Political parties must understand Tampines before contesting

Minister Masagos Zulkifli emphasized that any political party wanting to contest in Tampines must fully understand the needs of the residents. He spoke during the launch of Hari Raya festivities at Our Tampines Hub on March 22. Mr. Masagos, who has served as an MP in Tampines for about 19 years, stated that candidates should not only visit occasionally. He asserted that true engagement with the community is essential for anyone contesting in the area. There have been discussions about a potential four-way contest in the upcoming general election. This includes the Workers' Party and other parties like the National Solidarity Party and the People’s Power Party, both of which plan to run in the new Tampines Changkat Single Member Constituency (SMC). The Tampines Changkat SMC was created from the larger Tampines Group Representation Constituency (GRC), which will remain a five-member GRC. Mr. Choo, another MP from Tampines GRC, expressed his desire to continue serving in the new SMC, as he has been working in the area for a decade. He acknowledged challenges ahead but felt supported by the community. However, he noted that final decisions on candidate selections depend on the Prime Minister and will only be confirmed on Nomination Day.