PAP and WP ramping up efforts in East Coast GRC

With just two weekends left before Polling Day on May 3, both the PAP and WP have been intensifying efforts to reach out to residents in hotly contested East Coast GRC.

- Goh Yan Han Political Correspondent and Joyce Lim Senior Correspondent

Potential candidates from both parties were spotted introducing themselves to residents at different markets and coffee shops in Bedok on the morning of April 19. But the slates for both sides are still unclear, even though some hints have been dropped.

On the PAP front, the only confirmation so far is that Dr Maliki Osman's spot on the slate — he looks after the Siglap ward — will be taken over by new face Hazlina Abdul Halim.

It also appears certain that Mr Edwin Tong, who is Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, will move from Marine Parade GRC to East Coast GRC.

Questions remain on whether Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat will stay on or retire.

The WP's line-up for the constituency is also unconfirmed. Although it has started officially introducing new faces, it has confirmed its full slate in only Sengkang GRC, where it is the incumbent.

On the morning of April 19, Mr Tong visited several coffee shops in the Lucky Valley area in Siglap with Dr Maliki, who is Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, and Madam Hazlina.

When speaking to residents, Dr Maliki introduced Mr Tong, whose Joo Chiat ward in Marine Parade GRC was absorbed into East Coast GRC, as leader of the constituency's team. But he later clarified to reporters that "ministers are leaders of the GRC as a team", and added that DPM Heng is also a minister.