SINGAPORE, June 30 — The People’s Action Party’s (PAP) first assistant secretary-general Heng Swee Keat will lead its team to contest the East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC), moving from Tampines GRC where he has been a Member of Parliament (MP) since 2011.

Heng’s candidacy was closely guarded in the run-up to Nomination Day today.

Heng, 58, arrived at the nomination centre at St Anthony’s Canossian Primary School in Bedok North at about 11.30am today. He submitted his nomination papers for East Coast GRC shortly after that.

The other members of his PAP team in East Coast GRC are incumbent MPs Maliki Osman, 54, Jessica Tan, 54, former Fengshan Single-Member Constituency (SMC) MP Cheryl Chan, 44, and new candidate Tan Kiat How, 43, the former chief executive of the Info-communications Media Development Authority.

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Heng’s move followed the retirement of PAP incumbent MPs, Lim Swee Say and Lee Yi Shyan.

There has been speculation in recent days of Heng or another PAP heavyweight moving to East Coast GRC to replace Lim, a former manpower minister.

Fengshan SMC was merged into the East Coast GRC after the latest change in the electoral boundaries.

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It has 120,238 registered voters, compared with 96,493 previously.

The PAP will face a straight fight with the Workers’ Party (WP) in the GRC.

WP’s slate consists of former National Solidarity Party member Nicole Seah, 33, former researcher Abdul Shariff Aboo Kassim, 54, deputy director Kenneth Foo, 42, lawyer Terence Tan, 48, and wealth advisory firm director Dylan Ng, 45.

In the last polls in 2015, the PAP beat the WP team at East Coast, garnering 60.73 per cent of the votes. But the WP’s East Coast team comprising Leon Perera, Daniel Goh, Mohamed Fairoz Shariff and Gerald Giam was among the party’s best losers in a GRC.

Filling succession GAP in East Coast

Speaking after the returning officer confirmed his team’s nomination, Heng thanked East Coast GRC residents for their strong support for Lim and the PAP team there over the years.

He also thanked Tampines residents for first electing him into Parliament. PAP vice-chairman Masagos Zulkifli now helms Tampines GRC.

Heng said that the Covid-19 crisis had plunged the world into profound uncertainty and countries are grappling with a major crisis on many fronts: Healthcare, economy, social and geopolitical.

The PAP, he said, has a plan to enable the country to overcome the crisis and emerge stronger.

It also has a plan for the constituency and looks forward to working with East Coast GRC residents, said Heng.

“We humbly ask for your support and strong endorsement so that the team can continue to serve you and serve fellow Singaporeans in the coming years,” he said.

In a Facebook post shortly afterwards, Heng paid tribute to Lim, whom he has known for about 25 years. He described Lim as a team player and a champion for workers during his time with the Manpower Ministry and the labour movement.

Heng noted that about a year and a half ago, Lim spoke to him at length about his passions over dinner.

These included his concerns and hopes for the residents of East Coast, where he has been serving as an MP since 2011.

“I got a better understanding of the people of East Coast GRC — a very diverse mix of private and public housing dwellers, from a wide range of backgrounds and ages,” said Heng.

“Some are born and bred easties. Others moved here and are proud to be part of the community. There is great pride in the heritage, culture, and of course, the food in the East Coast.”

Heng said that East Coast GRC was set to face a succession gap with Lim and Lee stepping down. After discussing the matter with PAP secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong, Heng said that the party could not “afford a gap in East Coast in these uncertain times”.

With a good team in place in Tampines, Heng said that he told Lee, who is also Prime Minister, he would move to East Coast.

Heng noted that he has had “good discussions” with the East Coast GRC team, which has done much for the constituency over the years.

“ There is so much to learn, and I will work hard to learn it,” said Heng, who was Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) before Parliament was dissolved.

Heng said he looked forward to meeting the residents of East Coast. “I hope to learn about your worries as well as your hopes. I hope to earn your confidence,” he said.

“If you entrust us with your vote, my team and I will do our best for you and for Singapore, to work with everyone to navigate Singapore out of this unprecedented crisis.”

Asked by reporters how WP views its chances against a PAP team led by Heng, WP chairman Sylvia Lim said: “The WP is honoured that the PAP has seen it fit to send DPM Heng to helm the East Coast GRC.

“But of course, we are also quietly confident that the slate that we field there, and the slate that we field in every constituency we are contesting in, is a strong and diverse slate who will be able to represent residents of the area well.” — TODAY