A Complete & Long Guide to All The Elections in Each SMC, Simplified for You

You would have known by now that Nomination Day took place today and all candidates were supposed to submit their nomination papers before noon.

The papers have to be signed by the candidate or a group of candidates along with a proposer, a seconder and a minimum of four assentors.

Now that submissions have been closed, we will know who is standing in which constituency and what the hot seats are during this General Election.

And while you may think this is not very important amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, let me assure you that it is.

10 July will be the day that all Singaporeans of legal voting age cast their votes for the candidate(s) they think have their best interests at heart.

Whoever we vote will be the ones determining how Singapore will progress as a nation as we continue to fight the COVID-19 virus.

Since it can be quite overwhelming with the influx of so much information, here is a complete and long guide to all the elections in each SMC, simplified for you.

Bukit Batok (PAP’s Murali Pillai vs SDP’s Chee Soon Juan)

The seat in Bukit Batok SMC was previously won by People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Mr David Ong in 2015, but he later resigned after there were allegations that he was involved in an extra-marital affair.

Following the incident, Singapore Democratic Party’s (SDP) Dr Chee Soon Juan went up against PAP’s Mr Murali Pillai to contest for the seat in 2016.

Mr Murali eventually won the seat and took over Mr Ong.

During this year’s General Election, Dr Chee is once again going up against Mr Murali as they have both filed their nomination papers for Bukit Batok SMC.

Bukit Panjang (PAP’s Liang Eng Hwa vs SDP’s Paul Tambyah)

The seat in Bukit Panjang SMC was previously won by PAP’s Dr Teo Ho Pin. He outdid SDP’s Khung Wai Yeen, garnering 68.4% of the votes.

It was expected that Mr Khung would once again compete for the Bukit Panjang SMC seat since he was seen on the ground at Bukit Panjang meeting members of the public.

But in a turn of events, SDP chairman Paul Tambyah was reported to have filed his nomination papers for Bukit Panjang SMC at Methodist Girls’ School instead.

Dr Tambyah is a professor of medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and was initially expected to contest for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

He is an infectious disease expert who will be heading the Massachusetts-based International Society of Infectious Diseases in 2022.

He will be going against PAP’s Liang Eng Hwa.

Mr Liang served residents in Zhenghua for the past 14 years as part of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, but he will be contesting for Bukit Panjang SMC this time.

He said, “It is with a heavy heart I’ll leave Zhenghua but I am ready to serve Bukit Panjang, which I call home. My residents in Zhenghua often have familial links with those in Bukit Panjang SMC too, so I am no stranger.”

Mr Khung, on the other hand, took to his Facebook page to announce that he will be contesting for Marsiling Yew Tee GRC instead.

Hong Kah North (PAP’s Amy Khor vs PSP’s Gigene Wong)

The seat in Hong Kah North SMC was previously won by PAP’s Amy Khor after she outdid Singapore People’s Party’s Ravi Philemon by garnering 74.76% of the votes.

This time, Dr Khor will be going against Progress Singapore Party’s (PSP) Gigene Wong.

Ms Wong has just returned to Singapore at the beginning of the year after spending 20 years in China. She was previously the chief executive of Gulf Oil China and the chief financial officer of Foshan Electrical and Lighting.

She also made the promise that if she were to be elected, she will move to Hong Kah North from her current home in Ang Mo Kio.

She said, “I will contest wholeheartedly. I believe my voice, my heart will reach the people because I’m very down to earth, I’m not atas (high-class). If I’m elected, I will live there, so people can find me.”

Hougang (PAP’s Lee Hong Chuang vs WP’s Dennis Tan)

This face would be familiar to everyone:

The seat in Hougang SMC was previously won by Worker’s Party’s (WP) Png Eng Huat who outdid PAP’s Lee Hong Chuang after garnering 57.69% of the votes.

Hougang SMC has been helmed by WP since the General Election in 1991 where WP’s Low Thia Khiang went against PAP’s Tang Guan Seng.

This time, WP’s Dennis Tan will be going against PAP’s Lee Hong Chuang.

Mr Tan who is a shipping lawyer is determined to defend the Hougang SMC seat. He is not an unfamiliar face as he previously shadowed Mr Png in the last three years.

You might also remember him from the 2015 General Election where he contested for Fengshan SMC but ultimately lost to PAP’s Cheryl Chan after he garnered only 42.5% of the votes.

Despite losing, he got a seat as a Non-Constituency MP because he was one of the best-performing losers during that election.

Mr Lee is a senior IT manager and is chairman of PAP’s Hougang branch. While he lost to Mr Png in the 2015 elections, he is determined to win the elections this time around.

Kebun Baru (PAP’s Henry Kwek vs PSP’s Kumaran Pillai)

Kebun Baru is a new SMC that has been carved out from the Nee Soon GRC. It previously existed in the 1980s until 1991 before it was absorbed into the Ang Mo Kio GRC.

29 years later, Kebun Baru SMC is re-introduced.

Before Kebun Baru SMC was carved out of Nee Soon GRC, PAP’s Henry Kwek was the one in charge of the Kebun Baru ward since 2015.

This time, Mr Kwek will be going against PSP’s Kumaran Pillai.

Mr Kumaran was the former chief editor of The Online Citizen before he moved on the become a stakeholder and publisher of The Independent Singapore.

Despite earlier interest expressed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to contest for the seat, they ultimately pulled out of the election so that a three-corner fight does not occur.

MacPherson (PAP’s Tin Pei Ling vs PPP’s Goh Meng Seng)

The seat in MacPherson SMC was previously won by PAP’s Tin Pei Ling after she defeated both WP’s Bernard Chen and National Solidarity Party’s Cheo Chai Chen, garnering 65.58% of the votes.

Tin Pei Ling will be going against People’s Power Party’s (PPP) Goh Meng Seng this time.

This is the only constituency that PPP is contesting for so Mr Goh is seen as the party’s sole representative. In 2006, he contested for Aljunied GRC with WP and in 2011, he contested as the leader of NSP for Tampines GRC.

PPP previously contested for Chua Chu Kang GRC in 2015 but lost to PAP after garnering only 23.11% of the votes.

Marymount (PAP’s Gan Siow Huang vs PSP’s Ang Yong Guan)

Marymount SMC is also a new SMC that has been carved out of Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC.

For this SMC, PAP’s new candidate Gan Siow Huang will be going against PSP’s Ang Yong Guan.

Ms Gan is the first woman to become brigadier-general in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 2015, and she has served in the military for more than 25 years. She started out as an air traffic controller before rising through the ranks to command Singapore’s four airbases.

She quit the SAF in March and is currently the deputy chief executive of the National Trades Union Congress’ Employment and Employability Institute.

Prior to submitting her nomination papers, she was expected to contest for the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC headed by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen.

Dr Ang, on the other hand, is a psychiatrist who previously took part in the 2011 General Election as part of SDP to contest for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, and in 2015 as part of the Singaporeans First party for Tanjong Pagar GRC.

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Mountbatten (PAP’s Lim Biow Chuan vs Peoples Voice’s Sivakumaran Chellappa)

The seat in Mountbatten SMC was previously won by PAP’s Lim Biow Chuan who defeated SPP’s Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, garnering 71.86% of the votes.

This time, Mr Lim will be going against Sivakumaran Chellappa from Peoples Voice.

Mr Lim, who is the president of the Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE), has been representing Mountbatten since 2006, even when it was still a part of Marine Parade GRC.

He said, “COVID-19 has brought a lot of uncertainties into the lives of many of us. Let’s vote for someone who can prepare and look after your future.”

Mr Chellappa left the PPP in 2019 and joined the Peoples Voice. After he submitted his nomination papers, he said, “Parliamentary democracy means people get to represent their interests through the Members of Parliament to the government. For too long, we’ve seen things happening the other way around. Let’s institute some changes.”

Pioneer (PAP’s Patrick Tay vs PSP’s Lim Cher Hong vs Cheang Peng Wah)

The seat in Pioneer SMC was previously won by PAP’s Cedric Foo who defeated NSP’s Elvin Ong, garnering 76.34% of the votes.

PAP’s candidate Patrick Tay, who used to serve in West Coast GRC, will be going against PSP’s Lim Cher Hong and Cheang Peng Wah, who stands alone without any party.

Mr Lim is a chartered financial consultant and author who said in a speech, “This is an opportunity for (Pioneer residents) to have an alternative voice in Parliament.”

Mr Cheang gave thanks to his supporters for daring to “stand up to make a difference to Singapore”.

There was supposedly another independent candidate, Victor Ronnie Lai, who wanted to contest for Pioneer SMC.

He is a retired financial consultant who reached the nomination centre with flowers but ended up not being able to enter because he did not have the required number of people to second or assent to his bid.

I guess giving flowers don’t solve all problems after all.

Potong Pasir (PAP’s Sitoh Yih Pin vs SPP’s Jose Raymond)

The seat in Potong Pasir SMC was previously won by PAP’s Sitoh Yih Pin who defeated SPP’s Lina Chiam after garnering 66.41% of the votes.

Mr Sitoh is set to defend his seat as he goes against SPP’s chairman Jose Raymond in this year’s General Election.

Mr Raymond is now the chief strategy officer of communications firm Spin Worldwide and the former executive director of the Singapore Environment Council. He was previously the press secretary of Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.

He said, “Our journey towards a more compassionate, equitable, fairer society begins today. That journey begins with the decisions we make. For me, it’s a journey to try to help you see that there is a better Singapore.”

Punggol West (PAP’s Sun Xue Ling vs WP’s Tan Chen Chen)

Punggol West is a new SMC that has been carved out from the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

PAP’s Sun Xue Ling will be going against WP’s Tan Chen Chen.

Ms Sun who is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Home Affairs and National Development has held the ward when it was under Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, so she is determined to defend the seat for the SMC.

She said, “I have served you faithfully for the past five years, met many of you and watched your children grow. There are many exciting plans for Punggol and I hope to work with you and the Pasir Ris-Punggol team to create an even more valued home for all.”

Ms Tan is a contracts administrator and a first-time candidate. She volunteered with WP since 2015 and played an active role in Aljunied GRC led by Mr Low Thia Khiang’s Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division.

“I will do my best to serve you wholeheartedly. Please vote for the Workers’ Party. Make your vote count.”

The Peoples Voice did express interest in contesting for this seat but eventually pulled out.

Radin Mas (PAP’s Melvin Yong vs RP’s Kumar Appavoo)

The seat in Radin Mas SMC was previously won by PAP’s Sam Tan who outdid Reform Party’s (RP) Kumar Appavoo and independent candidate Han Hui Hui after garnering 77.25% of the votes.

This time, PAP’s Melvin Yong will be going against Mr Appavoo.

While this is the first time Mr Yong is contesting in Radin Mas, he is not new to it. He said, “In fact, over the last five years I’ve met many residents through various community events that I attended.”

He was previously from Tanjong Pagar GRC.

He is currently the assistant secretary-general of National Trades Union Congress and promises to ensure job security for the residents of Radin Mas if he is elected.

“With this COVID-19 situation, many of the livelihoods of our Radin Mas residents have been affected. I will do my best to take care of them,” he continued.

On the other hand, Mr Appavoo expressed that it would be “interesting” this time since it’s a straight fight, unlike the previous time he contested where it was a three-cornered fight.

Yio Chu Kang (PAP’s Yip Hon Weng vs PSP’s Kayla Low)

Yio Chu Kang is another new SMC this election though it previously existed in 2006.

Back then, the seat was won by PAP’s Seng Han Thong who outdid SDA’s Yip Yew Weng after garnering 68.28% of the votes.

This time, Yio Chu Kang SMC is back after being carved out from the Ang Mo Kio GRC and PAP’s new candidate Yip Hon Weng will be going against PSP’s Kayla Low.

Yes, he’s new and going alone.

Mr Yip is a former public servant who was also the group chief of the Silver Generation Office at the Agency for Integrated Care.

He gave a promise to the Yio Chu Kang residents and said, “I will listen to your…needs and concerns. I will work with you to build Yio Chu Kang into a place you can be proud of, into a home we can happily raise our families. Please vote for me and I look forward to seeing all of you.”

Ms Low, on the other hand, is a chartered accountant and former prisons officer. In her free time, she volunteers with lower-income families and the pioneer generation.

She said, “I am confident I can serve Yio Chu Kang residents if elected. With the guidance of Dr Tan Cheng Bock (PSP’s secretary-general), and many passionate PSP volunteers, I am ready to take on this challenge.”

Yuhua (PAP’s Grace Fu vs SDP’s Robin Low)

The seat in Yuhua SMC has been previously won by PAP’s Grace Fu who outdid SDP’s Jaslyn Go after garnering 73.46% of the votes.

Ms Fu has been in the seat since 2011, and she’s contesting once again during this year’s General Election. She will be going against SDP’s new candidate Robin Low.

Ms Fu said, “I have been serving you for the past 14 years but I’m not taking anything for granted. I take this election very seriously and contest for every one of your votes because you the voters of Yuhua deserve a good contest.”

In contrast, Mr Low, a first-time candidate, said, “Support me, support the SDP, and support our four Yes and one No campaign.”

Voting Day

And there you have it, the complete guide of all the candidates who are contesting for the various SMCs.

Hopefully, this gives you a better idea of who is contesting for what and you can make the most informed decision on 10 July which is voting day.

Remember, it is important to make an informed decision because it will affect how Singapore will progress as a nation, so we hope this guide will help you in it.

To read everything about GRCs instead, you can click here.

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