Transport Minister's Facebook post raises eyebrows
Release of Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report sparks some unexpected comments from Members of Parliament
LUI TUCK YEW
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew, whose Moulmein-Kallang GRC has been divided up with the latest boundary changes, wrote about his disappointment on Facebook.
Mr Lui has served the constituency of Tanjong Pagar from 2006 before a part of it merged with Jalan Besar GRC into Moulmein-Kallang.
He thanked residents and volunteers for their efforts over the past decade, and said that he "leaves with a sense of sadness".
Leave what exactly?
It is a cryptic message, says political analyst Eugene Tan.
"The past four years have not been easy for him, and he has had a demanding term holding his portfolio as a Transport Minister. His comments could have been because he was put on a more reflective mood," he says.
Is that all?
The Internet was abuzz with suggestions he was leaving politics. Socio-political website, The Online Citizen, jumped on talk of his other plans headlining its article, "Is Lui also leaving politics?"
Mr Lui had said: "As for me, what is going to happen, well, I have some ideas of what the possible plans are but I'm sure you'd understand that this is not quite the right time for me to talk about it."
Tweets followed as speculation grew but Associate Professor Tan, who is with the Singapore Management University, emphasises that people might be "reading too much" into his statement.
Says Prof Tan: "It is not uncommon to express their emotions so candidly to connect with their audience on social media.
"It would come as a great surprise to many if he steps aside."
PHOTO: ST
INDERJIT SINGH
Ang Mo Kio MP Inderjit Singh announced on his Facebook page he will step down by the next election after his ward, Kebun Baru, was redrawn into Nee Soon GRC.
The veteran politician has been serving Ang Mo Kio as an MP since 1996, and is noted for his vocal presence in Parliament and on social media.
He criticised the Population White Paper in 2013 and abstained from voting.
Political analysts say his move to step down is due to party renewal, rather than disagreements with the party.
Says Prof Tan: "He has always been outspoken and willing to critique the Government's policies.
"But PAP (People's Action Party) MPs are fairly realistic. After two terms, they would normally be at the front of the queue making way for new blood."
PHOTO: BT
YEE JENN JONG
The Electoral Boundaries report is often followed by comments of unfair play.
The Workers' Party's Yee Jenn Jong was angry at the review committee for erasing the Joo Chiat Single Member Constituency (SMC) off the political map in the report released on Friday.
After all, he lost the seat by the narrowest of margins - just 388 votes - to PAP's Charles Chong in the 2011 General Election.
The Non-Constituency MP also said he had "walked the ground tirelessly for four years since the last general election, in and around the SMC, week after week, sometimes even in scorching heat and drizzles".
Not unfair, suggested Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.
"I suppose if you wanted to have more four-man GRCs, Aljunied could have become a four-man GRC but the (committee) didn't touch it, whereas many other five-man GRCs were (downsized) to four-man GRCs.
"If you want to talk about fairness and these kinds of things, I think the playing field is level, if you do your work on the ground consistently."
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