SINGAPORE - MPs Lim Biow Chuan (Mountbatten) and Tin Pei Ling (MacPherson) will help Marine Parade GRC MPs to care for the needs of Kembangan-Chai Chee residents in the wake of Speaker of Parliament Tan Chuan-Jin’s resignation.

Tampines GRC MP Cheng Li Hui has also resigned over her extramarital affair with Mr Tan, in the latest incident to rock the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

In a Facebook post on Monday, Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said that he and the other Marine Parade GRC MPs – Manpower Minister Tan See Leng, and MPs Seah Kian Peng and Mohd Fahmi Aliman – will get help from Mr Lim and Ms Tin to support the residents in Kembangan-Chai Chee (KCC).

“The immediate priority now is to ensure that KCC residents are taken care of and that their interests are served well,” said Mr Tong. Both he and Dr Tan are anchor ministers for Marine Parade GRC.

“We will all pitch in to support KCC fully, and I assure residents that we will do our very best to look after them,” he added, noting that Mr Tan has been the MP for KCC for the last 12 years.

The MPs will handle all the Meet-the-People Session (MPS) cases and appeals, and continue the various community programmes in place, with Mr Tong taking over as adviser to KCC grassroots organisations.

“(I will) support the good work they have been doing and strengthen the outreach and various social programmes to benefit KCC residents,” said Mr Tong.

Dr Tan will focus on the municipal and infrastructural needs of the residents, and work closely with Marine Parade Town Council.

Mr Tong, Dr Tan and Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and Health Janil Puthucheary were spotted with several PAP volunteers entering the KCC branch at about 6.45pm on Monday.

Dr Janil left at about 7.35pm and was spotted at the Tampines East branch at about 8pm, while Dr Tan left the KCC branch at about 7pm. Mr Tong stayed in KCC to see residents during Mr Tan’s scheduled MPS until about 8pm.

In his Facebook post, Mr Tong said he and Dr Tan met KCC activists and volunteers. 

“We had a frank and candid sharing. They are understandably downcast and shocked at the turn of events, but are resolute and determined not to let their good work and rapport be undermined by this incident.

“There is a very good team of volunteers in KCC who care deeply about the well-being of KCC residents. They are dedicated, focused and have been doing very well. In turn, I assured them that my team and I will work hard to support them to the best of our abilities.”

Over in Tampines East, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said he would care for Ms Cheng’s residents with the help of the other Tampines GRC MPs.

The other MPs are Dr Koh Poh Koon, Mr Baey Yam Keng and Mr Desmond Choo.

Mr Masagos said Mr Choo will be appointed chairman of the town council, while Mr Baey will be the vice-chairman.

He said: “Under their leadership, the town council will continue to operate smoothly and uninterrupted. Tampines GRC residents can already visit or write to any of us if they need any assistance.

“I, and my fellow Tampines MPs, am determined to ensure that Tampines residents will always receive the support and care that you need.”

Residents of KCC and Tampines East told The Straits Times that they were shocked and disturbed by the news.

A long-time supporter of Mr Tan, Madam Amelia Chua, 53, was visibly upset by his inappropriate relationship as she saw him as a role model.

The part-time call operator, who has lived in Chai Chee for 12 years, recalled seeing Mr Tan at community events with his wife and children. “They looked very loving,” she said.

Madam Chua added: “I had high hopes that he would run for president in the future... This has really shattered my hopes.”

Likewise, Madam Chen Zai Ying, 82, said of her former MP: “I’m devastated, he’s such a good MP and I just think it’s such a pity.”

She added that Mr Tan was approachable and that she frequently went to him for help.

Mr Kassim Abdullah, who works in a pension fund, told ST that he felt Mr Tan’s personal life should be kept private.

The 51-year-old said: “His relationships are a personal matter, and he should settle it with his family and if he’s forgiven, then carry on. It doesn’t have to be mixed into his professional life. It also shouldn’t be brought into the limelight where everyone can see.”

Engineer Orlando Francisco, 55, a Tampines East resident, said he was disappointed with Ms Cheng. “As a leader of the community, you must have integrity.

“This reflects badly on the Government and will definitely damage its reputation,” he said.

Fellow Tampines East resident Arqam Sultan, 24, an operations executive, said: “Even if it doesn’t affect residents directly, it may create trust issues (between residents and MPs) and will definitely change the way that residents view whoever next takes over.”

Still, he hopes things will improve. “I’ve heard MP Masagos is taking over, and he has a lot of experience.”

• Additional reporting: Zhaki Abdullah, Dillon Loh, Christine Siow and Suzanne Chan