Speaking during the parliamentary debate on the budget of the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Chan said there is “an asymptotical limit to asking EBRC to keep reducing the average size of GRCs”, with that limit being one where all electoral divisions are SMCs.
“The current terms of reference provide some stability in our electoral landscape by having a balance in the proportion of GRCs and SMCs,” said Mr Chan, who is also education minister.
“Having MPs serving a broadly similar number of electors on average as the last election will enable MPs in the coming parliament to continue to serve and represent their residents effectively.”
Ms Poa, who is the secretary-general of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), also asked if the prime minister saw the need to direct the EBRC to “provide greater transparency” on the reasons for boundary changes. She added that this would be “conducive to building public trust”.
In response, Mr Chan said this was discussed extensively during a debate on the parliamentary motion tabled by PSP’s NCMPs in August last year.
“We do not intend to repeat the debate today,” the minister said.
“Suffice to say that we should avoid imposing requirements or instructions on the EBRC that are too prescriptive, but to give EBRC, which comprises senior civil servants with the relevant professional knowledge and expertise, the space to do their work independently and objectively without fear or favour.”
