26-04-2025
GE2025: PSP's track record in Parliament could boost vote share in Pioneer SMC, says Stephanie Tan
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SINGAPORE - The opposition Progress Singapore Party's (PSP) track record in Parliament over the past five years could help boost the party's chances of winning Pioneer SMC, said Ms Stephanie Tan, the party's candidate for the single seat ward, on April 26.
Speaking to The Straits Times on the sidelines of a walkabout in Pioneer, she said: 'I hope that is the case but the thing with an election is that you never know.'
Ms Tan is a political newcomer who is contesting Pioneer SMC for the first time. In GE2020, the PSP had fielded a different candidate, Mr Lim Cher Hong, in the constituency.
After GE2020, PSP's Mr Leong Mun Wai and Ms Hazel Poa - who contested West Coast GRC at the last election - entered Parliament as NCMPs. The party could send two representatives into Parliament by virtue of them being the 'best losers' that year.
Ms Tan said 'the sensing on the ground has been pretty good', adding: 'I have been here quite often so the residents recognise me.'
She said she has visited all 131 blocks in the constituency over the past few months.
Ms Tan said young people she spoke to on her walkabouts have asked her questions on policies the party had raised in Parliament, in the area of jobs and housing, for example .
'First-time and second-time voters raised some very good questions,' said the 37-year-old. She said she answered these questions based on what the party had raised in Parliament.
'I hope that will give them more information to make an informed choice. They care about a range of issues - those in their 20s care about housing issues, fresh grads had questions about jobs, and I even had kids asking me about PSLE,' Ms Tan added.
The homemaker and former lawyer added that she has heard good things on the ground about the incumbent PAP MP Patrick Tay.
Pioneer SMC will see a straight fight between PSP and PAP on May 3.
Mr Patrick Tay has represented Pioneer SMC since the last general election in 2020.
In GE2020, Mr Tay won 62 per cent of the vote in a three-way race against PSP's Lim Cher Hong and independent candidate Cheang Peng Wah.
'We just do our best with what resources we have. When I do this, I don't really think too much about the outcome. I just enjoy the experience and take the opportunity to get to know the residents here,' Ms Tan said. 'If I do get elected, I hope to continue building relationships with them.'
Ms Tan spoke to residents at a coffeeshop near Pioneer MRT station before making door-to-door visits at neighbouring blocks.
On her strengths as a candidate against Mr Tay , a labour unionist, Ms Tan said they are both lawyers by training and can contribute to parliamentary processes in similar ways.
'But for me, I am also a full-time mother and I have been for many years. So, I think from the caregiving aspect and the experience that I have with taking care of people, I think that I can connect with the residents.
'I can get to know them and build personal relationships with them. I hope that I'll be given the chance to do that. That is the other important aspect of being an MP - taking care of the residents.'
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