take on Low Thia Khiang

 

In an interesting development, SG Bumiputera believes that Minister Tan Chuan-Jin maybe set to take-on Low Thia Khiang in the latter's strong-hold of Aljunied-Hougang. Fresh from his Ministerial Community Visit over the weekend, PAP activists have obtained a good sense of the ground and they feel that the Worker's Party hold on Aljunied-Hougang is shaky.

 

While Minister Tan Chuan-Jin was diplomatic in his comments that the municipal issues faced by the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Councils (AHPETC) was nothing peculiar, this is far from the truth. Many resident Chuan-Jin met during his walk-about expressed their unhappiness over the cleanliness of the estate, deteriorating infrastructure that was affecting their safety and the anger that Low Thia Khiang and his cronies were profiteering at the expense of residents.

One such example is how projects under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme (NRP) at Blocks 121 to 127, 135 to 148 & 151 to 154 Serangoon North Ave 1 & 2, which includes the upgrading of the basketball court at Block 135, Serangoon North Avenue 2 was unilaterally cut by AHPETC after they received the funds from the Government. Despite several reminds by HDB to AHPETC, AHPETC has not updated residents on the revised scope and progress of the NRP works. In short, The Worker's Party and AHPETC are deliberately creating a perception of persecution by denying residents what the Government has provided and then claiming that the Government is treating the residents of Aljunied-Hougang as 2nd class citizens.

 

Fortunately, or unfortunately, for Mr Low Thia Khiang, the PAP team at Aljunied-Hougang are fighters and they are willing to do what it takes to win the GRC back for the 45% that voted for the PAP. While opposition members have claimed that the distribution of flyers by Mr Victor Lye is illegal, many residents have told Mr Tan Chuan-Jin that they are happy that it was done. It was only because of the flyers that they now know what is going on. In fact, what is helping turn the tide in Aljunied-Hougang is the Worker's Party's own continued refusal to answer questions posed to them about AHPETC by residents - despite them stating in Parliament that they will answer to their residents.

 

At SG Bumipetra, we believe that the end of the Worker's Party control of Aljunied-Hougang is near. We predict that given Mr Tan Chuan-Jin's sincerity, if he is fielded in Aljunied GRC, it will be a close fight. But our money is on Mr Tan Chuan-Jin to win.