DPM Heng Reveals the Highly Anticipated (Together) East Coast Plan

Besides the Worker’s Party’s historic capture of 10 parliamentary seats, the 2020 general election will be remembered for memes like this:

If you’re very confused right now and don’t know what the heck I’m talking about, you’re experiencing what residents of East Coast GRC experienced when DPM Heng Swee Keat gave a speech after nominations.

Words didn’t exactly roll off his tongue when DPM Heng talked about a “plan” for East Coast residents; he stumbled, fumbled, and bumbled.

“For our East Coast residents, the- we also have a plan for the East Coast. We have a East Coast- Singapore- we have a together, an East Coast plan. We care, at East Coast.”

Since then, residents have been speculating about this mysterious new East Coast plan, so mysterious that it appeared to have eluded DPM Heng.

Well, now we know what it is.

DPM Heng Reveals the Highly Anticipated (Together) East Coast Plan

In a Facebook post yesterday (27 July), DPM Heng unveiled more details of his East Coast Plan and called upon residents to work with MPs to set it in motion.

He said that East Coast GRC has a “very diverse profile of residents and neighbourhoods”, which means they have a wide and varied “range of needs, aspirations and expertise, as well as many new possibilities!”

He then laid out the roles of each member of his East Coast team.

Former IMDA CEO MP Tan Kiat How will “champion issues related to infrastructure and sustainability” and ensure that the East Coast Plan will be part of their broader national effort for the next phase of Singapore’s development.

Tan was recently appointed Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office as well as the Ministry of National Development, as part of PM Lee’s cabinet reshuffle.

MP Jessica Tan will continue to chair the East Coast Town Council. She will oversee the team’s efforts to support businesses – especially SMEs – their constituency.

Tan has 30 years of experience in the private sector and has held various leadership roles.

MP Cheryl Chan will oversee efforts to reach out to seniors and work with Jessica Tan to improve the physical environment of the estates and bring a range of social programs to the community.

She is currently the Head of Clean Hydrogen (APAC) at Linde Plc, a company specialising in gas and engineering.

MP Maliki Osman will focus on developing a holistic education for children and further develop the Uplift Programme for children from disadvantaged homes.

Dr Osman was recently appointed Second Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs and promoted to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.

DPM Heng will focus on helping workers retain their jobs, secure new ones and develop new skills.

Sure, it’s a boring plan, but at least it makes a lot more sense than the first one.

Called Upon Residents to Volunteer

DPM Heng also hailed all the volunteers he’s worked with over the years, in and outside East Coast.

He thanked them for their support and called upon more volunteers to come forward to help MPs serve residents.

“…let’s continue to discuss how we can improve the design of our East Coast Plan, and to put them into action together with our residents.”

DPM Heng said his team would not be able to organise face-to-face meetings in big groups, but will communicate with residents through other means, such as social media or their website.

Those who wish to share feedback on their East Coast Plan or volunteer can do so here.

Here is the full Facebook post: