Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency

{{Short description|Electoral division in Singapore}} {{distinguish|Jalan Besar Single Member Constituency}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox constituency | name = Jalan Besar | nativename = | type = Group representation | parl_name = Parliament of Singapore | image = Jalan_Besar_Group_Representation_Constituency,_2025.svg | image_size = 240px | caption = | region = Central Region, Singapore | electorate = 106,342 | year = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1988}} | members = Denise Phua Josephine Teo Shawn Loh Wan Rizal | seats = 4 | party = People's Action Party | local_council_label = Town Council | local_council = Jalan Besar | previous = {{plainlist| * Geylang West Constituency * Jalan Besar Constituency * Kolam Ayer Constituency }} | blank1_name = Dissolved | blank1_info = 2011 | blank2_name = Replaced by | blank2_info = {{plainlist| * Moulmein–Kallang GRC * Whampoa SMC * Tanjong Pagar GRC }} | blank3_name = Reformed | blank3_info = 2015 | blank4_name = Reformed from | blank4_info = {{plainlist| * Moulmein–Kallang GRC * Whampoa SMC * Tanjong Pagar GRC }} }} '''Jalan Besar Group Representation Constituency''' is a four-member group representation constituency (GRC) in central Singapore. It has four divisions: Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng, Kolam Ayer, Whampoa, and Kampong Glam, managed by Jalan Besar Town Council.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jalan Besar Town Council (JBTC) |url=https://jbtc.org.sg/ |access-date=29 August 2025 |website=jbtc.org.sg}}</ref> The current Members of Parliament (MPs) for the constituency are Denise Phua, Josephine Teo, Shawn Loh and Wan Rizal from the governing People's Action Party (PAP).

== History ==

=== Creation and first existence (1988–2011) === Jalan Besar GRC was created prior to the 1988 general election with three MPs. Led by Lee Boon Yang, the PAP team defeated the Workers' Party (WP) with 62.68% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 1988 |title=13 GRCs for next general election |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19880615-1.2.2 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1988.html#J |access-date=29 August 2025 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

Prior to the 1991 general election, the GRC was expanded to have four MPs; the PAP won unopposed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 August 1991 |title=21 single-member wards, 15 GRCs for next election |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19910810-1.2.27.9.1 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |via=NewspaperSG}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1991.html#J |access-date=29 August 2025 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

During the 1997 general election, the four-member PAP team, again led by Lee, defeated the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) with 67.55% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1997.html#J |access-date=29 August 2025 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

During the 2001 general election, the five-member PAP team defeated the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) with 74.49% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 2001 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2001.html#J |access-date=29 August 2025 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

During the 2006 general election, the five-member PAP team defeated the SDA with 69.26% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 2006 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2006.html#J |access-date=29 August 2025 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

Jalan Besar GRC was dissolved ahead of the 2011 general election in favour of Moulmein–Kallang GRC and Whampoa Single Member Constituency (SMC). The Kreta Ayer–Kim Seng division was redrawn into Tanjong Pagar GRC.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=25 July 2015 |title=More 4-MP GRCs, Moulmein-Kallang GRC disappears |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/more-4-mp-grcs-moulmein-kallang-grc-disappears |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

==== Corruption by and resignation of Choo Wee Khiang ==== In 1999, Choo Wee Khiang was charged with cheating for issuing a false invoice from his company in November 1990 to Wong See Kee, his brother-in-law. Choo resigned from the PAP and Parliament before pleading guilty in court to a charge which was reduced from aggravated to simple cheating.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=3 June 1999 |title=Choo resigns as MP, then pleads guilty |url= |access-date= |work=The Straits Times}}</ref> Under Singaporean law at the time, an MP would lose their seat if they were sentenced to at least one year's imprisonment or a fine of more than S$2,000.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 May 2022 |title=MPs will lose their seat if fined at least $10,000, up from current $2,000 |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/mps-will-lose-their-seat-if-fined-at-least-10000-up-from-current-2000 |access-date=29 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that Choo had done "the right thing" in resigning before pleading guilty in court.<ref name="NAS">{{cite web |title=9.30pm Television Corporation of Singapore English News |url=http://misas.nhb.gov.sg/avs/public/internetSearch/catalogueForm.jsp?command=loadUpdate&id=1999000212&total=11725&searchType=1&startIndex=10140&currentPageNo=2216&startPageNo=1&startNoBatch=0&count=10&source=Television+Corporation+of+Singapore |access-date=May 21, 2012 |publisher=National Archives of Singapore}}{{Dead link|date=July 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Choo was sentenced to two weeks' jail and fined $10,000.<ref name="graft">{{cite web |title=Ex-table tennis chief Choo Wee Khiang charged with graft |url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1170100/1/.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120429085122/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1170100/1/.html |archive-date=29 April 2012 |access-date=May 21, 2012 |publisher=Channel NewsAsia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Teoh |first=Hannah |date=2011-12-08 |title=Former table tennis president and manager charged with corruption |url=https://www.asiaone.com/print/News/AsiaOne+News/Crime/Story/A1Story20111208-315071.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171029173825/http://www.asiaone.com/print/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Crime/Story/A1Story20111208-315071.html |archive-date=29 October 2017 |access-date=2020-08-06 |website=www.asiaone.com}}</ref>

=== Second existence (2015–present) === Prior to the 2015 general election, Jalan Besar GRC was reformed with four MPs after one parliamentary term, covering areas it had encompassed before its abolition in 2011.<ref name=":1" /> Led by Yaacob Ibrahim, the PAP team defeated the WP with 67.75% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2015 |title=PAP announces team for resurrected Jalan Besar GRC |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/pap-announces-team-for-resurrected-jalan-besar-grc |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{!}} 2015 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2015.html#J |access-date=30 August 2025 |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>

Prior to the 2020 general election, Yaacob and Lily Neo retired from politics; Josephine Teo was redeployed from Bishan–Toa Payoh GRC to lead the PAP team for Jalan Besar GRC. The PAP team defeated Lim Tean and his Peoples Voice (PV) party with 65.36% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 July 2020 |title=GE2020 official results: PAP team led by Josephine Teo wins Jalan Besar GRC with 65.37% of votes |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/ge2020-results-pap-team-led-by-josephine-teo-wins-jalan-besar-grc-with-653-per-cent-of |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=4 May 2025 |title=GE2025: PAP wins Jalan Besar GRC, widens lead with 75.21% of votes |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-results-pap-team-led-by-josephine-teo-wins-jalan-besar-grc-with-75-21-of-votes |access-date=30 August 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref>

In the 2025 general election, the PAP announced that Heng Chee How, incumbent MP for Jalan Besar GRC, would be replaced by Shawn Loh as a candidate for the GRC.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Chin |first=Soo Fang |date=16 April 2025 |title=GE2025: PAP stalwart Heng Chee How to step down from Jalan Besar GRC |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/ge2025-pap-stalwart-heng-chee-how-to-step-down-from-jalan-besar-grc |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=The Straits Times |language=en |issn=0585-3923}}</ref> The PAP team defeated the People's Alliance for Reform (PAR), a political coalition, with 75.21% of the vote.<ref name=":2" />

==Members of Parliament== {{OSM Location map | coord = {{coord|1.3|103.858}} | zoom = 12 | find-geo-dots = 0 | geo-region = Q16926757 | geo-boundaries = 1 | map-data-color = #000 | map-data-text = Jalan Besar GRC | shape1 = n-circle | shape-color1 = {{#ifeq:{{{highlight|}}}|1|black|red}} | shape-outline1 = white | mark-coord1 = {{coord|1.30467351628848|103.857996245036}} | mark-title1 = Kampong Glam | label1 = Kampong Glam | label-size1 = 11,outline,background | label-color1 = dark grey | label-pos1 = left,with-line | ldx1 = -5 | ldy1 = 0 | shape2 = n-circle | shape-color2 = {{#ifeq:{{{highlight|}}}|1|black|red}} | shape-outline2 = white | mark-coord2 = {{coord|1.32411629584193|103.866816354251}} | mark-title2 = Kolam Ayer (part) | label2 = Kolam Ayer | label-size2 = 11,outline,background | label-color2 = dark grey | label-pos2 = right,with-line | ldx2 = 0 | ldy2 = -15 | shape3 = n-circle | shape-color3 = {{#ifeq:{{{highlight|}}}|1|black|red}} | shape-outline3 = white | mark-coord3 = {{coord|1.3147|103.8785}} | mark-title3 = Kolam Ayer (part) | label3 = Kolam Ayer | label-size3 = 11,outline,background | label-color3 = dark grey | label-pos3 = center,with-line | ldx3 = 5 | ldy3 = -42.5 | shape4 = n-circle | shape-color4 = {{#ifeq:{{{highlight|}}}|1|black|red}} | shape-outline4 = white | mark-coord4 = {{coord|1.28148895123325|103.861023395082}} | mark-title4 = Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng | label4 = Kreta Ayer- Kim Seng | label-size4 = 11,outline,background | label-color4 = dark grey | label-pos4 = center,with-line | ldx4 = 0 | ldy4 = 15 | shape5 = n-circle | shape-color5 = {{#ifeq:{{{highlight|}}}|1|black|red}} | shape-outline5 = white | mark-coord5 = {{coord|1.31467611462972|103.864960668631}} | mark-title5 = Whampoa | label5 = Whampoa | label-size5 = 11,outline,background | label-color5 = dark grey | label-pos5 = right,with-line | ldx5 = 15 | ldy5 = 30 | auto-caption = 1 | caption = Divisions or wards of Jalan Besar GRC as of the 2025 general election: }} {| class="wikitable" align="center" style="text-align:center" !Election !Division !Members of Parliament ! colspan="2" |Party |- | colspan="5" bgcolor="black" |'''Formation''' |- !1988 || * Geylang West * Jalan Besar * Kolam Ayer || * Peh Chin Hua * Lee Boon Yang * Sidek Saniff | rowspan="5" bgcolor="{{party color|People's Action Party}}" | || rowspan="5" | PAP |- !1991 || * Geylang West * Jalan Besar * Kallang * Kolam Ayer || * Peh Chin Hua * Lee Boon Yang * Choo Wee Khiang * Zulkifli bin Mohamed |- !1997 || * Geylang West * Jalan Besar * Kolam Ayer * Whampoa || * Peh Chin Hua * Lee Boon Yang * Yaacob Ibrahim * Choo Wee Khiang (1997–1999{{Efn|Choo resigned before being charged and convicted in 1999 for cheating offences.<ref>{{Cite news|date=3 June 1999|title=Choo resigns as MP, then pleads guilty|work=The Straits Times|url=|access-date=}}</ref>}}) |- !2001 || rowspan=2| * Jalan Besar * Kampong Glam * Kolam Ayer * Kreta Ayer - Kim Seng * Whampoa || * Lee Boon Yang * Loh Meng See * Yaacob Ibrahim * Lily Neo * Heng Chee How |- !2006 || * Lee Boon Yang * Denise Phua * Yaacob Ibrahim * Lily Neo * Heng Chee How |- | colspan="5" bgcolor="black" |'''Constituency abolished (2011–2015)''' |- !2015 || rowspan=3| * Kampong Glam * Kolam Ayer * Kreta Ayer - Kim Seng * Whampoa || * Denise Phua * Yaacob Ibrahim * Lily Neo * Heng Chee How | rowspan="3" bgcolor="{{party color|People's Action Party}}" | || rowspan="3" | PAP |- !2020 || * Denise Phua * Wan Rizal * Josephine Teo * Heng Chee How |- !2025 || * Denise Phua * Wan Rizal * Josephine Teo * Shawn Loh |}

== Electoral results ==

{{small|Note: The Elections Department does not include rejected votes when calculating the vote shares of candidates. Hence, all candidates' vote shares will total to 100% at any given election (may not appear so in multi-way contests due to rounding).}}

===Elections in 1980s=== {{Election box begin no change | title=General Election 1988: Jalan Besar GRC<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1988.html#J|title=ELD {{pipe}} 1988 Parliamentary General Election Results|website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change | |party=People's Action Party |candidate=Peh Chin Hua Lee Boon Yang Sidek Saniff |votes=31,604 |percentage=62.68 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change | |party=Workers' Party of Singapore |candidate=Marsh Edund Richard Mohamed Bin Idris Toh Keng Thong |votes=18,814 |percentage=37.32 }} {{Election box majority no change| |votes=12,790 |percentage=25.37 }} {{Election box registered electors no change| |reg. electors = 54,941 }} {{Election box turnout no change | |votes=50,418 |percentage=91.77 }} {{Election box new seat win| |winner = People's Action Party }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections in 1990s=== {{Election box begin| title=General Election 1991: Jalan Besar GRC<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1991.html#J|title=ELD {{pipe}} 1991 Parliamentary General Election Results|website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate unopposed with party link|party=People's Action Party|candidate=Choo Wee Khiang Lee Boon Yang Peh Chin Hua Zulkifli Mohammed}} {{Election box registered electors|reg. electors = 82,615 }} {{Election box hold with party link no swing| |winner = People's Action Party }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General Election 1997: Jalan Besar GRC<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary1997.html#J|title=ELD {{pipe}} 1997 Parliamentary General Election Results|website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link|party = People's Action Party |candidate = Choo Wee Khiang Lee Boon Yang Peh Chin Hua Yaacob Ibrahim |votes = 44,840 |percentage = 67.55 |change=N/A}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=Singapore Democratic Party|candidate=David Chew Gandhi Ambalam Jufrie Mahmood Low Yong Nguan|votes=21,537|percentage=32.45|change=}} {{Election box majority|votes=23,303|percentage=35.10|change=N/A}} {{Election box registered electors| |reg. electors = 71,922 |change = N/A }} {{Election box turnout||votes=66,377|percentage=92.29|change=N/A}} {{Election box hold with party link no swing| |winner = People's Action Party }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections in 2000s=== {{Election box begin | title=General Election 2001: Jalan Besar GRC}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2001.html#J|title=ELD {{pipe}} 2001 Parliamentary General Election Results|website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref> {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party=People's Action Party |candidate=Heng Chee How Lee Boon Yang Loh Meng See Lily Neo Yaacob Ibrahim |votes=68,309 |percentage=74.49 |change={{increase}}6.94 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party=Singapore Democratic Alliance |candidate=Desmond Lim M Rahizan Ng Kee How Reno Fong Sin Kek Tong |votes=23,391 |percentage=25.51 |change= N/A }} {{Election box majority| |votes=44,918 |percentage=48.98 |change={{increase}}13.88 }} {{Election box registered electors| |reg. electors = 100,268 |change = {{increase}}39.41 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes=91,700 |percentage=91.45 |change={{decrease}}0.84 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = People's Action Party |swing ={{increase}}6.94 }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=General Election 2006: Jalan Besar GRC<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2006.html#J|title=ELD {{pipe}} 2006 Parliamentary General Election Results|website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party=People's Action Party |candidate=Denise Phua Heng Chee How Lee Boon Yang Lily Neo Yaacob Ibrahim |votes=58,913 |percentage=69.26 |change={{decrease}}5.23 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party=Singapore Democratic Alliance |candidate=Cheo Chai Chen Muhammad Ali Aman Reno Fong Sebastian Teo Vincent Yeo |votes=26,151 |percentage=30.74 |change={{increase}}5.23 }} {{Election box majority| |votes=32,762 |percentage=38.51 |change={{decrease}}10.47 }} {{Election box registered electors| |reg. electors = 93,025 |change = {{decrease}}7.22 }} {{Election box turnout| |votes=85,064 |percentage=91.50 |change={{increase}}0.05 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = People's Action Party |swing ={{decrease}}5.23 }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections in 2010s=== {{Election box begin no change | title=General Election 2015<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/elections_past_parliamentary2015.html#J|title=ELD {{pipe}} 2015 Parliamentary General Election Results|website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change| |party=People's Action Party|candidate=Denise Phua Heng Chee How Lily Neo Yaacob Ibrahim |votes=63,644 |percentage=67.75 }} {{Election box candidate with party link no change| |party=Workers' Party of Singapore |candidate= Adrian Sim Frieda Chan L Somasundaram Redzwan Hafidz Abdul Razak |votes=30,302|percentage=32.25 }} {{Election box majority no change| |votes=33,342 |percentage=35.50 }} {{Election box registered electors no change| |reg. electors = 102,540 }} {{Election box rejected no change| |votes = 1,550 |percentage = 1.6 }} {{Election box turnout no change| |votes=95,496 |percentage=93.1 }} {{Election box new seat win| |winner = People's Action Party }} {{Election box end}}

===Elections in 2020s=== {{Election box begin | title=General Election 2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=ELD {{pipe}} 2020 Parliamentary General Election Results |url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/finalresults2020.html#J |website=www.eld.gov.sg}}</ref><ref>{{cite act |type= Notification |index= 1427 |year= 2020 |legislature= Republic of Singapore Government Gazette |title= Parliamentary Elections Act – Statement of the Poll after Counting the ballots for Electoral Division of Jalan Besar |url= https://www.eld.gov.sg/gazettes/2020/Statement_of_Poll_for_the_Electoral_Division_of_Jalan_Besar.pdf |access-date= 16 July 2020 }}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party=People's Action Party|candidate=Denise Phua Heng Chee How Josephine Teo Wan Rizal |votes=64,631 |percentage=65.36 |change={{decrease}}2.37 }} {{Election box candidate with party link||party=Peoples Voice (Singapore)|candidate=Lim Tean Leong Sze Hian Michael Fang Amin Nor Azlan Sulaiman|votes=34,261|percentage=34.64|change=N/A}} {{Election box majority||votes=30,370|percentage=30.72|change={{decrease}}4.78}} {{Election box total valid|votes=98,892 |percentage=97.11 |change=}} {{Election box rejected| |votes =2,948 |percentage =2.89 |change ={{increase}}1.29 }} {{Election box turnout||votes=101,840|percentage=94.54|change=}} {{Election box registered electors| |reg. electors = 107,720 |change = {{increase}}5.05 }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner =People's Action Party |swing ={{decrease}}2.37 }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin| title=General Election 2025<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 May 2025 |title=Statement of Poll for the Electoral Division of Jalan Besar | url=https://www.eld.gov.sg/gazettes/2025/25gg1669_Jalan%20Besar.pdf}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link|party=People's Action Party|candidate=Denise Phua Josephine Teo Shawn Loh Wan Rizal|votes=70,602|percentage=75.21|change={{increase}}9.85}} {{Election box candidate with party link|party=People's Alliance for Reform|candidate=Chiu Shin Kong Mohamad Hamim Aliyas Sarina Abu Hassan Vigneswari V Ramachandran|votes=23,267|percentage=24.79|change=N/A}} {{Election box majority|votes=47,335|percentage=50.42|change={{increase}}19.70}} {{Election box total valid|votes=93,869|percentage=96.56 |change={{decrease}}0.55}} {{Election box rejected|votes=3,349|percentage=3.44|change={{increase}}0.55}} {{Election box turnout|votes=97,218|percentage=91.42|change={{decrease}}3.12}} {{Election box registered electors|reg. electors =106,342|change={{decrease}}1.28}} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner =People's Action Party |swing ={{increase}}9.85 }} {{Election box end}}

==See also== *Jalan Besar SMC *Moulmein–Kallang GRC

== Notes == {{Notelist}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

Category:2015 establishments in Singapore Category:Singaporean electoral divisions Category:Bukit Merah Category:Downtown Core Category:Kallang Category:Marina South Category:Novena, Singapore Category:Outram, Singapore Category:Rochor Category:Singapore River Category:Straits View