<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Resident suggests single-seat ward
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->A PUNGGOL resident yesterday suggested that Mr Charles Chong, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, be fielded in a single-seat ward at the next general election.
Mr Sunny Wong raised the idea at a dialogue with Law Minister and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and some of the GRC's MPs.
He suggested that a single seat be carved out from the GRC, so that Mr Chong, a veteran MP, could 'fight solo'. Before Mr Shanmugam could reply, Mr Chong interjected with a quip: 'Frankly, I think you give me more credit than I deserve, but I'm very comfortable in a GRC.'
Mr Wong's remarks come in the wake of the announcement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in May that there will be three more single seats at the next polls, raising the number from nine to 12.
The average size of the group representation constituencies will also be reduced from the current 5.4 to five wards. Pasir Ris-Punggol is a six-ward GRC.
Mr Wong also asked Mr Shanmugam if Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC would be downsized.
In reply, the minister said it was up to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee - which comprises civil servants - to decide on such changes.
'They will look at changing demographics. Where those single seats will be, it will be up to them,' he said.
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->A PUNGGOL resident yesterday suggested that Mr Charles Chong, an MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, be fielded in a single-seat ward at the next general election.
Mr Sunny Wong raised the idea at a dialogue with Law Minister and Second Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam and some of the GRC's MPs.
He suggested that a single seat be carved out from the GRC, so that Mr Chong, a veteran MP, could 'fight solo'. Before Mr Shanmugam could reply, Mr Chong interjected with a quip: 'Frankly, I think you give me more credit than I deserve, but I'm very comfortable in a GRC.'
Mr Wong's remarks come in the wake of the announcement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in May that there will be three more single seats at the next polls, raising the number from nine to 12.
The average size of the group representation constituencies will also be reduced from the current 5.4 to five wards. Pasir Ris-Punggol is a six-ward GRC.
Mr Wong also asked Mr Shanmugam if Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC would be downsized.
In reply, the minister said it was up to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee - which comprises civil servants - to decide on such changes.
'They will look at changing demographics. Where those single seats will be, it will be up to them,' he said.
