#GE2020 history feature: How did Marine Parade GRC come about? Why does it cover even Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Central, around 7km from the sea? What might this have to do with one of its Members of Parliament?

A short history of the GRC's evolution, in a thread:
#GE2020 history feature: How did Marine Parade GRC come about? Why does it cover even Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Central, around 7km from the sea? What might this have to do with one of its Members of Parliament? A short history of the GRC's evolution, in a thread:
#GE2020 history feature: How did Marine Parade GRC come about? Why does it cover even Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Central, around 7km from the sea? What might this have to do with one of its Members of Parliament? A short history of the GRC's evolution, in a thread:
#GE2020 history feature: How did Marine Parade GRC come about? Why does it cover even Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Central, around 7km from the sea? What might this have to do with one of its Members of Parliament? A short history of the GRC's evolution, in a thread:
#GE2020 history feature: How did Marine Parade GRC come about? Why does it cover even Lorong Chuan and Serangoon Central, around 7km from the sea? What might this have to do with one of its Members of Parliament? A short history of the GRC's evolution, in a thread:
Marine Parade was once a promenade south of East Coast Road facing the sea (left). Land reclamation began in 1966, and an estate of 7,000 flats was constructed on reclaimed land between the 1972 and 1976 elections (middle). Accordingly, the estate was named Marine Parade (right).
Marine Parade was once a promenade south of East Coast Road facing the sea (left). Land reclamation began in 1966, and an estate of 7,000 flats was constructed on reclaimed land between the 1972 and 1976 elections (middle). Accordingly, the estate was named Marine Parade (right).
Marine Parade was once a promenade south of East Coast Road facing the sea (left). Land reclamation began in 1966, and an estate of 7,000 flats was constructed on reclaimed land between the 1972 and 1976 elections (middle). Accordingly, the estate was named Marine Parade (right).
Marine Parade was once a promenade south of East Coast Road facing the sea (left). Land reclamation began in 1966, and an estate of 7,000 flats was constructed on reclaimed land between the 1972 and 1976 elections (middle). Accordingly, the estate was named Marine Parade (right).
Marine Parade Estate was part of the ward of Joo Chiat (a single seat, all wards were single-seat then). However, because the estate saw significant population growth, the new ward of Marine Parade, with 19,528 voters, was carved out of Joo Chiat for the 1976 General Election.
In this map of electoral boundaries for 1976, take note of Marine Parade, Joo Chiat, Katong, and Mountbatten wards. They were all aptly named because they respectively covered Marine Parade Estate, Joo Chiat Road, and the areas of Katong and Mountbatten.
In the 1976 election, for Marine Parade, a new candidate, 35-year-old Goh Chok Tong, ran for the People's Action Party against the United Front's Mohamed Mansor bin Abdul Rahman. He won in a landslide, garnering 78.6% of valid votes.
In a previous thread about the history of Aljunied GRC, I discussed the role of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), responsible for the drawing of polling districts. Recap here: https://twitter.com/eisen/status/1277076468569268225
While the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee does its work taking into account population changes and shifts across constituencies, a lot of boundary changes have been made without clear explanation: https://twitter.com/eisen/status/1277076816453197824
Fast forward to the 1984 election. The constituency of Katong disappeared, absorbed by both Joo Chiat and Mountbatten: A ward that had existed since 1951 disappeared forever.
For the 1988 election, the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system was implemented. Recap: https://twitter.com/eisen/status/1277072376652369920
For the 1988 election, Marine Parade GRC formed from the amalgamation of Marine Parade, Joo Chiat, and Geylang Serai wards. By now, Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong was already Deputy Prime Minister, so he became the anchor minister for the GRC of 62,385 voters.
For the 1988 election, Marine Parade GRC formed from the amalgamation of Marine Parade, Joo Chiat, and Geylang Serai wards. By now, Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong was already Deputy Prime Minister, so he became the anchor minister for the GRC of 62,385 voters.
For the 1988 election, Marine Parade GRC formed from the amalgamation of Marine Parade, Joo Chiat, and Geylang Serai wards. By now, Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong was already Deputy Prime Minister, so he became the anchor minister for the GRC of 62,385 voters.
Even though Joo Chiat was the geographical centre, the GRC was named Marine Parade. Perhaps to keep the identity of the GRC helmed by the future Prime Minister of Singapore?

Meanwhile, Mountbatten SMC grew in size because of land reclamation.
In 1988, the three-member Marine Parade GRC saw a straight fight between the PAP and the Singapore Justice Party. Goh Chok Tong's team won with 73.8% of valid votes.
In 1990, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped down; Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong became the 2nd PM of Singapore. And this was when Marine Parade GRC began growing in size...

For the 1991 election, Marine Parade grew to a four-member GRC, absorbing MacPherson ward to the north.
In 1990, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped down; Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong became the 2nd PM of Singapore. And this was when Marine Parade GRC began growing in size...For the 1991 election, Marine Parade grew to a four-member GRC, absorbing MacPherson ward to the north.
In 1990, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped down; Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong became the 2nd PM of Singapore. And this was when Marine Parade GRC began growing in size...For the 1991 election, Marine Parade grew to a four-member GRC, absorbing MacPherson ward to the north.
In 1990, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew stepped down; Marine Parade MP Goh Chok Tong became the 2nd PM of Singapore. And this was when Marine Parade GRC began growing in size...For the 1991 election, Marine Parade grew to a four-member GRC, absorbing MacPherson ward to the north.
In 1991, the four-member Marine Parade GRC, with 74,032 voters, saw another challenge from the Singapore Justice Party. PM Goh's team won again, this time with 77.2% of valid votes.
As I've mentioned before, in 1992, Marine Parade GRC saw Singapore's only by-election for a GRC, called by PM Goh to secure a stronger mandate than what the PAP had achieved the previous year.

In the four-cornered fight, his team won solidly with 72.9% of valid votes.
For the 1997 election, Marine Parade GRC received major surgery.

It took in not one, but four wards: Mountbatten SMC, Kampong Ubi ward from Aljunied GRC, Braddell Heights SMC, and part of Serangoon Gardens ward (Thomson GRC) to form a new ward, Serangoon.
Meanwhile, MacPherson was carved out as an SMC after one election cycle, and Joo Chiat was shifted to East Coast GRC.

The result: A bloated six-member GRC of Marine Parade, Geylang Serai, Mountbatten, Kampong Ubi, Braddell Heights, Serangoon. Its electorate doubled to 142,106.
Marine Parade GRC now stretched from Marine Parade to Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, >9km inland.

Geylang Serai / Kampong Ubi were the geographical centre of the GRC, but its name remained "Marine Parade", perhaps because the anchor minister was the MP for Marine Parade ward - and PM.
Predictably, Marine Parade GRC was uncontested in 1997. (How does an Opposition party effectively contest such a geographically huge GRC, helmed by the Prime Minister?)

In all, just 36 out of 83 seats were contested, and just 765,332 out of the eligible 1.8 million voters voted.
For the 2001 election, Marine Parade GRC saw minor changes.

Serangoon ward gained some land from Teck Ghee ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC.

Kampong Ubi ward gained some land from the reorganised Kampong Kembangan ward of Aljunied GRC.
Meanwhile, after just one election cycle, Joo Chiat ward was carved out of East Coast GRC to become an SMC again.
In 2001, Marine Parade GRC was uncontested again.

This was Goh Chok Tong's last election as Prime Minister. In 2004, Lee Hsien Loong (Teck Ghee ward of Ang Mo Kio GRC) became Singapore's third PM.

Goh became Senior Minister, and remained the anchor minister of Marine Parade.
For the 2006 election, Marine Parade GRC reached to the east.

Serangoon ward was handed to Aljunied GRC in return for Aljunied-Kembangan. The ward was merged with Kampong Ubi to form Kampong Ubi-Kembangan ward.

Meanwhile, Kaki Bukit ward came in from East Coast GRC.
For 2006, Marine Parade GRC had six wards: Marine Parade, Geylang Serai, Mountbatten, Kampong Ubi-Kembangan, Braddell Heights, and Kaki Bukit. Electorate size: 155,149.

For the third election in a row, the GRC was uncontested.
As a result of the walkover, four new MPs were easily ushered into the GRC - Seah Kian Peng for Braddell Heights, Lim Biow Chuan for Mountbatten, Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim for Kaki Bukit, and Fatimah Lateef for Geylang Serai. The first three are still running as MPs now.
More changes for the 2011 election!

After 14 years, Mountbatten ward was carved out to form an SMC again.

After just one election cycle, Kaki Bukit ward was shifted to Aljunied GRC.

Picture credit: http://blog.stickyrice.net/archives/2015/visualising-changing-electoral-boundaries/
Marine Parade GRC also took in part of Kampong Chai Chee ward (East Coast GRC); this was joined to Kampong Ubi-Kembangan to get Kembangan-Chai Chee.

And for the second time in 20 years, Marine Parade GRC absorbed MacPherson SMC.

Picture credit: http://blog.stickyrice.net/archives/2015/visualising-changing-electoral-boundaries/
History repeats itself:

In 1991, MacPherson SMC was folded into Marine Parade GRC, allowing newcomer Matthias Yao to be elected through the GRC.

In 2011, MacPherson was folded into Marine Parade again, allowing Yao's replacement Tin Pei Ling to be elected through the GRC.
So, for 2011, Marine Parade GRC had five wards: Marine Parade, Geylang Serai, Kembangan-Chai Chee, Braddell Heights, and MacPherson. Electorate size: 154,451.

Picture credit: http://blog.stickyrice.net/archives/2015/visualising-changing-electoral-boundaries/
In 2011, the National Solidarity Party - with electoral debutant Nicole Seah, 24 - challenged for Marine Parade GRC for the first and only time. SM Goh's team prevailed, with 56.6% of valid votes.
Deja vu aplenty for the 2015 election!

MacPherson ward was carved out to become an SMC for the second time in 18 years.

Meanwhile, Marine Parade GRC took in Joo Chiat SMC for the second time in 27 years.

Picture credit: http://blog.stickyrice.net/archives/2015/visualising-changing-electoral-boundaries/
In 2011, Joo Chiat SMC saw a very close fight: PAP's Charles Chong narrowly defeated the Workers' Party's Yee Jenn Jong, 51% to 49% - a difference of just 388 votes.

In 2015, Joo Chiat folded into the mighty Marine Parade GRC…

🧐
In 2011, Joo Chiat SMC saw a very close fight: PAP's Charles Chong narrowly defeated the Workers' Party's Yee Jenn Jong, 51% to 49% - a difference of just 388 votes.In 2015, Joo Chiat folded into the mighty Marine Parade GRC…
In 2011, Joo Chiat SMC saw a very close fight: PAP's Charles Chong narrowly defeated the Workers' Party's Yee Jenn Jong, 51% to 49% - a difference of just 388 votes.In 2015, Joo Chiat folded into the mighty Marine Parade GRC…
In 2015, the Workers' Party challenged the PAP for the first time in Marine Parade GRC (146,244 voters).

Emeritus Senior Minister Goh, 74 years old by now, fended them off, winning 64.1% of valid votes.
In 2015, the Workers' Party challenged the PAP for the first time in Marine Parade GRC (146,244 voters). Emeritus Senior Minister Goh, 74 years old by now, fended them off, winning 64.1% of valid votes.
In 2015, the Workers' Party challenged the PAP for the first time in Marine Parade GRC (146,244 voters). Emeritus Senior Minister Goh, 74 years old by now, fended them off, winning 64.1% of valid votes.
Finally, for #GE2020 , a good part of Geylang Serai ward - which actually covers the Joo Seng and Bidadari areas, some distance from Geylang Serai - was transferred to Potong Pasir SMC.
Today, Marine Parade remains a five-member GRC, as it has been since 2011, with the wards of Marine Parade, Geylang Serai, Kembangan-Chai Chee, Braddell Heights, and Joo Chiat.
While Marine Parade GRC was formed in 1988, some wards were added after that:

- Marine Parade, Geylang Serai - joined 1988
- Joo Chiat - joined 1988, moved out in 1997, joined again in 2015
- Braddell Heights - joined 1997
- Kembangan-Chai Chee - joined as Kampong Ubi in 1997
This history explains why today, Marine Parade GRC spreads from East Coast Park to Lorong Chuan, from Braddell Road to Bedok North. It is a political oddity that sprawls over (but not fully) five URA planning areas.

Picture credit: https://newnaratif.com/research/how-gerrymandering-creates-unfair-elections-in-singapore/
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