SM Teo will not stand in Pasir Ris-Changi, remains 'available to contribute'

PAP has announced slates for 26 of the 33 constituencies in coming election

- Chin Soo Fang

Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean will not be standing for re-election in Pasir Ris-Changi GRC, a development that opens up the possibility of him being deployed to other constituencies.

Announcing this on April 21 at a press conference, he said: "I will continue to support PM Lawrence Wong and his 4G team, and remain available to contribute to the team wherever and in whatever way PM Lawrence Wong feels I can best serve."

The PAP team in Pasir Ris-Changi will be led by Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Indranee Rajah, who will move out of Tanjong Pagar GRC. Joining her are Senior Minister of State Desmond Tan, Mr Sharael Taha and newcomer Valerie Lee.

With Nomination Day round the corner, the PAP has announced its slates for 26 of the 33 constituencies islandwide. The exceptions include East Coast GRC, Punggol GRC and Tanjong Pagar GRC.

The PAP line-up for Sembawang GRC has not been officially announced, but Health Minister Ong Ye Kung on April 21 uploaded a video to his Facebook page of his team, comprising himself, incumbent MPs Vikram Nair and Mariam Jaafar, as well as new faces Gabriel Lam and Ng Shi Xuan.

Five out of seven political analysts The Straits Times spoke to believe SM Teo could be fielded in another constituency, especially Punggol.

The new four-member GRC was carved out of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which SM Teo has anchored since 2001. The WP has been walking the ground in Punggol over the past year and is likely to field a team there to challenge the PAP.

Asked if he would be moving to Punggol GRC, SM Teo replied: "I ask you for a little bit of patience, wait two days and everything will be clear."