IF I were the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee
Honestly, other than Tampines GRC, the GRCs in the east are sprawling messes. East Coast GRC stretches from Changi Village to Siglap, Pasir Ris - Punggol GRC stretches from Loyang to Sengkang, Aljunied from Bedok Reservoir to the CTE, and Marine Parade from East Coast to Lorong Chuan. Some serious rearrangement is needed here.
Pasir Ris GRC
3 - Member Group Constituency (GRC)
Pasir Ris is a self contained new town, with a hub for transportation, commercial and recreational spaces. There is no reason why it should not be a GRC by itself. It currently contains 2 constituencies; Pasir Ris East and Pasir Ris West.
To the east of Pasir Ris, lies the lonely small estate of Changi Village, which is currently a constituency together with Siglap. However, i think it is more logical for residents of Changi to connect to Singapore's MRT network via Pasir Ris instead. And like Ayer Rajah Constituency, let's just make Changi (including Loyang Industrial area Changi Airport, Pulau Ubin and Pulau Tekong) a micro constituency like Ayer Rajah, which balances out the larger Pasir Ris East and Pasir Ris West constituencies.
The boundaries for this GRC would be Serangoon river to the west, the stretch of TPE-PIE to the south, the ECP and a tiny portion of Bedok Canal to the south
How Likely will we see the formation of this GRC in GE 2015/2016
Very unlikely. Like Ang Mo Kio, the large 6 membered Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC protects DPM Teo Chee Hean. The SDA has contested here for the past 2 election, with their best showing at 35.21% of the votes. However, should this GRC surface, DPM Teo should handily win here again
Tampines GRC
5 - Member Group Constituency (GRC)
Tampines is a rare GRC that actually exists while its existence makes complete sense. Other than the addition of the Temesek Polytechnic area, the small plot of land north of the PIE, and the addition of Paya Lebar Air Base to this GRC, i don't see any need to make any changes to this GRC at all.
The boundaries for this GRC would be the TPE to the north, PIE and Sungei Bedok to the south, and the perimeter of Paya Lebar Air Base to the west
How Likely will we see the formation of this GRC in GE 2015/2016
Very likely. This GRC already exists, so there should not be any reason why this would change. However, the NSP had an unusually strong showing here in 2011, which might prompt the EBRC to slightly amend its boundaries to possibly include parts of Pasir Ris, which is strongly Pro-PAP
Simei SMC
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
Just looking at the map, Simei is an obvious choice for an SMC with plenty of facilities and amenities, a transportation Hub in the form of Simei MRT (though no bus interchage), and very easy and clear boundaries.
The boundaries for this SMC would be the PIE to the north, ECP to the southeast, and Sungei Bedok to the southwest.
How Likely will we see the formation of this SMC in GE 2015/2016
Unlikely. On one hand, this is an ideal candidate for an SMC, on the other hand, it is part of a GRC that did poorly in 2011, with WP wining 45.2%, and is the worst performing GRC for the PAP. Furthermore, the MP for Changi-Simei is Ms Jessica Tan, a backbencher with very little presence on the national level and low name recognition to the average Singaporean. If paired up against someone young and popular from WP, like Gerald Giam, a current NCMP, this might potentially become an opposition seat if converted to an SMC.
Bedok GRC
6 - Member Group Constituency (GRC)
6 - Member Group Constituency (GRC)
The Kaki Bukit and the Eunos Constituencies historically was part of the Eunos GRC, of which significant parts are now in the East Coast GRC, but is now part of Aljunied GRC.
In doing this exercise, Eunos was my problem child; it didn't really seem to fit in anywhere. This is also evident in its history of being in 3 different GRCs in 3 consecutive elections; part of East Coast in 2001 (and 1997), part of Marine Parade in 2011, and now currently part of Aljunied. It's proximity also makes it possible (but highly unlikely) to be part of Tampines GRC too.
It does not have any MRT stations yet (though this would change with the upcoming downtown line), Bus interchanges or even major shopping centres, which in my opinion, making it a poor candidate for an SMC.
After some consideration, which was mainly influenced by the fact that a large number of buses servicing this area feeds into Tampines or Bedok, and the geographical proximity to Bedok instead of Tampines, I eventually landed with including Kaki Bukit with this GRC.
So now we have Bedok Constituency (which i want to rename Bedok South), Fengshan, Kampong-Chai Chee (Maybe shortened to just Chai Chee), Kaki Bukit (or Bedok North), Siglap and Eunos (which I want to rename Bedok Reservoir), which makes for a 6 Member GRC. The change of the GRC name is a nod to the main MRT station and Bus Interchange being Bedok. The boundaries for this GRC would be Sungei Bedok to the east, the perimeter of Paya Lebar Airbase to the north, Eunos Link, PIE, Lengkong Tiga, New Upper Changi Road and Bedok South Ave 1 to the west.
How Likely will we see the formation of this GRC in GE 2015/2016
Unlikely. Firstly, the bulk of East Coast GRC voting bloc is relatively unchanged, with the removal of Changi-Simei constituency and a small part of Siglap. and the re addition of Kaki Bukit. However, there would be a large protestation from the opposition, as it severely changes opposition territories; constituencies that are currently held by WP (Kaki Bukit) and areas that nearly fell to opposition control (East Coast). Additionally, my intuition is that this configuration favours the opposition, and it's formation would result in a possible second GRC going to the opposition.
The Kaki Bukit and the Eunos Constituencies historically was part of the Eunos GRC, of which significant parts are now in the East Coast GRC, but is now part of Aljunied GRC.
In doing this exercise, Eunos was my problem child; it didn't really seem to fit in anywhere. This is also evident in its history of being in 3 different GRCs in 3 consecutive elections; part of East Coast in 2001 (and 1997), part of Marine Parade in 2011, and now currently part of Aljunied. It's proximity also makes it possible (but highly unlikely) to be part of Tampines GRC too.
It does not have any MRT stations yet (though this would change with the upcoming downtown line), Bus interchanges or even major shopping centres, which in my opinion, making it a poor candidate for an SMC.
After some consideration, which was mainly influenced by the fact that a large number of buses servicing this area feeds into Tampines or Bedok, and the geographical proximity to Bedok instead of Tampines, I eventually landed with including Kaki Bukit with this GRC.
So now we have Bedok Constituency (which i want to rename Bedok South), Fengshan, Kampong-Chai Chee (Maybe shortened to just Chai Chee), Kaki Bukit (or Bedok North), Siglap and Eunos (which I want to rename Bedok Reservoir), which makes for a 6 Member GRC. The change of the GRC name is a nod to the main MRT station and Bus Interchange being Bedok. The boundaries for this GRC would be Sungei Bedok to the east, the perimeter of Paya Lebar Airbase to the north, Eunos Link, PIE, Lengkong Tiga, New Upper Changi Road and Bedok South Ave 1 to the west.
How Likely will we see the formation of this GRC in GE 2015/2016
Unlikely. Firstly, the bulk of East Coast GRC voting bloc is relatively unchanged, with the removal of Changi-Simei constituency and a small part of Siglap. and the re addition of Kaki Bukit. However, there would be a large protestation from the opposition, as it severely changes opposition territories; constituencies that are currently held by WP (Kaki Bukit) and areas that nearly fell to opposition control (East Coast). Additionally, my intuition is that this configuration favours the opposition, and it's formation would result in a possible second GRC going to the opposition.
Joo Chiat SMC
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
Joo Chiat is another existing SMC that makes sense. However, i would slightly trim off the small portion north of New upper Changi Road, and give that part to Kembangan-Chai Chee constituency
The boundaries for this GRC would be the Changi Road to the north, Still Road to the west, Marine Parade Road and Siglap Canal to the south, and Bedok South Ave 1 to the East
How Likely will we see the formation of this SMC in GE 2015/2016
50/50 chance. This is currently an SMC, but it was the 2nd worst performer in the last election, with PAP only getting 51% of the votes. There is a strong possibility of it being absorbed into the relatively strong Marine Parade GRC to keep it out of the opposition's reach.
Marine Parade GRC
4 - Member Group Constituency (GRC)
50/50 chance. This is currently an SMC, but it was the 2nd worst performer in the last election, with PAP only getting 51% of the votes. There is a strong possibility of it being absorbed into the relatively strong Marine Parade GRC to keep it out of the opposition's reach.
Marine Parade is another sprawling mess of a GRC, combining areas that should not belong together. Logically, I would consider anything north of the PIE as a completely separate location from anything south of the PIE. This division would leave us with Marine Parade Constituency, Kembangan-Chai Chee and a small part of Geylang Serai. To this, I would like to add the Kolam Ayer constituency from the Moulmein-Kallang GRC.
The boundaries for this GRC would be the PIE to the north, Kallang River to the west, Nicoll Highway/ Guillemard Road to the south, a short section of the Geylang river and Dunman Road, and Tanjong Katong Road. To the east, the boundaries is Lengkong Tiga, Changi Road, Still Road and Marine Parade Road, and the Siglap Canal.
The Kolam Ayer, Kembangan-Chai Chee and the Marine Parade constituency should be relatively unchanged, with the exception of renaming Kolam Ayam to Geylang. Geylang Serai would absorb parts of the other 3 consitiuencies, and be maybe renamed Paya Lebar
How Likely will we see the formation of this GRC in GE 2015/2016
Unlikely, due to the extreme changes proposed. A possible alternative version of this GRC would include Joo Chiat SMC or Mountbatten SMC or even both to make a 5 or 6 member GRC.
Macpherson SMC
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
Macpherson is an interesting constituency. because of the PIE and its geographical location, it does not fit in to Marine Parade GRC, of which it is currently a part of. it is also too geographically removed to be a part of East Coast GRC, or the current Aljunied GRC.
There are also 2 big problems for me to consider making it into an SMC. Firstly, this area is pretty large, and it comprises of 3 (or 4) distinctly different areas; the HDB estate at Macpherson, the 2 industrial area at Tai Seng/ Ubi, and the private housing north of the Pelton Canal. The second problem is the lack of amenities and a central hub for transportation.
What eventually swayed me was that Macpherson MRT would be an interchange when the Downtown line is complete. This might be an indicator that a shopping malls and more amenities might be built here in the near future.
The boundaries for this SMC would be the Serangoon Road and Upper Aljunied Road/Aljunied Road to the west, PIE to the south, Eunos Link/ Airport road to the east and Bartley Road/Bartley Road East to the north
How Likely will we see the formation of this SMC in GE 2015/2016
Unlikely. The MP currently representing Macpherson is Tin Pei Ling, a new first term MP who was received very badly online when her candidacy was announced in 2011. Making this a SMC would require her to run on her own, which has a good possibility of falling to the opposition, especially with it being sandwiched by Potong Pasir and Aljunied, both opposition strongholds. NSP would most likely contest here as they had previously contested Marine Parade GRC.
Mountbatten SMC
Single Member Constituency (SMC)
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