About
A quiet Housing Development Board (HDB) residential estate, Potong Pasir has not undergone much development, unlike the rest of Singapore. The blocks of flats here are relatively old and have not been upgraded much. There is really not much to see or do in Potong Pasir. Yet the district is significant in Singaporean politics - it has consistently been ruled by Chiam See Tong, a Member of Parliament (MP) who is from opposition party Singapore People's Party (SPP).

History
Potong pasir is a Malay word literally meaning “cut sand”. The name came about because the district used to be full of sand quarries that were used for mining. These quarries formed ponds that were connected to the Kallang River, which runs through Potong Pasir. Later, Potong Pasir became occupied by vegetable farms owned by Cantonese businessmen and farmers. Until the 1980s, when the first HDB flats were built, Potong Pasir was a village area with poor roads, pipes and an inconsistent supply of electricity.

Politics and Potong Pasir
Where Singapore 's ruling party, the PAP, is concerned, Potong Pasir is a stubborn constituency. In democratic Singapore, Potong Pasir is one of the two constituencies to consistently vote for an opposition party. (The other is Hougang.) Yet Potong Pasir's electorate does not vote for the opposition because of any obvious anti-PAP sentiments; they are loyal to their incumbent Member of Parliament, Chiam See Tong, even when the party he belongs to changes.

Potong Pasir is a hot topic of Singaporean politics especially because of the controversy surrounding the HDB upgrading works. In 2006, the media reported that the district would not be part of upgrading schemes because it belongs to the opposition. The debate on the fairness of this continues.

Residential Facilities
There are many schools in Potong Pasir, such as St. Andrews Secondary School and the new St. Andrews Junior College. The area also houses churches such as Chapel of the Holy Spirit. Many new condominiums are under construction in Potong Pasir.