Latest news with #Bishan-ToaPayohGRC
Straits Times
11-05-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Bishan East is latest neighbourhood to get community litter-picking facility
The CleanPod launched on May 11 will help residents take the initiative in clearing litter in the community by providing equipment such as tongs and buckets. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO SINGAPORE - More community litter-picking facilities will be rolled out across the island to nurture collective responsibility in public cleanliness, said the Public Hygiene Council (PHC). The latest housing estate to get the community shed, known as a CleanPod, is Bishan Cresta . Located next to the estate at Bishan Street 13 and along the park connector, the CleanPod launched on May 11 will help residents take the initiative in clearing litter in the community by providing equipment such as tongs and buckets. The launch capped off a month-long Keep Singapore Clean 2025 campaign, which saw over 13,000 participants take part in some 250 cleanup activities across residential areas, parks, and community spaces. The expansion of CleanPods - Bishan Cresta's is the 23rd one - is part of the CleanHood initiative launched in April to deepen collective responsibility for public cleanliness by equipping the community with resources to keep their common spaces hygienic. Following the launch event, more than 50 residents and volunteers were joined by newly-elected Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Elysa Chen to pick up litter in the vicinity using equipment from the shed. Among them was Mr Jonathan Ng, who is chairman of the Bishan Youth Network and who has been volunteering in Bishan for 10 years. The 28-year-old public servant said that while there are estate cleanup initiatives from time to time, the equipment would have to be brought over from Bishan Community Club. The new CleanPod eases the logistics and makes it more convenient for the volunteers, he added. The shed also serves as a reminder for everyone to keep the park clean, he said. He noted that while the estate is generally clean, the litter found in the residential areas include food wrappers and flyers, while plastic bags and cups can be found near the park connector. PHC chairman Andrew Khng said at the launch that keeping Singapore clean is a shared mission, and reflects the community's shared values of responsibility, respect, and collective ownership of one's home. The first CleanPod was launched in July 2019, and while initially placed at parks and beaches, they were later expanded into residential neighbourhoods from October 2021. There are now CleanPods in housing estates in Beach Road, Pek Kio and Yuhua, as well as in Coney Island Park and Gardens by the Bay. When asked about the utilisation rate of the existing CleanPods, Mr Khng said 'usage has grown steadily'. He added the council is identifying more strategic locations to roll out CleanPods, making it easier for residents and organisations to take part in spontaneous clean-ups or to plan community activities as part of everyday life. PHC has also officially launched the Cleanhood @School initiative for primary and secondary schools, and that students will also have access to CleanPods within their estates to support their learning and activities, he added. The new CleanPod in Bishan is located next to Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary and Secondary School. Mr Khng said that as part of the Cleanhood @School initiative, primary schools students will go through the Buddy Clean Workshop, where they will learn about Singapore's cleanliness journey, develop appreciation for cleaners, and gain hands-on experience through proper use of cleaning tools and cleaning their schools. Ms Chen, who was elected on May 3, told reporters at the event that she had spoken to students from Ai Tong School about their clean-up initiatives, and that she was very proud of their community spirit. Newly-elected Bishan-Toa Payoh MP Elysa Chen (second from right) handing out tools and equipment to volunteers on May 11. ST PHOTO: DESMOND FOO The executive director of CampusImpact, a charity which helps disadvantaged youth, also said she was touched by her residents' warmth since the election, and that some early priorities include introducing mental health initiatives for the community. 'I don't have a concrete plan worked out right now, (but) I just know that this is a big need in our community,' she said. 'There's also a lot of interest from our young people who want to come along and help me with it, so it really has to be a ground-up thing. So there's going to be a process of consultation, working with the grassroots, and seeing what that actual plan looks like.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: PAP wins Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with 75.21% of votes and Marymount SMC with 70.7% of votes
The PAP's Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC candidates (from left) Cai Yinzhou, Elysa Chen, Saktiandi Supaat and Chee Hong Tat speaking at Yio Chu Kang Stadium on May 3. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI GE2025: PAP wins Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with 75.21% of votes and Marymount SMC with 70.7% of votes Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - The PAP has scored a resounding victory in both Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Marymount SMC, capturing more than 70 per cent of the votes cast in the 2025 General Election. The four-man PAP team in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, led by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, garnered 75.21 per cent of the votes against Singapore People's Party (SPP), which drew 24.79 per cent. PAP's vote share translated to 66,137 votes cast, while 21,799 votes were cast for opposition party SPP. A total of 98,708 votes were cast and the number of spoilt votes totalled 2,084. The PAP also won Marymount SMC, with Ms Gan Siow Huang drawing 14,868 votes or 70.7 per cent of the vote share, against 6,163 votes cast for Progress Singapore Party (PSP), which translated to 29.3 per cent of the vote share. A total of 21,282 votes were cast and 251 votes were rejected. In Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, it was the PAP's fourth win against SPP. In 2020, when the PAP team was led by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, it garnered 67.23 per cent of the votes, which was higher than PAP's overall vote share of 61.23 per cent. SPP attracted 32.77 per cent of the votes then. In 2015, PAP secured 73.59 per cent of the vote share against SPP, which drew 26.41 per cent. In 2011, PAP triumphed with 56.93 per cent, compared with SPP's 43.07 per cent. Dr Ng, 66, confirmed that he would not be running in the 2025 General Election, when he announced his retirement on April 18. He entered politics in 2001. The 2025 PAP team comprises Mr Chee, 51, Mr Saktiandi Supaat, 51, who is head of FX research at Maybank, and political fresh faces Elysa Chen, 41, a charity director, and social entrepreneur Cai Yinzhou, 35. The 2025 SPP team comprises secretary-general Steve Chia, 54, party chairman Melvyn Chiu, 45, and two new faces, operations executive Muhammad Norhakim, 31, and operations manager Lim Rui Xian, 37. Over in Marymount SMC, Ms Gan, 50, successfully defended her seat against PSP candidate Jeffrey Khoo, 56, the chief executive of a regional risk consulting firm. She is the Minister of State for Education and Manpower. In 2020, when she made her election debut in Marymount, she won 55.04 per cent of the vote against former PSP candidate Ang Yong Guan, who drew 44.96 per cent of the vote share. Speaking to her supporters after the results were announced, Ms Gan said she is 'deeply humbled' by her win and will work hard to improve Marymount estate and build a stronger, more caring community. 'My team and I hope to be able to, together with you, build a brighter future for you and your family and make every day a good day to be in Marymount,' she said. 'We have done well, and we will do better for Marymount.' Mr Khoo was part of PSP's A-team - led by party chairman Tan Cheng Bock - that was fielded in West Coast GRC during the 2020 polls. PSP had lost with 48.32 per cent of the vote against PAPs 51.68 per cent – making it the narrowest win for the ruling party that year. Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC and Marymount SMC are among the nine constituencies that saw no boundary changes in the March 11 Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
AsiaOne
03-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
PAP wins Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with 75.21% of votes over SPP, Singapore News
Results for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC in GE2025 People's Action Party (PAP) 75.21% Singapore People's Party (SPP) 24.79% The People's Action Party (PAP) won Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC with 75.21 per cent of votes over the Singapore People's Party (SPP). PAP received 66,137 votes while SPP received 21,799 votes. The PAP's team for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC is led by Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat and consists of incumbent Saktiandi Supaat as well as new faces Cai Yinzhou and Elysa Chen. The SPP's slate consists of party secretary-general Steve Chia, chairman Lim Rui Xian, Melvyn Chiu and Muhammad Norhakim. At a PAP rally on April 30, Chee spoke about improving infrastructure in the constituency with a new hawker centre in Bishan and the completion of the Toa Payoh Integrated Development. "I don't make empty promises. If I say I will do something, I will make sure I do it for you," he said. SPP's manifesto, titled It Is Time, includes proposals to promote economic stability and fairness, along with plans for sustainable public transport. "We are doing whatever we can to push for change, to push for a better standard of living, a better discussion of ideas for Singaporeans and for everybody. So, this is a moment of change," Chia told The Straits Times on May 1. In the 2020 election, SPP's team for the constituency — consisting Chia, Chiu, treasurer Williiamson Lee, and former member Osman Sulaiman — attained 32.77 per cent of the vote, losing to PAP's lineup led by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen, who recently retired from politics. Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC has 98,505 registered electors this election. For our GE2025 microsite, visit here.
The Star
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Singapore GE2025: Polls a chance to elect more opposition to speak up for Singaporeans, says SPP
Singapore People's Party candidates contesting Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC speaking to people at Bishan Bus Interchange on May 1. - ST SINGAPORE: Voters can help opposition parties grow stronger at the coming polls and give them a chance to speak up for Singaporeans, said Singapore People's Party (SPP) secretary-general Steve Chia. Speaking to reporters near Bishan Bus Interchange on May 1, Chia said Singaporeans are now more receptive to opposition politicians. If the opposition can win one or two more group representation constituencies, Singapore is on the road to full democracy, he added. The 54-year-old said: 'We are doing whatever we can to push for change, to push for a better standard of living, a better discussion of ideas for Singaporeans and for everybody. So, this is a moment of change.' His Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC team includes SPP chairman Melvyn Chiu, 45, and new faces Muhammad Norhakim, 31, and Lim Rui Xian, 37. They are facing off against a PAP team comprising Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat, 51; Saktiandi Supaat, 51; Elysa Chen, 41; and Cai Yinzhou, 35. Chia, who contested his first general election in 1997, said there was a 'great fear' at the time and people did not dare to speak to opposition politicians. This has changed. Now, people come up to them and thank them for giving them a credible alternative to the ruling party, said Chia, who was a Non-Constituency MP between 2001 and 2006. When asked about his team's chances at the end of the nine-day campaign, he said he is unsure how people will vote, but added that SPP can only do its best and reach out to Singaporeans with its message. He said: 'We don't go around scolding the opponent. We have had a very fair campaign. We fight on ideas and policies. Whether we can cross the 50 per cent plus one vote, we don't know. 'We reach out to many people, but there are still many people we are not able to reach because it's only nine days. There's only so much we can do. 'We just hope that when they listen to the interviews... they will give the consideration that we are doing the best we can to bring up the standard of politics... and democracy in Singapore.' At a PAP rally on May 1, Chee said he will push to get a hawker centre up and running in Bishan. When asked, Chia responded that his party, too, would like to build a hawker centre in Bishan if it had access to funds like the ruling party. He said: 'When we, the opposition, propose ideas, we get queried, 'Where are you going to get the money? Where to get the funding?'' - The Straits Times/ANN
CNA
29-04-2025
- Politics
- CNA
Deep Dive GE2025 Podcast: PAP's Elysa Chen on being 'kicked into politics' and overcoming imposter syndrome
Politics was never part of Elysa Chen's plan, who used to think of the PAP as 'paternalistic' and 'out of touch'. But one tea session with the PAP led to another, and now, the party's new face is standing in GE2025. She tells Steven Chia on the Deep Dive podcast why contesting in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC feels like a 'homecoming'. Here is an excerpt from the conversation: Steven Chia, host: Why did you decide to jump into this race? Elysa Chen, PAP candidate for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC: Let me tell you the story. So, it's a pretty open secret. From time to time, certain people get called up for tea sessions. I didn't know what a tea session was. I thought it was literally to have tea and give feedback. Steven: I mean, they probably serve tea at the meeting too? Elysa: Which was extra confusing for me. Is this a tea session or not? I thought it was a forward SG conversation ... I thought they were trying to consult social service leaders and people from different segments of society. Halfway through, I was like, the questions they're asking are pretty weird, I thought, okay, what's the agenda of this? Steven: How many of you were having tea? Elysa: Seven of us - four MPs and three (regular people) Steven: So it's a tea party! Elysa: So after that, I asked the others who were there, what was that all about? And they said, 'Oh it is an interview to be an MP". I started laughing and (thought) okay, I guess that's the last tea session I'll go to. But then one tea session led to the next, and here I am. But that's the thing about (tea sessions), right? It's not so much about what you're drinking, it's the conversations that you're having, the connections that you're developing. Steven: But why choose this party, versus others? Elysa: I had some time to get to know many of the PAP party members. Initially, honestly, I was quite resistant. The typical descriptions of paternalistic, out of touch, things like that. But when you actually get to know them, there's a deep sense of respect. These are people who really care, who have convictions, who are putting their money where their mouth is ... the more I meet different leaders, the more I'm convinced that they are really people with integrity who just want to serve with their best.
