Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat announced the development of PlayHubs and PlayLinks for East Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC) on 25 January 2025, nearly five years after the East Coast Plan was introduced during the 2020 General Election.
The announcement comes as the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) has been formed, with a general election to be held within the year.
The PlayHubs, touted as vibrant community spaces featuring adventure playgrounds, fitness zones, and pet-friendly areas, will be located at Blocks 84 in Fengshan, 135 and 138 in Kampong Chai Chee, and Blocks 6 and 15 in Bedok. Construction, however, is scheduled to begin only in the latter half of 2025—well after the upcoming general election.
This timeline raises questions about the fulfilment of the ambitious East Coast Plan, which Heng unveiled in July 2020, framing it as a bold initiative to meet the “diverse range of needs and aspirations” of East Coast residents. Despite this early momentum, the tangible results of the plan remain elusive, with the long-promised enhancements still years away from materialisation.
The delayed timeline compounds growing scrutiny of Heng’s political trajectory. Once touted as Singapore’s next Prime Minister, Heng stepped aside from the succession plan in 2021, citing a lack of sufficient “runway” to lead the country into the future. This decision sparked a national debate on his leadership and raised questions about his political longevity.
For East Coast residents, the construction delay means that the promised developments under the East Coast Plan will not be realised within the current electoral term. While Heng emphasised the importance of long-term planning during his announcement, saying, “These projects take years of meticulous planning and strong determination to bring to fruition,” some may question the pace of progress over the last five years.
The East Coast Plan had initially been framed as a collaborative effort between residents and leadership, with a website, www.eastcoastplan.sg, set up in 2020 following the election to gather feedback. However, the site was later abandoned and is no longer accessible, raising doubts about how much resident input has shaped the final developments.
While the PlayHubs announcement is a step forward, it highlights the gap between promises made during the 2020 General Election and what has been delivered. The focus on relatively small-scale infrastructure like playgrounds and fitness zones may feel underwhelming to those who anticipated broader, transformative changes for the GRC.
Heng also pointed to initiatives already in place, such as digital literacy workshops for seniors, regular beach clean-ups, and the Gd Lobangs @ KCC programme to support small businesses. Additionally, upcoming developments under the Bayshore Masterplan were noted as part of the ongoing East Coast transformation.
Despite these efforts, the long construction timeline for the PlayHubs means that residents will have to wait until at least late 2025 to see meaningful progress on the East Coast Plan.
As the general election draws closer, this delay could become a point of contention, with opposition and voters likely to scrutinise whether the promised transformation of East Coast GRC has truly been delivered.
The announcement also underscores the broader challenges Heng has faced in his political career. His decision to step aside from the Prime Minister succession plan in 2021 was framed as a personal choice, but it has cast a shadow over his leadership record. The slow progress on the East Coast Plan may further fuel debates on his ability to deliver on ambitious commitments.
As the general election looms, the East Coast Plan’s delayed execution will likely remain a focal point in political discussions, testing Heng’s ability to retain trust among East Coast residents and deliver on promises made nearly half a decade ago.
