WILL PUNGGOL EAST SMC CEASE TO EXIST NEXT GENERAL ELECTION?

Dear All Singapore Stuff,

I think these are some strategies that PAP can use to deal with Punggol East
where 48.24% voted for WP.

PAP has to think of how to solve this problem because they won with just over
51% with an old man candidate. The old man, if he lasts through the whole
term, will probably be retiring at the next GE for sure. How can he serve
after he is 68 years old?

Somehow next GE won't have LKY and SG50 factors. PAP vote has swung to the
maximum and can only go down.

Punggol East can't be dissolved easily because unlike Joo Chiat, it is
only surrounded by Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC and opposition-held Aljunied GRC.

Here are some strategies that the whites may think of:

1) Let Punggol East remain a SMC just like Potong Pasir at GE2015

Chances of this happening: Low

Lina Chiam lost the safe seat Potong Pasir to PAP in GE2011, a GE that
favoured the opposition as a whole. So PAP was confident that she will lose
again since she is not a strong opponent. If she could lose GE2011, she would
surely lose in GE2015 when there are strong LKY and SG50 factors backed by
Pioneer Generation Package, etc.

This is unlikely to happen for Punggol East because unlike Sitoh, Charles
Chong is only going to be there for 1 term. PAP will not parachute a new face
into a swing seat where neither PAP nor WP have ever got 55% of the vote.

2) Create Sengkang GRC out of Punggol East, Sengkang West, Sengkang Central
and Sengkang South

This new GRC will be anchored by Teo Ser Luck. Ang Mo Kio GRC and Pasir
Ris-Punggol GRC will be shrunk to 5-member GRCs.

Chances of this happening: Moderate, though possible.

Ang Mo Kio and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC will no longer need to be 6-member GRCs
once the PM and DPM step down for leedership renewal.

However, Teo Ser Luck isn't considered to be strong enough to anchor a GRC.
Sengkang West (WP support ~38%) and Punggol East (WP support ~48.24%) makes
this too risky. Sengkang South's MP Darryl David is still too new. Moreover,
Sengkang West residents might not be happy after getting the temple they
deserved.

3) Dissolve Punggol East SMC and carve out Punggol West SMC where Sun Xueling
is the MP.

This way, Pasir Ris-Punggol remains a 6-membered GRC. It's just like how PAP
dissolved Joo Chiat SMC after Charles Chong left, and instead carved out
MacPherson SMC for Tin Pei Ling.

Chances of this: Very possible

PAP might want to try the 'Tin Pei Ling' route for the new candidate after
giving her a 4-5 years 'internship' as MP. This makes Lee Li Lian irrelevant
since her experience is at Punggol East not Punggol West.

What do you think? Any better ways to fix Punggol East for good?

Sinkies might as well give suggestions since they like to pwned at every
election.

In any case, WP should start walking the ground in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC too
(if they still want to pursue Punggol East).

ganymedean
A.S.S. Contributor