# Hougang Single Member Constituency

The Hougang Single Member Constituency is a single member constituency (SMC) located in the north-eastern area of Singapore. It is managed by Aljunied-Hougang Town Council. The current Member of Parliament is Dennis Tan of the Workers' Party (WP).

## History

The constituency was first formed prior to the 1988 general election and was won by the People's Action Party (PAP) in its debut.
However, PAP's representation of Hougang SMC would only last three years, when it lost the seat to the Workers' Party (WP) candidate Low Thia Khiang after an almost 12% swing during the 1991 general election.
In the 2006 general election, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong was tasked to help the PAP win back the two opposition wards of Hougang SMC and Potong Pasir SMC with a $100 million plan to upgrade the constituency. However, Low retained the seat with 62.7% of the votes.
From 1991 to 2011, it was one of only two opposition-held (i.e. non-PAP) seats in Parliament.
During the 2011 general election, Low Thia Kiang left to contest the nearby Aljunied GRC, Yaw Shin Leong, who retained the seat with 65% of the vote.
On 15 February 2012, Yaw was expelled from the party for personal indiscretions, triggering a by-election. Png Eng Huat retained the seat for the party with 62.1% of the vote.
Png retired prior to the 2020 general election; the WP candidate Dennis Tan retained the seat in that election with 61.2% of the vote.
In 17 October 2023, The People’s Action Party has appointed Jackson Lam as Branch Chairperson of PAP Hougang division and takes over from outgoing Branch Chairperson, Lee Hong Chuang. In 13 February 2025, Lawyer Marshall Lim will replace Mr Jackson Lam as PAP branch chairman in Hougang SMC.

## Constituency profile

The seat is located in the North-East Region of the country, with the closest train station being the namesake Hougang MRT station on the North East MRT line and the Cross Island MRT line (currently under construction), although the station itself is not located within the SMC but just outside it, in the adjacent Aljunied GRC – which is also represented by WP MPs. Hougang Community Club and Hougang Neighbourhood Park are located within the constituency.
To prevent a monopoly of WP stronghold across Hougang New Town, it has to be divided into three constituencies - Aljunied GRC, Ang Mo Kio GRC and Hougang SMC. The remainder of Hougang consisting of Hougang Stadium, Sports Hall and Swimming Pool falls under Ang Mo Kio GRC.
The constituency has been labeled a stronghold for the WP by political analysts, having been retained by the party since 1991.

## Members of Parliament

| Election | Member | Party |
| 1988 | Tang Guan Seng | PAP |
| 1991 | Low Thia Khiang | WP |
| 1997 | Low Thia Khiang | WP |
| 2001 | Low Thia Khiang | WP |
| 2006 | Low Thia Khiang | WP |
| 2011 | Yaw Shin Leong | WP |
| 2012 | Png Eng Huat | WP |
| 2015 | Png Eng Huat | WP |
| 2020 | Dennis Tan | WP |

## Electoral results

Note: The Elections Department Singapore (ELD) does not include rejected votes for calculation of candidate's vote share. Hence, the total of all candidates' vote share will be 100%.

### Elections in 1980s

General Election 1988: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | PAP | Tang Guan Seng | 11,983 | 58.96 | N/A |
| | WP | Lim Chiu Liang | 8,342 | 41.04 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,641 | 17.92 | N/A |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,703 | | N/A |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 20,325 | 97.37 | N/A |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 548 | 2.63 | N/A |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,873 | 96.18 | N/A |
| | PAP win (new seat) | PAP win (new seat) | PAP win (new seat) | PAP win (new seat) | PAP win (new seat) |

### Elections in 1990s

General Election 1991: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Low Thia Khiang | 10,621 | 52.82 | N/A |
| | PAP | Tang Guan Seng | 9,487 | 47.18 | 11.78 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 1,134 | 5.67 | 12.25 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 21,476 | | 1.05 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 20,108 | 97.77 | 0.4 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 458 | 2.23 | 0.4 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 20,566 | 95.76 | 0.42 |
| | WP gain from PAP | WP gain from PAP | Swing | 11.78 | |
General Election 1997: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Low Thia Khiang | 13,458 | 58.02 | 5.2 |
| | PAP | Heng Chee How | 9,736 | 41.98 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,722 | 16.04 | 10.37 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,423 | | 13.72 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 23,194 | 98.68 | 0.91 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 311 | 1.32 | 0.91 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,505 | 96.24 | 0.48 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 5.2 | |

### Elections in 2000s

General Election 2001: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Low Thia Khiang | 12,070 | 54.98 | 3.0 |
| | PAP | Eric Low | 9,882 | 45.02 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 2,188 | 9.96 | 6.08 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,320 | | 4.52 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,952 | 98.67 | 0.01 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 295 | 1.33 | 0.01 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,247 | 95.4 | 0.84 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 3.0 | |
General Election 2006: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Low Thia Khiang | 13,989 | 62.74 | 7.76 |
| | PAP | Eric Low | 8,308 | 37.26 | 7.76 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,681 | 25.48 | 15.52 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,759 | | 1.88 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 22,297 | 98.77 | 0.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 277 | 1.23 | 0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,574 | 95.01 | 0.39 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 7.76 | |

### Elections in 2010s

General Election 2011: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Yaw Shin Leong | 14,850 | 64.8 | N/A |
| | PAP | Desmond Choo | 8,065 | 35.2 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 6,785 | 29.6 | 4.12 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,560 | | 3.37 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 22,915 | 98.87 | 0.1 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 261 | 1.13 | 0.1 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 23,176 | 94.36 | 0.65 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 2.06 | |
By-election 2012: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Png Eng Huat | 13,460 | 62.08 | N/A |
| | PAP | Desmond Choo | 8,223 | 37.92 | 2.7 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,237 | 24.16 | 5.44 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 23,368 | | 4.85 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 21,683 | 98.66 | 0.21 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 295 | 1.34 | 0.21 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 21,978 | 93.9 | 0.4 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 2.7 | |
General Election 2015: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Png Eng Huat | 13,012 | 57.69 | 4.39 |
| | PAP | Lee Hong Chuang | 9,543 | 42.31 | N/A |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 3,469 | 15.38 | 8.78 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 24,097 | | 3.12 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 22,555 | 98.96 | 0.3 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 236 | 1.04 | 0.3 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 22,791 | 94.58 | 0.18 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 4.39 | |

### Elections in 2020s

General Election 2020: Hougang :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | WP | Dennis Tan | 15,451 | 61.21 | 3.52 |
| | PAP | Lee Hong Chuang | 9,791 | 38.79 | 3.52 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 5,660 | 22.42 | 7.04 |
| Registered electors | Registered electors | Registered electors | 26,432 | | 9.69 |
| Total valid votes | Total valid votes | Total valid votes | 25,242 | 98.93 | 0.03 |
| Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | Rejected ballots | 272 | 1.07 | 0.03 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | 25,514 | 96.53 | 1.95 |
| | WP hold | WP hold | Swing | 3.52 | |