Potong Pasir MRT Station - Political Influence

Political Influence

As Potong Pasir Station was located in the Potong Pasir SMC, an opposition ward managed by the Singapore People's Party, it was one of the stations most involved in the political scenario of Singapore.

The intended name for the station was actually Sennett, mainly because of such political reasons. It seemed that the route planners did not want the station to sound synonymous with the estate. It was also rumoured to continue staying closed, together with Woodleigh when the North East Line opened in 2003.

During the Singapore general elections in 2001, Chiam See Tong and Sitoh Yih Pin of the Singapore People's Party and the People's Action Party respectively, both dangled the station as a carrot, and promised the residents that they would appeal for the station to be opened should they be voted into office, as part of their publicity campaigns.

However, even though the SDA won the seat, the station eventually opened, and the station was renamed Potong Pasir, partly due to complaints from Chiam and residents. It was also claimed "the name made more sense".

There is another Sennett Estate in the eastern part of Singapore and is located along Upper East Coast Road. The name was changed to avoid confusion with this Sennett Estate.