Marine Parade MPs told about Tan See Leng's move 'later rather than sooner'

Seah Kian Peng, who now leads the team, says plans for the area will not change

- Ng Keng Gene

Manpower Minister Tan See Leng's surprise move to Chua Chu Kang GRC was something that the PAP's Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team was told about "later rather than sooner" on Nomination Day, said Speaker of Parliament Seah Kian Peng.

Mr Seah, 63, who now leads the five-member team, told reporters on April 24 that they were not told about the move "first thing in the morning, but it was quite closer to-wards... if I were to put a time to it, it will be later rather than sooner".

He declined to state a specific time that the team learnt of Dr Tan's redeployment, to maintain the integrity of party strategy.

Mr Seah, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, Ms Tin Pei Ling, Ms Diana Pang and Mr Goh Pei Ming were confirmed MPs on April 23, after a walkover in the constituency.

The WP, which fielded teams in Marine Parade at the 2015 and 2020 polls, had been expected to mount a fresh challenge in 2025, but it finally decided not to, citing "limited resources".

Mr Goh was a late addition to the team on a drama-filled Nomination Day morning.

On April 23, Dr Tan had showed up at PAP's Mountbatten branch office - the gathering point for the party's Marine Parade-Braddell Heights candidates - only to arrive about two hours later at the nomination centre for Chua Chu Kang GRC and contest that constituency.

Just days before, on April 20, Dr Tan had introduced PAP's Marine Parade-Braddell Heights team as its anchor minister.

Asked if Dr Tan was redeployed because the PAP knew a walkover was on the cards, Ms Tin said: "It is anyone's guess. Likewise, I think the Workers' Party also had their plans in mind.