Boundary changes to Yuhua SMC expected due to declining number of voters: Grace Fu

SINGAPORE - Boundary changes to Yuhua SMC in Jurong were expected, as it is a mature estate with a declining number of voters, said Ms Grace Fu, who is the MP for the area, on March 12.

“I expected boundary changes to happen in Yuhua because Yuhua, as you know, is actually the smallest SMC, and because it’s quite a mature estate, the number of voters actually has been on a decline,” said Ms Fu, who is Minister for Sustainability and the Environment and Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations.

“On the other hand... across the expressway, the town in Bukit Batok West is actually growing very quickly,” she added. 

Ms Fu was responding to questions from the media on the recently announced changes to electoral boundaries.

Under

the changes announced on March 11,

parts of Yuhua SMC will merge with Jurong GRC, Bukit Batok SMC and Hong Kah North SMC to form a new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Yuhua SMC has the lowest voter count of 20,525 among the single-member constituencies.

Asked if she will be the anchor minister for the GRC, which currently does not have one, Ms Fu said: “That’s a decision for the Prime Minister to make.”

The anchor minister of Jurong GRC had been President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who represented the area for over two decades while he was an MP, until he stepped down in 2023 to contest the presidential election.

“I hope to be able to stand if (the PM) thinks that I have something to offer in the coming election, and if I’m being fielded, I hope to stay in where I’m familiar with and that’s in Yuhua,” Ms Fu added.

She was speaking to the media on the sidelines of the official opening of Rainforest Wild Asia – Singapore’s fifth wildlife park – where she was guest of honour.

Ms Fu entered politics in 2006 and has been representing Yuhua since. At that time, Yuhua was a ward under Jurong GRC.

It became an SMC in 2011 and remained a single-member seat in the 2015 and 2020 General Elections. 

“It’s really a full circle for me because I came from Jurong GRC (in my) first term, and it’s great to be returning back to the family,” Ms Fu said.

The

new Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC

will have 142,510 voters, incorporating 62,424 from the current Jurong GRC, according to the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee report released on March 11.

Yuhua SMC will be split under the new changes. Parts of it will be absorbed into Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC, while the remainder will become part of the new Jurong Central SMC.

The new Jurong Central SMC will be carved out from Jurong GRC, encompassing 29,620 voters, with 25,668 from the group representation constituency and the rest from Yuhua SMC.

Ms Fu said she is saddened that part of her SMC is being moved into Jurong Central SMC, but assured her residents that she will continue to look after their interests.

With her constituency being split into two parts, she said: “I have to really assure the residents that, you know, they don’t have to worry, and I’m sure my colleagues later on will look after their interests and have their interests at heart.”

In a Facebook post on March 12, she said the divisions within Jurong East-Bukit Batok have long shared common spaces and services.

“Our residents enjoy shared community facilities such as transport nodes, neighbourhood parks and places of worship. Many schools, clinics and social services such as Active Ageing Centres serve residents across the GRC, fostering a strong and connected community,” she wrote.

She added that she will work with the other incumbent MPs on a smooth transition. 

Since the electoral boundaries were announced, opposition party Red Dot United has indicated that it will be contesting in Jurong East-Bukit Batok GRC.

Asked for her response to this, Ms Fu drew parallels between the general election and a “major exam” that one has to work hard and prepare for over the years.

Ms Fu said: “I’m sure we will have to contest very hard. I have a lot of respect for my opposition. I’m sure they’ll put up a good fight.

“Also, I have a lot of respect for my residents, my voters, because I’m sure they want the best for their interests, and it is for us to work very hard to get their endorsement, get their trust and confidence again.”