PAP's West Coast team welcomes Patrick Tay; Cedric Foo to defend Pioneer
As the morning breakfast crowd built up at the bustling Boon Lay Place Market and Food Centre, the People's Action Party introduced its line-up for West Coast GRC on Sunday morning (Aug 16).
The set-up, reminiscent of the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC's introduction of new candidates at a coffee shop, was a table for five and some makeshift plastic stools for reporters.
It attracted curious stares from those waiting in line for their food. Those in the midst of eating craned their necks occasionally to peek at the West Coast GRC team.
Co-led by Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang and Second Minister for Home Affairs and Trade and Industry S Iswaran, the GRC now has four members, as Clementi is now under Jurong GRC, following the recent electoral boundaries review.
Mr Arthur Fong, who has served as the MP for Clementi since 2001, will not be standing in the coming election.
Ms Foo Mee Har, currently MP for Ayer Rajah, remains in the West Coast team.
New to the team is MP Patrick Tay, who was MP for Nee Soon GRC. He replaces the spot of Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong, who is now part of the new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
"The West Coast GRC slate represents experience as well as freshness," said Mr Lim of Mr Tay's addition to the team.
He believes that the assistant secretary-general at NTUC's strong grassroots background will be valuable.
While Mr Tay conceded that there is a "tinge of sadness" leaving Nee Soon East, he shared his joy of reconnecting with a few senior grassroots leaders he had known before working in Nee Soon.
He hopes to continue walking the ground and find out from residents how to "make Boon Lay a better place".
Mr Cedric Foo will remain in Pioneer SMC to defend his seat.
He is a three-term MP for the area since it was a ward in West Coast GRC in 2001.
The National Solidarity Party is expected to contest in Pioneer as it did in the last election.
The Reform Party is also expected to return to contest West Coast GRC.
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