Teo Ho Pin: Where's my challenger in Bukit Panjang?
By Jessica Lim
A CONTEST is anticipated in single-seat Bukit Panjang, but incumbent MP Teo Ho Pin has yet to see a challenger on the horizon.
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has indicated its interest, 'but we don't see any announcement of a candidate', said Dr Teo.
'So far, they have been very quiet,' added the 51-year-old, who has been the constituency's MP for 14 years.
He has seen groups of 10 to 20 SDP party members - sometimes with their bear mascot - at the town centre in the past two months.
They take a walk, snap group photographs and then leave, but he has not seen a specific person going on house visits, he said at a community event in Bukit Panjang.
SDP sources, however, say the party's treasurer Gerald Sng may be fielded in Bukit Panjang.
Dr Teo, who is Mayor of North West District, said he has heard talk of it too, adding that his team is 'prepared to give them a good fight'.
'I do not know why they do not want to announce their candidate,' he said.
'If they have the heart to serve the people, you would have seen them here from Day One. You do not appear in the last two or three months, go to the market, take some photographs and walk around.
'That is not the way to express your genuine interest.'
Dr Teo faced his first contest in the 2006 General Election, when Bukit Panjang was carved out as a single-seat ward. He beat SDP's Mr Ling How Doong with 77.2 per cent of the valid votes.
Since then, the constituency has got a new swimming pool complex, and in 2015, the Bukit Panjang MRT station will open.
The station is the result of close work with the Government, he said, adding that he met Land Transport Authority officials last week to ask for a pathway to be built between Senja estate and the station. A new multi-storey carpark and wet market will also be built soon.
'Our strategy is to work hard to reach out to our residents,' Dr Teo said. 'Winning their hearts cannot be one day or nine days' work. It has to be consistent work over the years.'
By Jessica Lim
A CONTEST is anticipated in single-seat Bukit Panjang, but incumbent MP Teo Ho Pin has yet to see a challenger on the horizon.
The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) has indicated its interest, 'but we don't see any announcement of a candidate', said Dr Teo.
'So far, they have been very quiet,' added the 51-year-old, who has been the constituency's MP for 14 years.
He has seen groups of 10 to 20 SDP party members - sometimes with their bear mascot - at the town centre in the past two months.
They take a walk, snap group photographs and then leave, but he has not seen a specific person going on house visits, he said at a community event in Bukit Panjang.
SDP sources, however, say the party's treasurer Gerald Sng may be fielded in Bukit Panjang.
Dr Teo, who is Mayor of North West District, said he has heard talk of it too, adding that his team is 'prepared to give them a good fight'.
'I do not know why they do not want to announce their candidate,' he said.
'If they have the heart to serve the people, you would have seen them here from Day One. You do not appear in the last two or three months, go to the market, take some photographs and walk around.
'That is not the way to express your genuine interest.'
Dr Teo faced his first contest in the 2006 General Election, when Bukit Panjang was carved out as a single-seat ward. He beat SDP's Mr Ling How Doong with 77.2 per cent of the valid votes.
Since then, the constituency has got a new swimming pool complex, and in 2015, the Bukit Panjang MRT station will open.
The station is the result of close work with the Government, he said, adding that he met Land Transport Authority officials last week to ask for a pathway to be built between Senja estate and the station. A new multi-storey carpark and wet market will also be built soon.
'Our strategy is to work hard to reach out to our residents,' Dr Teo said. 'Winning their hearts cannot be one day or nine days' work. It has to be consistent work over the years.'
