SINGAPORE - Political parties that wish to contest Tampines in the upcoming general election must know the ground well and meet the needs of residents, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said, when asked about a potential showdown with the Workers’ Party at the polls.

Mr Masagos, the anchor minister for Tampines GRC, said: “Whoever wants to come here, must be sure that they know what are in for, and they must meet the expectations of our Tampines residents.”

Speaking to the media during the launch of the Hari Raya festivities at Our Tampines Hub on March 22, Mr Masagos was asked about competition he would face in Tampines from the other political parties, including the WP.

There have been talks of a four-way fight in both Tampines GRC and the new Tampines Changkat SMC, with both the National Solidarity Party (NSP) and People’s Power Party (PPP) announcing they intended to contest both constituencies.

The Workers’ Party has also been seen walking the ground at the new Tampines North BTO projects as recently as March 18.

The recent boundary changes saw the new Tampines Changkat SMC carved out from Tampines GRC, which will remain a five-member GRC at the upcoming polls.

Mr Masagos, who has been an MP in Tampines for some 19 years, said: “I think it’s important for anyone who comes to Tampines to know the ground, not one who just comes occasionally.”

“The residents of Tampines are very special. We’re very proud of our home, very proud of our community, and we want to keep building it,” he said.

Also at the event were the other Tampines GRC MPs - Senior Minister of State for Manpower Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Transport Baey Yam Keng and Mr Desmond Choo - and PAP new face Dr Charlene Chen, who is the second grassroots advisor in the Tampines East ward.

Other potential candidates previously spotted in Tampines were not present.

They include Mr Gabriel Lam, chief operating ...