In the planning stages of the NEL, it was confirmed by then-Communications Minister Mah Bow Tan in 1995 that the line will pass through the Potong Pasir constituency, then an opposition ward.

[3] This was refuted by then Potong Pasir Member of Parliament (MP) Chiam See Tong, who said it would become a "strong station" once there are developments around it.

[5] The residents of Potong Pasir "took in their stride" upon learning of the station's status and alleged that this was due to its location in an opposition constituency.

In the 1997 Singapore general elections, PAP candidate Andy Gan had promised residents he would push for the earlier construction of the MRT stations (Potong Pasir and Woodleigh) with the backing of then-deputy prime minister Lee Hsien Loong and other PAP MPs.

[8] Then prime minister Goh Chok Tong, who had earlier supported Gan's plans for the MRT construction and said he had the "judgement call" for when they were going to be built,[7] later said that there was "no guarantee" the constituency will get the MRT station even if the PAP secures the constituency during the 2001 Singaporean general elections.

The government had denied that the station's opening was related to PAP's bigger share of votes in the 2001 general elections.

[10][11] Contract 705 for the design and construction of the Boon Keng and Potong Pasir two-level civil defence underground stations, 1.8 kilometres (1.1 miles) of twin bored tunnels and 280 metres (920 ft) of cut and cover tunnels, was awarded to Kumagai Gumi-Sembawang Engineering-Mitsui Joint Venture at a contract value of S$217 million (US$146.15 million).

He mentioned that he had urged the Senior Minister of State for Transport to consider its opening, despite the PAP's loss in the 2001 elections.

[22] According to then PAP's second advisor to Potong Pasir Andy Gan, Sennett had a "better historical standing" and reminds residents of the area of their "past glory".

[28] Commissioned as part of the MRT system's Art-in-Transit Programme,[b] Point of View by Matthew Ngui is a series of anamorphic images and text displayed all around the station.

On the platforms, there are four images of clocks set at various times of day (morning, midday, evening and night) alongside some texts.