GE2025: Poh Li San edges out Chee Soon Juan in Sembawang West SMC with 53.19% of the vote
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SINGAPORE – People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Poh Li San beat Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) secretary-general Chee Soon Juan to secure Sembawang West SMC for the ruling party, with 53.19 per cent of the vote.
Ms Poh, 49, who was elected in the 2020 General Election as part of a five-member team in Sembawang GRC, has looked after the Sembawang West ward for the past five years.
The senior vice-president at Changi Airport Group had said before the hustings that she was prepared for a tough fight. She eventually prevailed over Dr Chee, 62, one of Singapore's most recognisable opposition politicians.
Her pitch to voters included more support for seniors, strengthening mental wellness programmes and speaking up for them in Parliament on jobs and bread-and-butter issues.
Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, who led the PAP team to win Sembawang GRC, had said he would continue to work closely with Ms Poh and pay close attention to Sembawang West SMC if they were both successful in the polls.
Meanwhile, Dr Chee campaigned on several alternative policy proposals, on issues such as healthcare and the economy.
These included removing the goods and services tax from basic necessities such as food, medication and education supplies, while raising it to 13 or 14 per cent for luxury goods to compensate for the loss in revenue.
He also talked about SDP's healthcare proposal of switching to a national health insurance 'single payer' system for hospital bills.
Dr Chee proposed organising town hall meetings to hear residents' issues as this would reduce waiting times at Meet-the-People Sessions. He also committed to being a full-time MP if elected.
Ms Poh countered by saying that although his suggestions made for good rally speeches, they demonstrated a lack of understanding of how Meet-the-People Sessions work – offering a safe, private space for residents to talk about their life challenges.
'It is not a town hall for public political theatre,' she said at an April 28 rally.
She acknowledged that Dr Chee is passionate and has walked a long political path, but has not served 'a community from within'.
She said: 'Passion alone does not build playgrounds, nor support seniors, nor comfort a struggling family.'
Sembawang West SMC, with 24,206 voters, was carved out from Sembawang GRC following the release of the report by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee on March 11.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction
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