Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

Etymology:  Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency (GRC) in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The constituency consists of Pasir Ris town, Punggol town, a small northern part of Hougang, and Compassvale, in central Sengkang, as its name suggest.

Establishment: With the growth in population of Punggol New Town and Sengkang New Town, the GRC grew from a five-member GRC to a six-member GRC prior to the general election in 2006.

MP: The minister of this GRC is Teo Chee Hean. He is currently one of the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs, Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister-in-charge of the Civil Service. He has previously served as the Minister for Defence (2003-2011), Minister for Education (1997-2003) and Minister for the Environment (1996-1997). He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 1992. Prior to entering politics, Teo was a Rear-Admiral (RADM) in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and served as Singapore's Chief of Navy from 1991-92.

Political Aspect: Pasir Ris Punggol GRC is controlled by Pasir Ris - Punggol Town Concil. They manage the HDB estates in the Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, which spans across the north-eastern shoreline of Singapore. Pasir Ris-Punggol Town houses the modern seaside towns of Pasir Ris and Punggol. A majority of the satellite new town of Sengkang and some estates in Hougang. With over 85,000 HDB residential households and more new housing developments along the way, they have one of the largest and fastest growing populations in Singapore.

History:  Pasir Ris mean 'white sand' in Malay. Pasir Ris Town is named after the long stretch of sandy white beach along the north-east coastline of Singapore, facing Pulau Ubin. The town exudes a resort ambience and its architecture and identity take inspiration from the surrounding beach and sea elements. Pasir Ris was originally a low-lying, undeveloped area with kampongs and villages like Kampong Pasir Ris, Kampong Bahru and the various Chinese kampongs along Elias Road. The area was well known for its many plantation estates. The Punggol area used to be a well-established rural district dotted with farmhouses and farm structures, which were serviced by roads and dirt tracks. Many of the Chinese villagers were engaged in poultry, pig or fish farming, as well as plantation and farm produce. The last pig farm closed down in 1990. 

 

 

Marine Parade GRC

Etymology: Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency is a six-member Group Representation Constituency located in the central,eastern and north-eastern areas of Singapore. The constituency consists of a section of Bedok, Chai Chee, Geylang, Kaki Bukit, Kallang, Kembangan, Marine Parade, Mountbatten, Ubi and a part of Serangoon. Serangoon Gardens was part of the constituency until 2006 when it was moved to Aljunied Group Representation Constituency. On 2011, it minuses off Kaki Bukit portion and in return,MacPherson ward was absorbed and exchanged.

Establishment: The GRC is formed during 1988 election.Serangoon Gardens was part of the constituency until 2006 when it was moved to Aljunied Group Representation Constituency. On 2011, it minuses off Kaki Bukit portion and in return,MacPherson ward was absorbed and exchanged.

MP: Marine Parade GRC is currently led by  Emeritus Senior Minister and former prime minister Goh Chok Tong. Before the creation of Marine Parade GRC, he had been the Member of Parliament for the Marine Parade single-seat constituency since being first elected in 1976. The GRC saw its fiercest contest in the general election in 2011 where National Solidarity Party candidates led by Nicole Seah managed to get over 43% of the vote despite walkovers in the previous three general elections. Before 2011, it remained uncontested after the 1992 by-election which saw a four-way contest involving the National Solidarity Party, Singapore Democratic Party and Singapore Justice Party (now part of the Singapore Democratic Alliance).

History: Marine Parade was originally named after a promenade near the sea which was parallel to East Coast Road. It was built on reclaimed land completed in the mid-1970s.

 

 

Tampines GRC

Etymology: Tampines Group Representation Constituency is a five-member Group Representation Constituency in the eastern region of Singapore. The GRC encompasses Tampines with five sub-constituencies, namely Tampines East, Tampines West, Tampines Central, Tampines North and Tampines Changkat.

 

Establishment: The Tampines Town Council was set up in 1990 to manage and maintain common property of HDB housing estates in Tampines which consists five divisions, namely, Central, East, West, North and Changkat. The North, East and west divisions were carved out from the now defunct Tampines SMC. While the Changkat division was carved out from the Changkat SMC. The actual formation of the GRC took place between 1984-1988, but the North division did not join until 2001. (It was a part of the Pasir Ris GRC)      

 

MPs: Tampines GRC is currently led by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat. Mr Heng was appointed Minister for Education on 21 May 2011.  Prior to this, Mr Heng was served as the Managing Director of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Trade Development Board, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, overseeing economic policy, trade negotiations, and the regulation and development of industry. Between 1997 and 2000, Mr Heng served in the Prime Minister's Office as the Principal Private Secretary to the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew.  His major achievements include the Gold Medal in Public Administration, and the Meritorious Medal for his contribution to the public service in Singapore.

In addition, Mr Heng holds an MA in Economics from the Cambridge University, and a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University. Other MPs of Tampines GRC include Mah Bow Tan, Masagos Zulkifi, Baey Yam Keng and Irene Ng.

 

Political aspect: Tampines is bounded by the Tampines Expressway, Upper Changi Road, Simei Road, and the Pan Island Expressway, For administrative purposes, it includes the boundaries of Simei New Town located south of Tampines New Town proper. Tampines GRC has faced a contest in every general election except the 1997 general election, in which the National Solidarity Party was disqualified. The Tampines GRC contains the Tampines East, Tampines West, Tampines Central, Tampines North and Tampines Changkat, which are located to the east of Singapore’s City centerTampines is one of Singapore's four regional centres (along with Woodlands, Jurong East and future Seletar), under the plan of the Urban Redevelopment Authority to create partially self-sufficient towns. Tampines is a rapidly developing town housing three large shopping malls, as well one of Singapore’s two IKEAs. A new Tampines Town Hub is expected to be completed by 2016. Tampines New Town is home to over 237,800 residents living in 152,000 HDB flats spread out over 24.24 square kilometres.

 

History:  Tampines was covered by forests, swamp and sand quarries. The name Tampines came from the Malay word for an ironwood tree found abundantly in the town, 'Tempinis'. Tampines Town was the first to be developed on a precinct concept in 1979 (having neighbourhoods and precincts) for the promotion of neighbourliness. It also won a UN World Habitat Award for its town design in 1992. The oldest street in the area, Tampines Road, dates to 1864, when it was a cart track. At the turn of the 20th century, Tampines was a rubber plantation. Tampines was also home to a sand quarry.

 

 

Whampoa SMC

 

Etymology:

Whampoa is a Single Member Constituency located in the eastern region of Whampoa, and was carved out from the now defunct Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency during the 2011 General Election.

 

Establishment: The Whampoa SMC was first established in 1968 until 1988 where this constituency was dissolved and divided into the now defunct Kampong Glam GRC, Jalan Besar GRC and Toa Payoh GRC. It was recreated as a division under the Jalan Besar GRC from 1997 and subsequently become a SMC for the 2011 General Elections when it was carved out of the Moulmein-Kallang Group Representation Constituency, which had absorbed the Jalan Besar GRC for the elections.

 

MPs: The SMC is led by Mr Heng Chee How. Mr Heng is the current Deputy Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and Deputy Leader of the House. He also held both Command and Staff appointments over 12 years of service in the Singapore Police Force, reaching a rank of Superintendent. He obtained a Master's in Public Administration from Harvard, and enjoys jogging and playing Chess.

 

Political Aspect:

Whampoa SMC is managed by the Moulmein-Kallang Town Council.

 

History:

Whampoa was named after Singaporean businessman Hoo Ah Kay,  who was better known as "Whampoa" (due to his origin from China) during the early years of Singapore as a British settlement. His many contributions to the Straits Settlements, and that he could speak both Chinese and English well, thus made him an important bridge between the two communities and allowed him to hold prestigious positions such as the Counsul of Russia, China and Japan. In 1869, he became the first Asian member of the Legislative Council and was made an extraordinary member of the Executive Council, the only Chinese to have held this seat. He was also well-known and respected by the society for his Whampoa House with its expansive gardens. This home was opened to the public during Chinese New Year and became a popular place for gatherings during that festive season. It is because of his generosity and the respect for his contributions which resulted in this area being named after him as Whampoa.   

 

 

 

 

 

Hougang SMC

 

Etymology: Hougang is name with Hokkien and Teochew origins, meaning "river end", as Hougang is located upstream or at the back of Sungei Serangoon. 

 

Establishment: Hougang SMC was established on 1988.

 

MPs: Hougang Single Member Constituency, which is held by PngEngHuat of the Worker's Party. The seat was left temporarily vacant from 15 February 2012 to 27 May 2012, when Yaw Shin Leong was expelled from the Workers' Party (WP). Yaw was one of six elected opposition Members of Parliament. 

 

Political aspect: Low Thia Kiang is now the Member of Parliament for the Bedok Reservoir-Punggol division of Aljunied GRC, in the northern part of Hougang. Chen Show Mao is the Member of Parliament of PayaLebar division, which contains the southern part of Hougang. A small portion of Hougang is located in the Punggol South division of PasirRis-Punggol Group Representation Constituency in which lies several residents' committees, various facilities and the popular Hougang Green Shopping Mall which remains dear to the hearts of most residents living there. Part of Hougang also lies within the Ang Mo Kio - Hougang division of Ang Mo Kio GRC.

 

History: Pig farming was carried out in Punggol, including the area of Punggol that is now part of Hougang New Town. The last of these pig farmers were relocated by the late-1990s to flats built in Hougang. Today, Hougang is an HDB new town with over 40,000 housing units interspersed with pockets of private residential areas. At Hougang Street 21, there was a well that is still identified as the tuajiaka well structure. This well identified the Teochew village of tuajiaka which means the "foot of a big well". In the past, the village was a popular place for food, street wayangs, itinerant Chinese medicine men and story tellers spinning yarns.