Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency

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Potong Pasir
Single Member constituency
for the Parliament of Singapore
RegionCentral Region, Singapore
Electorate30,971
Current constituency
Created1968; 57 years ago (1968)
Seats1
PartyPeople's Action Party
MemberAlex Yeo
Town CouncilJalan Besar

The Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency is a single-member constituency (SMC) in central Singapore. It is managed by Jalan Besar Town Council. The current Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency is Alex Yeo from the governing People's Action Party (PAP).

History

[edit]

1968–1976: Creation and WP contests

[edit]

Potong Pasir Constituency was established prior to the 1968 general election; the PAP won uncontested.[1]

In the 1972 and 1976 general elections, the Workers' Party (WP) challenged the PAP in the constituency, with the United National Front (UNF) also doing so in 1972; all three challenges were unsuccessful.[2][3] For not obtaining at least 12.5% of the vote, the UNF also lost their electoral deposit of S$500.[2][4]

1979: By-election and entry of Chiam See Tong

[edit]

In 1979, as part of the seven by-elections that year, Chiam See Tong, future MP for Potong Pasir, contested the constituency as an independent candidate against PAP newcomer Howe Yoon Chong. After submitting his nomination papers for the by-election, Howe dismissed opposition candidates as "court jesters" who had arrived "to provide comic relief".[5] He went on to defeat Chiam with 66.85% of the vote, retaining Potong Pasir for the PAP.[6]

1980: Formation of/first contest by SDP

[edit]

Ahead of the 1980 general election on 23 December, Chiam founded the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in the same year and rematched against Howe in the constituency under the SDP banner.[7] The party was formally registered on 8 September.[8]

In an election rally, Howe disparaged Chiam on his professional competence and was subsequently sued by Chiam for defamation.[9] In response, Howe offered compensation which Chiam accepted; leading to the lawsuit being dropped.[9] Howe won reelection with a decreased 59.05% of the vote.[7][10]

1984–2011: Chiam era

[edit]

1984–1996: SDP era

[edit]

During the 1984 general election, Chiam contested Potong Pasir for the SDP again. Howe retired from politics that year and did not stand for reelection; PAP newcomer Mah Bow Tan was sent to retain the constituency.[11][12] Leading up to the election, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew compared Chiam and Mah's O-Level (GCE Ordinary Level) results in a rally speech, saying, "Mah Bow Tan, age 16, took his O-Levels — six distinctions, two credits. Mr Chiam, age 18 — six credits, one pass." The Prime Minister's Office later conveyed an apology from Lee for making an error about Chiam's results; Chiam had actually gotten seven credits.[13] Chiam was elected MP for Potong Pasir after winning the election with 60.28% of the vote.[14]

In 1988, the constituency was renamed Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency with the creation of group representation constituencies (GRCs).[15] Chiam retained his seat with an improved 63.13% of the vote against PAP candidate Kenneth Chen.[16]

In 1991, Chiam won reelection with 69.64% of the vote against PAP candidate Andy Gan.[17][18]

1997–2011: SPP/SDA era

[edit]

In December 1996, when Parliament was dissolved ahead of the 1997 general election, Chiam left the SDP and joined the Singapore People's Party (SPP), formed from a pro-Chiam former SDP faction which had left in 1994.[18] He assumed leadership of the SPP and stood for reelection in Potong Pasir SMC under its banner, becoming the first SPP MP after winning 55.15% of the vote against Gan.[18][19]

2001–2010: SDA era
[edit]

Prior to the 2001 general election, Chiam formed the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA), a political coalition comprising his SPP and three other opposition parties.[20]

In said election, Chiam won reelection with 52.43% of the vote against Sitoh Yih Pin, PAP newcomer and future MP for Potong Pasir SMC.[21][22] In 2006, Chiam's vote share increased to 55.82% in a rematch.[23]

2011: Withdrawal of SPP from SDA
[edit]

On 28 February 2011, prior to the general election in the same year, the SDA removed Chiam from his position as chairperson of the coalition.[24][25] Subsequently, on 2 March, Chiam announced that he would withdraw the SPP from the SDA.[25]

2011–present: Post-opposition era

[edit]

2011: PAP gain/entry of Sitoh Yih Pin into Parliament

[edit]

In the 2011 general election, Chiam did not stand for reelection in Potong Pasir SMC, instead leading an ultimately defeated five-member team to contest the neighbouring Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC.[26] His wife, Lina Loh,[a] became the SPP candidate for the SMC; a recount confirmed that Sitoh defeated her by 0.72% of the vote, or 114 votes.[22][27] She was offered, and accepted, the first of three non-constituency MP (NCMP) seats issued after the election.[28][29] While Chiam stated his opposition to the NCMP scheme, the SPP reasoned that it was "critical" to ensure an "alternative voice in Parliament", and that having a presence in Parliament would allow the party to "remain engaged in national issues" and be publicly visible until the next election due by 2016. Loh also claimed that she had accepted the post to fulfil the "wishes" of residents of the constituency and because she considered her losing margin "too small".[29]

2015: PAP entrenchment

[edit]

In the 2015 general election, Sitoh retained his seat with 66.41% of the vote in a rematch against Loh, who did not return to Parliament.[22][27]

2020: Change in boundaries

[edit]

Prior to the 2020 general election, the first polling district of Potong Pasir SMC was transferred to the 4-member Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC;[26] in return, the SMC absorbed the Joo Seng area of Marine Parade GRC.[26][30] Sitoh defeated SPP candidate Jose Raymond with 60.67% of the vote, winning a third term in Potong Pasir SMC.[31][27]

2025: Population increase/retirement of Sitoh

[edit]

For the 2025 general election, after an increase in population due to Build-To-Order (BTO) developments in the Bidadari area under Potong Pasir SMC, the EBRC returned two of its polling districts to the new Marine Parade–Braddell Heights GRC, the successor to the now-defunct Marine Parade GRC.[27][32][33] At that election, the SMC had 30,971 registered voters, an increase of 67% from 2020.[27]

On 16 April, it was announced that Sitoh would retire from Parliament and that he would be replaced by Alex Yeo, a former branch chairperson[b] for the PAP in the Paya Lebar division of WP-held Aljunied GRC.[36] On 22 April, the SPP announced that party treasurer Williamson Lee would contest the constituency.[38] On nomination day, Lim Tean, secretary-general of the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), a political coalition, was also nominated to contest the constituency, resulting in a three-way fight between the PAP, SPP and PAR.[33] Yeo proceeded to win 69.2% of the vote against Lee's 22.46% and Lim's 8.33%; Lim lost his electoral deposit of $13,500 for not obtaining at least 12.5% of the vote.[27][39][40]

Member of Parliament

[edit]
Year Member Party
Formation
1968 Sellappa Ramaswamy PAP
1972 Baptist Ivan Cuthbert
1976
1979 Howe Yoon Chong
1980
1984 Chiam See Tong SDP
1988
1991
1997 SPP
2001 SDA
2006
2011 Sitoh Yih Pin PAP
2015
2020
2025 Alex Yeo

Electoral results

[edit]

Note: The Elections Department does not include rejected votes when calculating the vote shares of candidates. Hence, all candidates' vote shares will total to 100% at any given election (may not appear so in multi-way contests due to rounding).

Elections in 1960s

[edit]
General Election 1968[41]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Sellappa Ramaswamy Unopposed
Registered electors 11,782
PAP win (new seat)

Elections in 1970s

[edit]
General Election 1972[42][43]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Baptist Ivan Cuthbert 7,772 66.22 N/A
WP Rajaratnam Murugason 3,391 28.89 N/A
UNF Harnek Singh 573 4.89 N/A
Majority 4,381 37.33 N/A
Total valid votes 11,736 97.88 N/A
Rejected ballots 254 2.12 N/A
Turnout 11,990 91.51 N/A
Registered electors 13,103 Increase11.21
PAP hold Swing N/A
General Election 1976[44][45]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Baptist Ivan Cuthbert 9,667 74.83 Increase8.61
WP Quek Doh Lam 3,252 25.17 Decrease3.72
Majority 6,415 49.66 Increase12.33
Total valid votes 12,919 97.46 Decrease0.42
Rejected ballots 336 2.54 Increase0.42
Turnout 13,255 93.56 Increase2.05
Registered electors 14,167 Increase8.12
PAP hold Swing Increase8.6
By Election 1979
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Howe Yoon Chong 9,056 66.9 Decrease7.9
Independent Chiam See Tong 4,491 33.1 N/A
Majority 4,565 33.7 Decrease15.8
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 13,845 94.2 Increase0.6
Registered electors
PAP hold Swing Decrease7.9

Elections in 1980s

[edit]
General Election 1980
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Howe Yoon Chong 5,509 59.0 Decrease7.9
SDP Chiam See Tong 3,821 41.0 Increase7.9
Majority 1,688 18.0 Decrease31.6
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 9,486 94.2 Increase0.6
Registered electors
PAP hold Swing Decrease7.9
General Election 1984
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDP Chiam See Tong 10,128 60.3 Increase19.3
PAP Mah Bow Tan 6,674 39.7 Decrease19.3
Majority 3,454 20.6 Increase38.6
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 17,078 95.3 Increase1.1
Registered electors
SDP gain from PAP Swing Increase19.3
General Election 1988: Potong Pasir
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDP Chiam See Tong 11,804 63.1 Increase2.8
PAP Kenneth Chen Koon Lap 6,893 36.9 Decrease2.8
Majority 4,911 26.2 Increase5.6
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 18,697 95.4 Increase0.1
Registered electors
SDP hold Swing Increase2.8

Elections in 1990s

[edit]
General Election 1991: Potong Pasir
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDP Chiam See Tong 12,582 69.64 Increase6.5
PAP Andy Gan 5,486 30.36 Decrease6.5
Majority 7,096 39.2 Increase13.0
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 18,325 95.1 Decrease0.3
Registered electors
SDP hold Swing Increase6.5
General Election 1997: Potong Pasir
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SPP Chiam See Tong 9,709 55.15 Decrease14.49
PAP Andy Gan 7,895 44.85 Increase14.4
Majority 1,814 10.30 N/A
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 17,884 95.1 0
Registered electors
SPP gain from SDP Swing Decrease14.4

Elections in 2000s

[edit]
General Election 2001: Potong Pasir
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDA Chiam See Tong 8,107 52.43 Decrease2.72
PAP Sitoh Yih Pin 7,356 47.57 Increase2.8
Majority 751 4.8 Decrease5.6
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 15,463 98.9 Increase3.8
Registered electors
SDA gain from SPP Swing Decrease2.8
General Election 2006: Potong Pasir
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
SDA Chiam See Tong 8,245 55.82 Increase3.39
PAP Sitoh Yih Pin 6,527 44.18 Decrease3.4
Majority 1,718 11.6 Increase6.8
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 14,958 94.1 Decrease4.8
Registered electors
SDA hold Swing Increase3.4

Elections in 2010s

[edit]
General Election 2011: Potong Pasir
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Sitoh Yih Pin 7,990 50.35 Increase6.17
SPP Lina Chiam 7,880 49.65 Decrease6.17
Majority 110 0.7 Increase12.4
Total valid votes
Rejected ballots
Turnout 16,112 93.0 Decrease1.1
Registered electors
PAP gain from SPP Swing Increase6.2
General Election 2015
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Sitoh Yih Pin 10,581 66.41 Increase16.05
SPP Lina Chiam 5,353 33.59 Decrease16.05
Majority 5,228 32.10 Increase31.30
Total valid votes 15,934 98.61
Rejected ballots 224 1.39
Turnout 16,158 92.82 Decrease0.18
Registered electors 17,407
PAP hold Swing Increase16.05

Elections in 2020s

[edit]
General Election 2020
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Sitoh Yih Pin 11,264 60.67 Decrease5.74
SPP Jose Raymond 7,302 39.33 Increase5.74
Majority 3,962 21.34
Total valid votes 18,566 98.52
Rejected ballots 279 1.48
Turnout 18,845 95.51 Increase2.69
Registered electors 19,731 Increase13.35
PAP hold Swing Decrease5.74
General Election 2025[46]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
PAP Alex Yeo 19,288 69.20 Increase8.53
SPP Williamson Lee 6,261 22.46 Decrease16.86
PAR Lim Tean 2,323 8.33 N/A
Majority 13,027 46.74 Increase25.40
Total valid votes 27,872 98.09 Decrease0.43
Rejected ballots 544 1.91 Increase0.43
Turnout 28,416 91.75 Decrease3.76
Registered electors 30,971 Increase56.97
PAP hold Swing Increase8.53

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Also known as Lina Chiam.[22]
  2. ^ Another name for a "grassroots advisor", an individual appointed for "grassroots engagement and outreach" in a GRC division or SMC who, according to the People's Association (PA), has to be aligned with the "Government of the day". They do not need to be the elected MP for the area.[34][35][36][37]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ELD | 1968 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b "ELD | 1972 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  3. ^ "ELD | 1976 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  4. ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 1972". sg-elections.com. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  5. ^ Jeremy Au Yong (22 August 2007). "The reluctant politician". The Straits Times. p. H8 – via NewspaperSG (only viewable at NLB multimedia stations).
  6. ^ "ELD | 1979 Parliamentary By-election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  7. ^ a b "'Show' goes on for SDP 3". The Straits Times. 25 December 1980. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  8. ^ "Chiam gets registrar's approval to form party". The Straits Times. 17 September 1980. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  9. ^ a b "Election remarks; Chiam accepts Howe's apology". The Straits Times. 16 March 1981. Retrieved 20 October 2021 – via NewspaperSG.
  10. ^ "ELD | 1980 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  11. ^ "Former Cabinet Minister Howe Yoon Chong dies at age 84". CNA. 21 August 2007. Archived from the original on 23 August 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2007.
  12. ^ "'Victory' cheers for Mah and Chiam". The Straits Times. 13 December 1984. Retrieved 30 September 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  13. ^ Loke, Hoe Yeong (2014). Let the People Have Him: Chiam See Tong: The Early Years. Singapore: Epigram Books. ISBN 9789810791735.
  14. ^ "ELD | 1984 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  15. ^ "13 GRCs for next general election". The Straits Times. 15 June 1988. p. 1. Retrieved 13 March 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  16. ^ "ELD | 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  17. ^ "ELD | 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  18. ^ a b c Ng, Jun Sen. "The Big Read: From a 'nobody' to Opposition legend, Chiam See Tong leaves behind a mixed legacy". Today. Archived from the original on 24 February 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  19. ^ "ELD | 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  20. ^ Tan, Kim-Kyna (31 July 2001). "The signs". Today. p. 2. Retrieved 11 August 2025 – via NewspaperSG.
  21. ^ "ELD | 2001 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  22. ^ a b c d "GE2015: PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin retains Potong Pasir SMC with 66.4 per cent of votes". The Straits Times. 12 September 2015. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  23. ^ "ELD | 2006 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
  24. ^ Cheow, Xin Yi (3 March 2011). "Chiam pulls party out of alliance". Today. Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  25. ^ a b Saad, Imelda (2 March 2011). "GE SDA says Chiam pulling SPP out of alliance - Channel NewsAsia". CNA. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  26. ^ a b c Lim, Janice (13 March 2020). "A closer look at changes to the electoral boundaries of some key battlegrounds". Today. Archived from the original on 15 September 2024. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  27. ^ a b c d e f "GE2025: PAP's Alex Yeo wins three-way fight for Potong Pasir with 69.18% of votes". The Straits Times. 3 May 2025. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 9 June 2025.
  28. ^ "No. 1334 – Parliamentary Elections Act (Chapter 218)" (PDF). Elections Department Singapore.
  29. ^ a b Moktar, Faris (12 May 2011). "Lina Chiam takes up NCMP seat". Yahoo! News (republication from SingaporeScene). Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 15 May 2011.
  30. ^ "GE2020 official results: PAP retains Marine Parade GRC with 57.76% of votes". The Straits Times. 11 July 2020. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 13 March 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
  31. ^ "GE2020 official results: PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin wins third term as Potong Pasir MP with 60.69% of votes". The Straits Times. 11 July 2020. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 14 August 2025.
  32. ^ "The Report of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, 2025" (PDF). Elections Department Singapore.
  33. ^ a b Mohan, Matthew (23 April 2025). "GE2025: Potong Pasir SMC set for three-cornered fight between PAP, SPP and PAR". CNA. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  34. ^ "Grassroots Advisers". www.pa.gov.sg. Archived from the original on 8 May 2025. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  35. ^ "Grassroots leader Lee Hong Chuang unveiled as PAP's Hougang SMC candidate". Channel NewsAsia. Archived from the original on 20 November 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  36. ^ a b Chan, Gabrielle; Chelvan, Vanessa Paige (16 April 2025). "GE2025: PAP to field ex-Aljunied branch chair Alex Yeo in Potong Pasir, Sitoh Yih Pin stepping down". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  37. ^ Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh (9 August 2017). "Zaqy to take over Marsiling grassroots adviser role". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2025.
  38. ^ Chan, Gabrielle (22 April 2025). "GE2025: Singapore People's Party's Williamson Lee to contest Potong Pasir SMC". The Straits Times. ISSN 0585-3923. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 22 April 2025.
  39. ^ "ELD | 2025 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  40. ^ "GE2025: PAR's Lim Tean vows to 'come back much stronger', after alliance loses in all 6 constituencies". CNA. Archived from the original on 12 May 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  41. ^ "ELD | 1968 Parliamentary General Election Results". www.eld.gov.sg. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  42. ^ "ELD | 1972 Parliamentary General Election Results". Elections Department of Singapore. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  43. ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 1972 > Potong Pasir". sg-elections.com. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  44. ^ "ELD | 1976 Parliamentary General Election Results". Elections Department of Singapore. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  45. ^ "Singapore Parliamentary General Election 1976 > Potong Pasir". sg-elections.com. Retrieved 23 April 2025.
  46. ^ "Statement of Poll for the Electoral Division of Potong Pasir" (PDF). 16 May 2025.