New Punggol and Pasir Ris-Changi GRCs in north-east, following rapid population growth

The two new GRCs are largely drawn from the existing Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

- Goh Yan Han

Two new group representation constituencies have been formed in the north-east—the area with the largest increase in the number of voters since the last general election.

The existing five-member Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will be split into two new four-member GRCs, with a new Punggol GRC created by carving out estates in Punggol and merging those with Punggol West SMC.

Farther east, Pasir Ris-Changi GRC will take in the remaining estates in Pasir Ris and some of the easternmost parts of East Coast GRC.

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) detailed these boundary changes in its report released on March 11, nearly two months after it was formed on Jan 22.

Compared with past reports, the committee set out in greater detail its rationale for the boundary changes, which the Government has accepted.

The changes will take effect at the next general election, widely expected by the middle of the year.

The number of voters has increased to 2,753,226 as at Feb 1, 2025, up from 2,651,435 at the 2020 General Election.

This increase was not evenly distributed across the island, the committee noted.

There was higher growth in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Sembawang GRC, Tampines GRC, Hong Kah North SMC and Potong Pasir SMC due to population shifts and new housing developments, it said.

The two new GRCs in the north-east are largely drawn from the existing Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which made its debut on the electoral map in 2001.

This constituency has seen large population growth in the last five years, given the new Build-To-Order estates in Punggol such as Northshore Residences I and II.

It will continue growing, with more housing developments in the pipeline.

In 2020, it had 161,952 voters. This grew to 184,593 voters as at Feb 1.