Hawazi mentions likely team for new GRC in speech

The People's Action Party (PAP) team to be fielded in the new Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will likely comprise Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Lawrence Wong, Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, as well as backbenchers Alex Yam and Ong Teng Koon.

Sembawang GRC MP Hawazi Daipi, whose ward will come under the new group representation constituency at the next polls, revealed as much yesterday in a speech at a community event in Marsiling.

"You will be well served by Mr Wong, Madam Halimah, Mr Ong and Mr Yam. I am sure that the four candidates, when elected, will serve you well," said the 61-year-old Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower, who is retiring at the next election after almost two decades in politics.

Mr Wong and Madam Halimah will move from West Coast GRC and Jurong GRC respectively, to co-lead the PAP team contesting the coming general election.

Mr Wong hinted last Thursday that barring any late surprises, Mr Yam and Mr Ong are likely to make up the rest of the four-member team.

Mr Yam is MP for Yew Tee ward in Chua Chu Kang GRC, while Mr Ong is MP for Woodgrove in Sembawang GRC. Both wards come under Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC following new electoral boundaries announced last month.

Yesterday, Mr Hawazi, Mr Wong and Madam Halimah distributed bags of rice to residents in rental flats in Marsiling Road. It is an initiative by the Marsiling Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) for low-income households in the area.

Mr Hawazi also introduced the two incoming GRC leaders to the residents.

Mr Wong told The Straits Times that the PAP team to be fielded in Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC will be officially unveiled soon.

Meanwhile, Madam Halimah thanked Mr Hawazi for laying "a good foundation" in Marsiling: "The people in Marsiling are so accepting and open, to receive people coming in here, and I look forward to serving people in Marsiling."

Marsiling resident Kamsinah Harun said she welcomes the new MPs, but is sad to see Mr Hawazi go.

"Mr Hawazi was really great, very humble and kept a low profile, but he really helped a lot of the needy," said the 58-year-old housewife.

The PAP is likely to go up against the Singapore Democratic Party, which has expressed interest in contesting the new constituency.

This article was first published on Aug 17, 2015.
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