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West Coast residents’ needs will be looked after: Desmond Lee on Iswaran’s resignation

2024-01-18 00:00:00.0 海峡时报-新加坡原网页

SINGAPORE - Minister for National Development and West Coast GRC MP Desmond Lee has assured residents in the constituency that their needs will be looked after, in the wake of former transport minister S. Iswaran’s resignation.

In a Facebook post on Jan 18, Mr Lee said the MPs’ focus was on serving their residents.

He added that since July 2023, he and the other West Coast GRC MPs – Mr Ang Wei Neng, Ms Foo Mee Har and Ms Rachel Ong – and Pioneer MP Patrick Tay had stepped up to cover Iswaran’s MP duties on the ground.

“We would like to assure our residents of West Coast that we will continue to serve them, and ensure that their needs are looked after.”

Mr Lee is also the adviser to grassroots organisations in the West Coast and said these arrangements will continue.

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Iswaran’s resignation was announced earlier on Jan 18 after he was handed 27 charges, including two corruption charges, following a Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau investigation.

Mr Lee expressed sadness that Iswaran had resigned as an MP for West Coast GRC under these circumstances and thanked him for his contributions to the community.

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Speaking to reporters at his Meet-the-People session in Boon Lay on Jan 18 evening, Mr Lee said he had met with party volunteers and community leaders in West Coast, who told him they want to continue their work regardless of the circumstances.

Asked about ground sentiments following Iswaran’s resignation, Mr Lee noted that it has been six months since the case first came to light and whenever there were developments, there was always concern among the residents and volunteers.

“Our key is to make sure that we address their concerns and ensure that they get the right facts and ensure that all of us remain united and remain focused on looking after the needs of the residents. That must be paramount.”

Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong was also asked on Jan 18 if Iswaran’s departure would affect the People’s Action Party’s stance on when to call the next general election.

Speaking to the media after Iswaran was charged in court, DPM Wong said the timing is dependent on the leadership transition, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong hands over the reins of government to him. “So as and when that happens, we will think about when the elections have to take place thereafter.”

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