SINGAPORE: Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim announced on 11 April that he will be contesting in Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC in the upcoming General Election, departing from his current post in Nee Soon GRC.
Assoc Prof Faishal, 56, has represented Nee Soon Central for four terms under the People’s Action Party (PAP).
He was first elected in 2006 as part of the Marine Parade GRC team before moving to Nee Soon GRC in 2011.
His return to the Marine Parade area signals a reconfiguration of the PAP’s candidate deployment, following electoral boundary changes that created the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
In recent weeks, Assoc Prof Faishal has been observed walking the ground in the new GRC, suggesting an early start to campaigning ahead of an election that must be held by November 2025.
Speaking at a media event on 11 April, he was accompanied by two individuals widely regarded as potential PAP candidates—former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Dr Syed Harun Alhabsyi and former government director Goh Hanyan.
Goh, 39, confirmed she is a potential candidate for Nee Soon GRC and expressed her intent to build on the work initiated by Assoc Prof Faishal in the Nee Soon Central ward.
She previously served as a director in the Smart Nation Strategy Office under the Ministry of Digital Development and Information until April 2025.
Her career includes stints in the Prime Minister’s Office and over ten years at the Economic Development Board.
Dr Syed Harun, also 39, recently resigned as an NMP on 14 February.
He currently practises as a consultant psychiatrist at the Starfish Clinic of Psychiatry & Mental Wellness.
He stated on Friday that he is a potential candidate under the PAP banner but did not confirm which constituency he may contest in.
His resignation, alongside that of fellow NMP Raj Joshua Thomas, had sparked debate about the transition from non-partisan NMP roles into formal political activity.
Addressing those concerns, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said the Singapore Constitution allows NMPs to join political parties after resigning their positions in the House.
Dr Syed has increasingly been seen with Shanmugam at grassroots events in Nee Soon GRC since late March.
Nee Soon GRC is currently helmed by a five-member PAP team: Shanmugam (Chong Pang), Assoc Prof Faishal (Nee Soon Central), Louis Ng (Nee Soon East), Carrie Tan (Nee Soon South), and Derrick Goh (Nee Soon Link).
The announcement of potential candidates comes amid a wave of pre-election activity, including opposition parties such as Red Dot United declaring their intention to contest in Nee Soon GRC.
Public speculation suggests that the General Election may be held as early as May 2025, although no official date has been confirmed.
The PAP has yet to formally unveil its full slate of candidates, but the ground activity and recent announcements hint at significant renewal within its ranks.
WP challenges PAP’s stronghold in GE2025
Following the release of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) report on 11 March, Marine Parade GRC was expanded to include Potong Pasir SMC, MacPherson SMC, and parts of Mountbatten SMC.
This increased its electorate to 131,493 voters and resulted in its renaming to Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
Marine Parade GRC was a key battleground in GE2020.
The PAP team, led by then-Speaker Tan Chuan-Jin and including Edwin Tong, Seah Kian Peng, Tan See Leng, and Fahmi Aliman, secured 57.74% of the vote.
WP’s team—Ron Tan, Yee Jenn Jong, Fadli Fawzi, Nathaniel Koh, and Azhar Latip—gained 42.26%.
Tan’s resignation from Parliament in 2023, following an extramarital affair scandal, has created uncertainty within the PAP’s team.
Political observers have noted WP’s intensified efforts in the constituency, suggesting a stronger challenge in the next election.
However, WP may not be the only opposition party contesting Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC.
The National Solidarity Party (NSP)Â has announced plans to field candidates in seven constituencies, including Marine Parade, potentially leading to a three-cornered fight.
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