Mr Shanmugam was later asked if Minister of State for Home Affairs and National Development Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim will remain an MP in Nee Soon GRC given how he had been seen on a walkabout in the new Marine Parade-Braddell Heights GRC on Sunday.
The minister replied that it would be “difficult” for him to give a “complete final answer” as that is decided by the party’s central executive committee (CEC).
“But as people can see, he is spending a lot of time in Marine Parade and I think that is one indication of what might happen.”
On whether Dr Syed Harun and Mr Lam could be fielded in Nee Soon GRC and what that means for the existing MPs, Mr Shanmugam said he “don’t want to go into the extended speculations”.
He added: “Whoever we put forward in Yishun, we will have to have the confidence that they can serve the residents of Yishun very well, and we will try and make sure of that.
“Both of them, Jackson and Dr Harun, have been walking the ground very actively but you know … who is fielded, that is something the CEC will decide in the end.”
Asked to share his experiences in the community, Dr Syed Harun said he has been an active volunteer since young, including being a youth volunteer at self-help group Yayasan Mendaki. He has also been a board member of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore for seven years.
“In recent weeks, I have been at Nee Soon to be able to see some of the challenges, as well as learn from Minister, (Minister of State) Faishal as well as the other MPs on some of the issues in the community.
“It’s myself putting myself forward to be able to serve whatever capacity that’s possible in the future, and I look forward to continuing my service for the country,” said the 39-year-old psychiatrist.
