The score at fulltime: 61.21% to Murali and 38.79% to Dr Chee.
Bukit Batok voters have spoken, and they’ve elected the PAP’s Murali Pillai as their new MP.
The SDP’s Dr Chee Soon Juan made a dent in the PAP’s previous score of 73 percent.
That result was held by disgraced former MP David Ong who won in Bukit Batok in GE2015 then left his post due to an extra-marital affair as widely believed, leading to the calling of a by-election.
The Murali win brings an end to a campaign marked by accusations of personal slurs and terror tactics.
It also carries on the PAP’s dominance in SMC straight fights from GE2015, where it won 12 out of 13 SMCs with a 67 percent vote average.
To its credit, the SDP has made the highest gains in credibility since GE2011.
A study by the Institute of Policy Studies showed that the percentage of people who found the party credible increased two-fold from 2011 to 2015.
Mr Murali has pledged to carry out several new initiatives for Bukit Batok residents, including a youth mentorship programme and job placement programme.
This is in addition to executing an upgrading scheme under the Neighbourhood Renewal Programme.
