Why do we want to know that this facility costs 4.1 billion to build? Well, I would be curious to know then who made this 4.1 Billion building it? How much does Singapore make from letting Shell operate in Singapore?
I record this article below.
Fire at Shell's Pulau Bukom plant leaves 6 injured, including 3 in critical condition
Shell also confirmed that the fire was put out within an hour by the site's first emergency responders. ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
SINGAPORE - A fire broke out at oil giant Shell's manufacturing site on Pulau Bukom on Friday evening, leaving six workers with burn injuries.
The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said they received a call at around 6.15pm about the fire from the Pulau Bukom Manufacturing Site.
Upon its arrival, the fire had already been extinguished by Shell's emergency response team.
The six victims were sent to the Singapore General Hospital (SGH).
Three of them are in a "critical condition", said a SGH spokesman. One is in a stable condition, and two others were discharged after receiving outpatient treatment.
In a statement. a Shell spokesperson said: "We are following the progress and treatment of the other workers closely and are working with our contractors to ensure all possible support and assistance are rendered to the injured workers and their families. All other personnel are accounted for at the site."
Shell also confirmed that the fire was put out within an hour by the site's first emergency responders and there were no other impact on the site's operations.
"We are working with the Singapore Civil Defence Force to investigate the incident," the statement also said.
In the Facebook post, SCDF also said that "contrary to speculation, there is no SCDF personnel among the casualties".
Pulau Bukom houses the $4.1 billion Shell Eastern Petrochemicals Complex, which opened in May 2010, and is Shell's largest petrochemical investment.
This is not the first time a fire broke out at Pulau Bukom. In September 2011, more than 100 firefighters helped to put out a fire that raged for 32 hours at the Pulau Bukom refinery. Shell was fined $80,000 the following year for lapses in workplace safety that led to the fire.
Here are some collected information about the Case of Amos Yee.
First of all, he should not be arrested.
Everybody thinks that the real reason that Yee is arrested is because of his criticism of Lee Kuan Yew and not harming the feelings of Christians.
I believe this is the first petition that surfaced when Yee was first arrested. It was a statement to show that Christians are not offended.
I want to point out that the people played along with this 'deliberate intention of wounding the religious feelings of Christians in general' and reacted to it at a very early stage in the case.
Petition found at Change.org
Url: https://www.change.org/p/the-government-of-singapore-release-amos-yee
As Singaporeans, we are thankful for the laws of our land and trust in our courts. Our peace and freedoms in Singapore attest to that.
In regard to Amos Yee: We are not offended by Amos Yee's statements. His opinions about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ neither threaten our faith nor diminish our love for Him. Please release Amos Yee from your anger. We forgive him and desire he have a full life of contribution to his community ahead of him.
A reminder to my Christian brothers and sisters: Those in our faith have a keen understanding for what it means to be on the wrong side of righteousness, we know we receive God's love through no merit of our own.
As ugly as Amos Yee's words were, we forgive because Jesus loved us despite our own fallen spiritual state.
To be forgiven is an extraordinary gift & we extend this gift to Amos Yee.
"For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" Romans 5:10
Well, it is a surprised to receive news today about the new electoral boundaries today. Below is a very long report. For the record (not sure if I have a chance to analyse this article below).
Elections is a time that politicians present their ideals and vision of Singapore to its people. It is also another opportunity for those that are excluded to establish their identity and getting their voice legitimised and heard.
People get angry at this Gerrymandering (giving the incumbent that political advantage) because we like fairness. That's my interpretation. We want to see clean and fair politics - not waste time thinking only about running housing estates.
Why change electoral boundaries? Are the PAP afraid that the ground is not sweet enough? No Lah, Because the incumbent can and has every intention of staying in power.
From http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/new-electoral-boundaries-announced-13-smcs-16-grcs-one-in-six-voters-will-see-shift
SINGAPORE - Changes have been made to the boundaries of electoral constituencies ahead of the next general election.
One in five voters, or 19 per cent of voters, will find themselves in a new constituency, according to the report of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee made public on Friday.
This figure is fewer than the 30 per cent of voters affected in the past boundary redelineation ahead of the 2011 General Election.
There are around 2.46 million eligible voters, up from 2.35 million in 2011.
The number of elected Members of Parliament will rise from the current 87 to 89.
There will also be 13 Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 16 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), up from the current 12 SMCs and 15 GRCs.
Two SMCs have been absorbed into neighbouring GRCs: Joo Chiat will be part of Marine Parade GRC, while Whampoa will be part of Jalan Besar GRC.
Three new SMCs have been created from larger GRCs: Bukit Batok has been carved out of Jurong GRC, Fengshan out of East Coast GRC, and MacPherson out of Marine Parade GRC.
However, 10 of the existing 12 SMCs remain largely unchanged, with Sengkang West seeing several polling districts moved to neighbouring Ang Mo Kio GRC.
There will also be six four-MP GRCs, up from the current two.
They are Chua Chu Kang GRC, East Coast GRC, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC, and West Coast GRC, as well as new Jalan Besar GRC and Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC.
Jalan Besar GRC is largely made up of the existing Moulmein-Kallang GRC, as well as districts from existing Tanjong Pagar GRC and Whampoa SMC.
Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC is made up of polling districts from the existing Chua Chu Kang GRC and Sembawang GRC that have seen significant population growth in recent years.
There will also be eight five-MP GRCs, down from the current 11.
These eight GRCs are: Aljunied, Bishan-Toa Payoh, Jurong, Marine Parade, Nee Soon, Sembawang, Tampines and Tanjong Pagar GRCs.
Both Aljunied and Tampines GRCs remain unchanged.
Sembawang absorbs districts of neighbouring Nee Soon GRC, while Nee Soon GRC absorbs districts of neighbouring Ang Mo Kio GRC.
Bishan-Toa Payoh and Tanjong Pagar GRCs will incorporate neighbouring districts from Moulmein-Kallang GRC.
Meanwhile, the existing two six-MP GRCs remain: Ang Mo Kio and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRCs.
Ang Mo Kio GRC, which is helmed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, will absorb districts from Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC as well as Sengkang West SMC that have seen population growth from new housing developments in recent years.
The release of the report comes less than two weeks after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in reply to questions in Parliament on July 13 that the committee had been formed two months ago.
While there is no fixed date for the election to be called after the report is made public, it has in previous elections taken as short as one day and as long as one month and 26 days.
Mr Lee also said he had entrusted the committee to have smaller GRCs, so as to reduce the average size of GRCs to below five, and to have at least 12 SMCs.
The release of the report is widely seen as a sign that the next general election, which must be held by January 2017, is round the corner, with People's Action Party activists as well as observers expecting it to take place as early as September.
With the committee's report out, the next stage in the lead-up to Polling Day is for Parliament to be dissolved and the writ of election issued. In 2001, this happened one day after the boundaries report was issued, and in 2011, one month and 26 days.
Nomination Day must take place no earlier than five days and no later than one month after the writ is issued. Nomination Day is the start of the campaign period, which is required by law to be a minimum of nine days.
There is then a Cooling-Off Day, which falls on the eve of Polling Day when voters cast their ballots.
PM Lee, when announcing the formation of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee in Parliament on July 13, had assured the House there would be time for everyone to digest the committee's report once it was published.
"To the maximum extent possible, we will make sure that there is enough time elapsed so that everybody can read the report, understand it and know where they stand before elections are called," he had said then. "But I don't think it is possible to say that we promise a certain minimum period, such as six months, because it depends very much on the exigencies of the situation and on when elections become necessary."
An earlier version of this story said one in six voters will be affected by the boundary changes. It should be one in five. The earlier calculation excluded voters in Moulmein-Kallang GRC who will move to the renamed Jalan Besar GRC.
Don't you just feel like clicking on articles that have a number in them? Why did I bookmark this? Well, one day when we defragment this blog.... I wanted to remember that Shashlik announced that they were going to close. It is an old Singaporean Russian restaurant and I somehow think it is run by Hainanese people. I don't think that I have been there.
Then it also has this list of 'old school' restaurants that have more than 30 years history, that's old in Singapore. I wanted to know who they are and read more about them.
We do see less and less 'mom & pop' shops suriving. It seems that this world class developed city is getting so congested with global brands that it just doesn't have space for these 'mom & pop' shops.
I am not surprised that Shashlik will see more customers coming in to try to get the 'last' fix. Nostalgia market?
A restaurants needs customers and for Shashlik, the response from the customers is to flock there for their last fix as the only possible way to deal with something old and closing. I wonder if it is not closing, will they come for their Shashlik fix anytime soon?
The problem is quite complex. It isn't simply Mcdonald's forcing everyone out or Breadtalk pushing up the rental rates.
I just wish to see more restaurants that can survive 3 or 5 generation like those really old school restaurants in Japan. (* Spring Court now has grandson run...cool, that's 3rd Gen).
SINGAPORE - Thirty-year-old Shashlik announced earlier this week that it will be closing its doors for the final time at the end of 2015. Slow business, aging staff and difficulties in hiring new staff were the reasons given for the planned closure.
One of the partners of the Russian restaurant, Ms Jenny Lee, 57, told The Straits Times, "It's very sad but we have no choice. We are getting old and are very tired."
The Far East Shopping Centre restaurant, famous for its borsch soup, steaks and meat on skewers, was popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
Here are 10 other restaurants in Singapore with more than 30 years in history.
1. SINGAPORE ZAM ZAM RESTAURANT
The exterior of Zam Zam. PHOTO: ST FILE
Renowned for its chicken, mutton and sardine murtabaks, Zam Zam first started selling its famed Indian-Muslim cuisine in 1908.
The landmark restaurant opposite Sultan Mosque also serves roti prata plain, egg or onion, and nasi briyani.
The family restaurant's name was inspired by Zamzam, a well at the heart of Mecca believed to contain water that quenches the worst thirst.
Where: 697 North Bridge Road
Open: 7am to 11pm daily
Tel: 6298 6320
2. PRIMA TOWER REVOLVING RESTAURANT
Prima Tower waitress Ong Ai Guek preparing a dish for diners. PHOTO: ST FILE
Established in 1977, the revolving restaurant is well-known for its Shredded Scallops with Fish & Egg White and its Emperor's Chicken. Led by executive chef Chan Sung Og, 60, the menu also includes new dim sum items such as Shredded Yam Cake with Sakura Prawn, with the cake made completely from yam.
It is also the only restaurant that serves the traditional northern Chinese dessert called Three Non Stick. The dessert, which is made from egg yolks, sugar and flour, costs $60, and needs to be ordered a day in advance.
Where: 201 Keppel Rd
Open: 11am to 2.30pm (Monday to Saturday), 10.30am to 2.30pm (Sunday and public holiday), 6.30pm - 10.30pm daily
Tel: 6272-8822
3. RED STAR RESTAURANT
Waitresses at Red Star Restaurant. PHOTO: TNP FILE
The famous dim sum restaurant was opened in 1974 by masterchefs Sin Leong, 88; Hooi Kok Wai, 76; the late Tham Yui Kai and the late Lau Yoke Pui. Trained by Shanghainese masterchef Luo Chen, the four men were known as Singapore's culinary Heavenly Kings of the 1960s and the 1970s.
With its affordable menu, authentic Cantonese fare and nostalgic atmosphere, Red Star is a must-try stop for dim sum lovers.
Where: 54 Chin Swee Rd #07-23
Open: 7am to 3pm and 6 to 10pm daily
Tel: 6532-5266
4. ISLAMIC RESTAURANT
The interior of Islamaic Restaurant. PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI FOR THE STRAITS TIMES
The 94-year-old Indian Muslim establishment's iconic briyani has been enjoyed and praised by many, from locals to Brunei royalty to Malaysian politicians.
The restaurant, headed by third-generation owner Mr Kalil A. Wahab, dishes out up to 200 servings of nasi briyani a day. Its Beryani Set, which costs $11, comes with a choice of chicken, mutton or fish briyani, served with dalcha, achar, vegetables and pappadam.
Famed for its authentic chicken rice and herbal mutton soup, the oldest Hainanese restaurant in Singapore has kept its old-school atmosphere and nostalgic ambience although it is now located in the Landmark Village Hotel.
The restaurant, which opened in 1935, also serves up homely signature dishes including Hainanese pork chop, deep-fried sambal pomfret coated with sambal and fried fish maw with cabbage.
Where: 390 Victoria Street, #03-12A Landmark Village Hotel
Open: 6.30 to 10.30am, 11.30am to 3pm and 5.30 to 9.30pm daily
Tel: 6392-1600
6. ANANDA BHAVAN RESTAURANT
Customers placing their orders at Ananda Bhavan's Selegie branch. PHOTO: ST FILE
Established in 1924, the Anandha Bhavan Restaurant - started by a Brahmin family - is the oldest Indian vegetarian restaurant in Singapore. The business has six locations - including the original Selegie Road shop - but the flagship 24-hour restaurant is located nearby in Little India, across from Mustafa department store.
From chaat to thosai, diners have a wide array of selections of North and South Indian as well as Indian-Chinese cuisines. Favourites include appam, mysoor masala thosai and briyani set meal.
Where: 221 Selegie Road, 188340
Open: 5.30am to 10pm daily
Tel: 6339-3643
7. THE SHIP
Chicken Maryland from The Ship. PHOTO: SHIP RESTAURANT
Sailing since 1977, The Ship started life in Robinson Road. Decked out like the interior of a ship, the restaurant endeared itself to generations of Singaporean diners for its Western menu offering such old-school treats as fried Chicken Maryland, Ship Steak and Hainanese Pork Chop.
Its flagship outlet has been located at Shaw Centre for about 30 years, playing host to movie moguls and singing stars as well as more ordinary folk. It also has a branch located at nex shopping mall.
Where: 1 Scotts Road, Shaw Centre #03-16/18
Open: 11am to 3pm and 5.30pm to 10pm daily
Tel: 6235-2235
8. GUAN HOE SOON RESTAURANT
The famous babi panggang from Joo Chiat Place's Guan Hoe Soon. PHOTO: GUAN HOE SOON RESTAURANT
This restaurant in Joo Chiat has been in business since 1953. The restaurant prides itself on making everything from scratch in-house and its recipes have remained unchanged.
The menu includes standard Peranakan dishes such as ayam buah keluak and babi pong tay. It is famous for its weekends-only special babi panggang (roast pork), which is cooked with shrimp-based rempah spices and served with preserved mustard leaves and also sweet and chilli sauces.
Where: 38/40 Joo Chiat Place
Open: 11am to 3pm and 6pm to 9.30pm daily
Tel: 6344-2761
9. SPRING COURT
Spring Court's owners Mike Ho and his mother Soon Puay Keow (seated). PHOTO: ST FILE
Formerly known as Wing Choon Yuen, this iconic restaurant was opened at Great World in 1929 by Ho Loke Yee. Now run by Ho's grandson Mike Ho, it is located in a four-storey heritage shophouse in Upper Cross Street.
One of the must-eats at the 650-seat restaurant is their signature Fried Chicken With Prawn Paste, where deboned chicken is spread with a layer of fresh, chopped prawns and then deep fried. Other signature dishes include Buddha Jumps Over The Wall and popiah.
Where: 52-56 Upper Cross St, 058348
Open: 11am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm daily
Tel: 6449-5030
10. GIM TIM
The exterior of a Gim Tim outlet. PHOTO: WWW.GIMTIM.COM.SG
This 40-year-old restaurant, serving cuisines with Hokkien, Szechuan and Cantonese influences, has expanded from a modest outlet in Ang Mo Kio to include Imperial Court at The Grassroots' Club and Tim Palace at Safra Toa Payoh.
Renowned for its old school dialect dishes, Gim Tim serves an iconic Hokkien dish called chin beh kueh, in which leftover porridge is mixed with tapioca flour to form a cake which is then chopped up and stir-fried with dried shrimp and minced pork.
Gim Tim is one of the 50 restaurants that have each come up with a special dish for Singapore Restaurant Month, which starts on July 17. Its chef Foong Kok Thin, 48, has whipped up stir-fried mushrooms and kailan in a sauce made with chicken broth, oyster sauce and soya sauce, using locally grown greens and the dish which will remain on the restaurant's menu after the event.
Where: 157 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 #01-546
Open: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm on Monday to Friday; 11am to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm on weekend and public holiday
The Straits Times came up with this - stating a signal of 'no change' in plans. This is another way of asking us if we agree. So please write a letter and ask them not to go according to plan. For your reference, please read below. Write in if you can.
Development of Bukit Brown Cemetery will proceed as planned
The People on a Guided Tour and understanding the value and beauty of Bukit Brown
The Government will go through with the building of a controversial road across Bukit Brown Cemetery, suggested Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin in aFacebook post on Friday.
An exercise to document some 5,000 graves there that could be affected by the new road is almost complete, he shared, adding: 'The Land Transport Authority (LTA) will also use the findings from the documentation exercise to fine-tune the road alignment so as to reduce the impact on the graves.'
The dual four-lane carriageway, plans for which were announced last September, is meant to ease congestion on Lornie Road. Construction of the road will begin next year.
The Bukit Brown site as a whole is slated for redevelopment, though heritage and environment civic groups are pushing for its conservation.
In his blog post, Mr Tan noted that it can potentially house 15,000 homes for around 50,000 residents, or 40 per cent of the homes in Toa Payoh town.
'These are homes for many many Singaporeans,' he said.
He implied, too, that development plans would also go ahead, adding: 'Let's see how we can develop Bukit Brown in the interim, to make it more accessible to visitors, even as we maintain its rustic charm.'
Residents can opt for online service, while those without Internet access won't be left out
By Zakir Hussain & Andrea Ong
SINGAPORE residents will each get a personal online mailbox in two years' time to receive their mail from the Government and public agencies.
Mail such as tax statements, reminders to renew TV licences and bills for service and conservancy charges will be sent to this Internet mailbox.
To be called OneInbox, it represents a new government approach in harnessing technology for the next phase of its masterplan to deliver services electronically.
People can log into the mailbox using their SingPass ID as well as register online to get e-mail and SMS alerts for new mail.
Another new feature in the masterplan for 2011 to 2015 is to give residents an online 'safe deposit box' for them to store important personal documents such as their birth certificate and statements of Central Provident Fund savings.
So, if there is a fire, people no longer need to risk their lives running into their homes to save their important documents, the government's chief information officer James Kang said yesterday.
A third feature is a tracking function that lets people check online the status of their transactions with public agencies, similar to how they can now track registered mail online.
Mr Kang, the Infocomm Development Authority's (IDA) assistant chief executive, unveiled these new features in the five-year masterplan at a forum to exchange ideas on government online strategies.
Together with the head of the civil service Peter Ho, he painted in broad strokes the sea change that lies ahead, without elaborating on the steps involved.
In Singapore, four out of five homes have Internet access. For those without, Mr Ho assured that 'no one will be left out or left behind'.
He gave the assurance in his opening address at the iGov global forum in Suntec City, attended by 300 public servants and delegates from 28 countries. It was organised by the Finance Ministry and IDA.
In Mr Ho's view, such popular social networking tools as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are going to power the 'quantum leap' in the way the public sector serves the people.
'We now see a growing constituency of empowered citizens who do not necessarily subscribe to the notion of 'Government knows best'.
'The same disruptive technologies that are empowering citizens can also be harnessed by the public sector to deliver efficient and effective services,' he said.
However, this can work only when Singapore moves away from the current top-down 'Government-to-You' mindset to a 'Government-with-You' mindset, he added.
To foster the new attitude, public agencies should work with the private sector and people to better serve the public, said Mr Ho, citing the case of the Land Transport Authority (LTA) teaming up with Google.
LTA combined its vast public transport database with Google Maps last year to give motorists and commuters real-time information on road traffic conditions and the best route to take.
Another point he stressed is the need for agencies to actively involve citizens in shaping public policies.
Its importance was also underlined by speakers from other countries. For instance, the United States government held an online dialogue for six weeks recently, during which netizens engaged moderators from various agencies on their services, said Dr David McClure of the US General Services Administration.
Although online safe deposit boxes are available in the private sector here, analysts and Singaporeans contacted yesterday expressed concern over security and privacy issues.
'But Singapore has experience in managing such issues and can ensure checks are robust,' said National University of Singapore professor Wong Poh Kam.
Copywriter Sheryl Guo, 28, likes the convenience of the OneInbox, but worries: 'Are there safeguards against unauthorised access?'
Undergraduate Luo Yanjie, 25, added that 'should my account get hacked, I will know about it much later than if I had just misplaced my identity card', a statement reflecting the common concern that online theft is difficult to detect. zakirh@sph.com.sg andreao@sph.com.sg
This week got to controversy about the dispute from 2 association.
Do you think this particular one is a distraction from AWARE?
April 16, 2009
Hainan Hwee Kuan dinner marred by dispute over funds
By Yen Feng
AN OPEN fight has broken out between two factions in the Hainan Hwee Kuan over the association's finances, with six council members resigning because of it.
Last night, amid rumbling dissatisfaction over how funds were being used, chairman Thomas Foo faced more than 150 clan members at the association in Beach Road.
The evening was supposed to be a casual social dinner but it ended in an emotional debate, with one former council member walking out in anger.
Another urged council members not to treat one another as enemies.
At the nub of the matter is the disagreement over how the Hainanese World Federation Congress, to be held here in October, should be organised.
According to council member Christopher Chang, Mr Foo had proposed outsourcing the running of the conference, which is expected to draw nearly 3,000 delegates from around the world.
It was supported by some of the 43 council members, including Mr Chang, who said: 'We are all volunteers here, how can we manage such a huge conference?'
But other members objected to the expense.
Last night, Mr Foo, together with the association's treasurer, Mr Zheng Xin De, ended up presenting its financial accounts, dating back to 2005, to the audience of council and non-council members.
The feud is said to have begun in February, when the association's annual bank statements were presented at a general meeting.
The objectors demanded a breakdown of the accounts, but were still dissatisfied when that was presented a month later.
When their request for a further audit was defeated by majority vote, six council members resigned in protest.
Last night, before walking out, former council member Albert Goh, 59, told the crowd it was not an appropriate time to discuss the matter.
He said: 'This is an internal matter between the council. This is not the right place or time to discuss the association's confidential financial statements.'
Two other former council members who were present, Mr Fu Qing Yun and Mr Zhuang Geng Zhou, did not comment.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
March 14, 2009
Electoral boundary changes: Chatter on the ground
By Li Xueying
AMID rumours of an early election, activists from the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) are bracing themselves for possible electoral boundary changes.
The latter are recommended by the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee, which comprises civil servants in the Prime Minister's Office. Among the factors taken into account are population changes and movements.
This however has not stopped speculation over the years that electoral boundaries are politically-motivated. Cynics point to the disappearance of Cheng San GRC after the 1997 poll. The PAP scored 54.8 per cent of the votes there then.
This time round, speculation swirls around the constituencies of Aljunied GRC, Ang Mo Kio GRC and Sembawang GRC.
One PAP activist from Ang Mo Kio GRC reasoned that since the PAP did not do well in Aljunied GRC in 2006, the weakest link there could be moved out and put into Ang Mo Kio GRC - 'which, no matter what, is still much stronger'.
The PAP team captured 56.1 per cent of the valid votes in Aljunied GRC, with the middle-class ward of Serangoon Gardens faring the worst, according to activists.
The conventional wisdom that middle-class voters tend to support the ruling party did not pan out as expected then, noted one party activist.
If Serangoon Gardens is indeed moved to the six-member Ang Mo Kio GRC, then the ward of Nee Soon South may be moved out, activists speculate.
Indeed, some think it may become part of a new GRC in the north of Singapore.
This new GRC may include the two single-seat wards - Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon East - in the area, as well as parts carved out of the existing Sembawang GRC.
As it stands now, Sembawang GRC is Singapore's biggest constituency, with 184,804 voters looked after by six MPs.
More notably, it has two heavyweight ministers - Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Law Minister K. Shanmugam. Both are popular with the ground, and are expected to remain in politics for a long time more.
'We think that Mr Shanmugam may be transferred out to head a new GRC, comprising Nee Soon South, Nee Soon East, Nee Soon Central and, possibly, Canberra,' said one Sembawang GRC grassroots leader.
Should Nee Soon Central and Nee Soon East be absorbed into GRCs, at least one new single-seat ward will need to be created as the Parliamentary Elections Act stipulates that there must be at least eight single-seat wards. There are now nine.
Contacted by Insight, MP Lee Bee Wah, who takes care of the Nee Soon South ward in Ang Mo Kio GRC, said she had not heard of the speculation.
'Wherever it is, if my service is required, I'll serve 100 per cent,' she said.
Mr Shanmugam dismissed the speculation, saying: 'I give it little credence.'
Another area under scrutiny is Hong Kah GRC, which has been anchored by Dr Amy Khor, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Water Resources, since Mr Yeo Cheow Tong stepped down as Transport Minister three years ago.
The expectation is that single-seat ward Chua Chu Kang, under Acting Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong, would be absorbed into the GRC, while Dr Khor would move out to helm a single-seat constituency, said an activist.
Political observer and former Nominated MP Zulkifli Baharudin noted of these surmises: 'They are not inconsistent with the PAP principle that ministers have to carry their weight. The party has always had the principle that heavyweight ministers have to show leadership and lead the pack.'
Whatever boundary changes may be forthcoming, the PAP's preparations on the ground have not been affected much, said the PAP sources.
This is because much of the initial preparations are done by individual divisions, rather than at GRC level.
During the last election, boundaries of 11 out of the 23 electoral divisions were tweaked.
