Yahoo! Singapore dives into the heartlands to find out first-hand what the key issues will be during the General Elections. In the second of a five-part series of video reports, LIYANA LOW ventures into Aljunied GRC, to speak to voters and determine the political sentiment on the ground.
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The influx of foreigners working in Singapore has become a hotly debated issue among Singaporeans in the run up to the General Elections (GE).
With seven in 10 of the new jobs created in 2009 going to foreign workers, foreign employment is expected to be a hotly contested issue.
This issue could be key in Aljunied GRC where in 2006, it was the hottest battleground where the People's Action Party won 56.1 per cent of the votes while Ms Sylvia Lim led the Workers' Party to secure 43.9 per cent.
Aljunied GRC residents whom Yahoo! Singapore spoke to are concerned that there might not be enough jobs for Singaporeans if this continues.
However, resident 39-year-old Pratheeksha Ramachandran acknowledged that Singapore needs foreign workers to fill jobs that locals are not willing to take on.
Shopkeeper Poh Beng Seng, 51, added that foreign workers keep the cost of doing business low, as Singaporeans are more expensive to hire.
While many in the area are aware of the benefits of employing foreigners, others are also concerned that they can be a nuisance in their neighbourhood.
Madam Tan, who is a florist in the Eunos area, said that sometimes after she closes her shop, she sees foreign workers gathering and drinking outside.
The next day when she opens her shop, she gets frustrated because there would be many peanut shells and beer bottles lying around, and she would have to clean them up.
In response to the sentiment on the ground, the Government said in February that it would limit foreign workers to one-third of the total workforce, which is currently around three million.
Voter facts in Aljunied GRC
In the electoral boundary changes recommended by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, close to 29,000 voters from the Aljunied-Hougang ward in Aljunied GRC were moved to Ang Mo Kio GRC and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
However, 20,000 voters from the Kaki Bukit ward, formerly part of Marine Parade GRC, are now absorbed into Aljunied GRC.
In total, the GRC has shrunk by about 9,000 voters to 143,024.
Aljunied GRC is expected to be a keenly contested hotspot for the next GE.
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The influx of foreigners working in Singapore has become a hotly debated issue among Singaporeans in the run up to the General Elections (GE).
With seven in 10 of the new jobs created in 2009 going to foreign workers, foreign employment is expected to be a hotly contested issue.
This issue could be key in Aljunied GRC where in 2006, it was the hottest battleground where the People's Action Party won 56.1 per cent of the votes while Ms Sylvia Lim led the Workers' Party to secure 43.9 per cent.
Aljunied GRC residents whom Yahoo! Singapore spoke to are concerned that there might not be enough jobs for Singaporeans if this continues.
However, resident 39-year-old Pratheeksha Ramachandran acknowledged that Singapore needs foreign workers to fill jobs that locals are not willing to take on.
Shopkeeper Poh Beng Seng, 51, added that foreign workers keep the cost of doing business low, as Singaporeans are more expensive to hire.
While many in the area are aware of the benefits of employing foreigners, others are also concerned that they can be a nuisance in their neighbourhood.
Madam Tan, who is a florist in the Eunos area, said that sometimes after she closes her shop, she sees foreign workers gathering and drinking outside.
The next day when she opens her shop, she gets frustrated because there would be many peanut shells and beer bottles lying around, and she would have to clean them up.
In response to the sentiment on the ground, the Government said in February that it would limit foreign workers to one-third of the total workforce, which is currently around three million.
Voter facts in Aljunied GRC
In the electoral boundary changes recommended by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, close to 29,000 voters from the Aljunied-Hougang ward in Aljunied GRC were moved to Ang Mo Kio GRC and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.
However, 20,000 voters from the Kaki Bukit ward, formerly part of Marine Parade GRC, are now absorbed into Aljunied GRC.
In total, the GRC has shrunk by about 9,000 voters to 143,024.
Aljunied GRC is expected to be a keenly contested hotspot for the next GE.
