GE2015: Redrawing electoral boundaries a waste of money: WP's Sylvia Lim

Residents end up being the ones paying for the results of the government's gerrymandering, said Workers’ Party (WP) chairman Sylvia Lim.

At the WP rally at Ubi Avenue 1 on Monday night, Lim cited the example of Braddell Heights SMC and Joo Chiat SMC.

Braddell Heights SMC got nearly 48 per cent of the vote in 1991. “Marine Parade extended a long arm inland to absorb Braddell Heights. Just look at the names  — Heights and Marine. Should they go together?” she asked.

Joo Chiat SMC, which WP candidate Yee Jenn Jong narrowly lost by 388 votes, was absorbed into Marine Parade GRC for the 2015 elections.

“We are told that electoral boundary changes are due to population trends. I will leave it to you to decide — are they due to population trends or voting trends? Are they taking us for fools?” asked Lim.

The redrawing of boundaries is also a waste of residents’ money, pointed out Lim.

She explained, “Constituencies are often renamed, town councils have to spend money to follow up, signages need to be changed, accounts need to be audited to transfer monies between town councils, town council offices may even need to be renovated, dismantled or built.”

Expenses for these are paid using town council funds which comprise money collected from residents, she noted.

“Why should you residents pay for these political games of the PAP?” asked Lim. “Since the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) comes under the Prime Minister’s Office, I say let the PMO pay!”

The Workers’ Party has spoken of abolishing Group Representation Constituencies during their rallies. It has also proposed that elections be run based on single seats and that the EBRC be made independent of the PMO.