GE: Opposition welcome, say Pasir Ris-Punggol MPs

By Alvina Soh | Posted: 05 March 2011 1448 hrs

SINGAPORE: Two MPs of Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency (GRC) have welcomed the possibility of a contest in their wards for the General Election.

Mr Michael Palmer and Mr Charles Chong said they believe the presence of the opposition would inject some excitement.

On the sidelines of a community event, Mr Michael Palmer and Mr Charles Chong were asked about the possibility that the Singapore Justice Party could be fielding Mr Desmond Lim.

Mr Lim has been reported to be interested in the newly-created single-member ward of Punggol East, which is currently part of Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.

Mr Chong said such a move would be good for residents.

"We welcome him contesting in the GRC. That will give our residents all the opportunities to vote," Mr Chong said.

"Some of the residents in the constituencies had never had a contest. They feel a bit deprived."

Meanwhile, Mr Palmer said he believes the PAP team would benefit from a contest.

"General election can be very dull if you're not contested in a General Election -- and various things happen when you are actually contested," Mr Palmer said.

"You get a sense of the ground, you get a sense of the support you have; whether the work that you have been doing has counted."

Mr Palmer said while he does not underestimate the opponent, he remains quietly confident and would continue to work hard to win.

The MPs made the comments on Saturday after the launch of the Lorong Halus Wetland and riverfront promenade by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean.

Commenting on the wetland, Mr Teo said: "We always think Singapore is a very small island with not much recreational space, so I'm really delighted that we have this wonderful new wetland and a waterside walkway".

National water agency PUB said the wetland, formerly a landfill, will provide opportunities for recreation, research and education.

The project is part of its Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters Programme.

Residents in the north east can also look forward to new facilities for sports and recreation, and even a golf driving range.

Mr Teo said residents can look forward to new facilities, such as Sengkang general hospital and polyclinic.

"It will serve all our residents in this area. And in the future, we'll also look forward to the sports complex and the SAFRA club house coming up as the population builds up," Mr Teo said.

Mr Teo was also asked if the two army generals -- Chan Chun Sing and Tan Chuan-Jin -- who are leaving the Singapore Armed Forces are likely to become PAP candidates.

His reply: "No comment".

-CNA/wk

New Sengkang hospital by 2020

From iTODAY:New Sengkang hospital by 2020


Neo Chai Chin
Mar 5, 2011

SINGAPORE - Residents in the fast-growing Sengkang and Punggol areas will be served by a new hospital and an additional polyclinic.

Opening in 2020, the Sengkang hospital - which will likely have between 500 and 600 beds - will be the third new hospital to be up-and-running in a decade, following the opening of Khoo Teck Puat Hospital last year and the scheduled opening of the Jurong Hospital in 2014.

On Friday, Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan announced substantial investments in the healthcare infrastructure, including a S$50-million upgrade of polyclinics at Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Geylang, Tampines and Yishun over the next five years. A new polyclinic will also be built in Punggol.

On the new hospital in Sengkang - which will have a community hospital adjoining it - Mr Khaw said he has tasked SingHealth to assemble a "young outstanding team" to take charge of the project and will "challenge them" to build a better hospital than Khoo Teck Puat Hospital and the one in Jurong, "measured from the patients' point of view".

The new hospital will be located beside Cheng Lim LRT Station and within walking distance of Sengkang MRT Station.

With this addition to the healthcare landscape, a hospital will be within 30 minutes of every patient, said Mr Khaw.

Mr Khaw added that eight polyclinics have already been upgraded in the past five years and, while waiting time remains a problem for walk-in cases without appointments, it is now "manageable" for those with appointments.

The upgraded polyclinics are now paperless and have multi-disciplinary teams. They are also piloting tele-ophthalmology for patients with eye disease, helping to cut unnecessary referrals to a hospital ophthalmologist, said Mr Khaw.

The Health Minister also revealed that the 700-bed Jurong general hospital will be renamed the Ng Teng Fong Hospital, after the family of the late property mogul and founding chairman of Far East Organization donated S$125 million to the institution.

In a statement on Friday, the late tycoon's son, Mr Philip Ng, who is also the company's chief executive, said: "This gift serves to give back to the Singapore community as well as to leave a lasting memory of him ... We're certain that this development will bring quality healthcare closer to the community and help develop medical capabilities for future generations."

The donation will be used to set up the JurongHealth Fund for needy patients and for research, staff education and facility enhancements, said JurongHealth chief executive Foo Hee Jug.