It's 9.53pm here in the UK. At this time, I should be doing my work, but I've no mood for that as the excitement I worked myself up to over the announcement of elections results a few hours ago has yet to die down. So I figured that since I'm not in the mood for work and the memories of the announcement results are still fresh in my mind, I'd pen some thoughts on the event.
First, here are the final results:
No. of seats won by People's Action Party (PAP, the ruling party of many years): 81
No. of seats won by Worker's Party (WP): 6
No. of seats won by all other parties: 0
% share of valid votes held by PAP: 60.14%
% share of valid votes held by WP: 12.82%
% share of valid votes held by all other parties: 27.04%
No. of constituencies won by PAP: 25
No. of constituencies won by opposition parties: 2 (Hougang and Aljunied, both won by WP)
More info on the breakdown of the results can be found here: http://www.ge.sg/#map
And now for my own thoughts on the performance of the various political parties:
PAP
So. The PAP has been returned to power once again. They have also retained a majority over the number of seats in parliament. For those hoping for a major change in the political landscape, this will of course be a big disappointment. Personally, I did expect the PAP to retain a majority over the number of seats, but I expected that majority to be much smaller than it was previously. On the other hand, PAP's percentage share of valid votes, which stands at 60.14%, is smaller than previous elections (66% in the 2006 elections and 75% in the 2001 elections). Thus, it can be concluded that over the past 10 years, PAP's share of votes have been declining. Those hoping to see a lot less of PAP around in parliament can take heart in this.
Number of seats and votes held by PAP aside, another election result issue that has got quite a lot of people quite hot under the collar is that Tin Pei Ling of the Kate Spade and I-don't-know-what-to-say-*stomps feet* fame is now a Member of Parliament. All thanks to the PAP winning Marine Parade GRC, where Tin is contesting. Perhaps it's because of the presence of heavyweight PAP candidate Goh Chok Tong, the Senior Minister. Whatever the reason is, PAP's win is a surpise several reasons: 1) Tin is pretty unpopular among quite a lot of Singaporeans, because they think she is too inexperienced and immature to be an MP yet she is riding on the coat-tails of Goh 2)Goh himself has been receiving quite a lot of flak, at least in the online world 3) The party competing with PAP in Marine Parade, National Solidarity Party (NSP), has a star candidate called Nicole Seah who may be quite young and new in the political scene but has impressed so many people over the weeks with her passion, sincerity and maturity that she is the second most 'liked' Singapore politician on Facebook after Lee Kuan Yew. When discussing the PAP's conquer of Marine Parade with my Mum, she said that there was no way Seah, however popular she was, could have won, because of the presence of Goh, the Senior Minister who has years and years of experience in the political arena. That may be true, but it pisses me off to no end, and I'm sure a lot of other Singaporeans feel the same, that Tin is now an MP and taxpayers would be contributing to her hefty annual salary (so that, as a few commentators have remarked, she could buy more Kate Spade bags or even upgrade to a Hermes).
WP
PAP may be the ruling party once again but this election has seen a stronger and more WP emerge. WP's victories this election are significant for 2 reasons. Firstly, for the first time in the history of Singapore elections, an opposition party has captured a Group Representative Constituency (GRG) - Aljunied - from the PAP. This is all the more significant because the PAP team contesting in Aljunied includes the generally well-resepcted Foreign Minister George Yeo. Secondly, Singapore now has more politicans from the opposition parties in parliament - from 2 seats previously to 6 seats now. Kudos also to WP for keeping its stronghold Hougang, even though the previous head of team of Hougang, Low Thia Kiang, left to contest at Aljunied, leaving Yaw Shin Leong and his team to hold the fort there.
WP's victories are a small step towards full democracy for Singapore. It is thanks to WP, the only opposition party to win any seats in parliament, and its impressive performance this elections that Singapore has more opposition party members in parliament to check on the ruling party (or to borrow Low's analogy, to be a co-driver that smacks the driver so as to alert him of any bumps on the road). WP's ability to hold the fort at Hougang, capture Aljunied from a team consisting of some PAP heavyweights and also attract some well-educated and impressive candidates like Chen Show Mao (who is now an MP after his first election contest, way to go dude!), ultimately shows that the party has become a force to be reckoned with over the years.
Other opposition parties
If WP was the opposition party with the best performance, the opposition party whose performance was the biggest disappointment was the Singapore People's Party (SPP). SPP's Chiam See Tong, a very well-respected and loved politician, suffered a double loss this elections. Not only did he loose Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC which was new ground for him and his team, his wife who was contesting at Potong Pasir (a ward that for many years has been the SPP's stronghold) lost the ward PAP's Sitoh Yih Pin. Chiam had taken the same political gamble as Low of WP, by leaving his stronghold to contest at a new GRC so as to try and win more GRCs for the opposition, but unlike Low he failed. I feel quite sorry for Chiam. He took the challenge of stepping out of his comfort zone and stronghold in Potong Pasir to contest in a new ground, and he willingly took up this challenge for the opposition cause in spite of his frail health! I've seen some videos of Chiam addressing his supporters and it touched my heart to hear how this man, who admitted to not being brave, is still plodding on in spite of his weak health to do what he does because "I love Singaporeans." I had really hoped his party would win at least one GRC. If he does decide to retire now in view of his health, at least he can do so with dignity, and the knowledge that he tried his very best for what he believed in. We Singaporeans salute you for your tireless efforts, Mr Chiam.
Another party whose performance turned out to be a disappointment is NSP. As mentioned, NSP's star candidate, young Nicole Seah, had garnered a lot of popularity over the weeks. In fact, Seah was such a popular figure that one of the commentators of Channelnewsasia called NSP the "Nicole Seah Party". Anyway, it was disappointing to see Nicole's team loose to Tin Pei Ling's team in Marine Parade! With hindsight, it was a politically suicidal move to pit Seah, no matter how well liked she is, against the PAP team with a heavyweight like the Senior Minister in it. She should have contested in a Small-Medium Constituency (SMC, where one candidate is pitted against another from a different party, unlike GRCs where it is one team versus another team). Y'know what would have been epic? Seeing Seah and Tin pitted against each other in an SMC. I bet Seah would be swept off her feet by the number of votes for her, and Tin would be left stomping her own feet in misery.
Overall verdict on Singapore General Election 2011
Whatever one feels about this year's election results, there is no denying that the 2011 election is a landmark one in many ways. What's most significant, in my view, is that Singaporeans are more politically engaged than before. No one can make that popular generalization of Singaporeans being politically apathetic now, for this election has seen so many people participate actively in the election - by discussing it and sharing news with others, openly airing their opinions, volunteering with political parties and even stepping forward to join the opposition, something often viewed as a risky domain!
My feelings towards the results of this election are rather mixed. On the one had, what with all the talk about PAP's poor campaigning this year, how large segments of the population are fed up with PAP's bungling and arrogance over the years and how the opposition has put forward more impressive candidates this year, I expected PAP to loose a considerable number of seats in parliament and more than just 2 GRCs this election. Turns out that save for lost of a GRC previously held by PAP and a few more seats in parliament to WP, the political landscape hasn't changed much. On the other hand, WP's wins, while modest compared to PAP's, are significant in their own right. Overall, Singapore is a step closer, albeit a small one, to being a full-fledged democracy.
PAP may have won but no doubt they are shaken by the loss of a few more seats in parliament to WP, and more significantly, the first-ever loss of a GRC to an opposition party. In his post-victory news conference, Lee Hsien Loong, who was the Prime Minister before the elections and now still remains the Prime Minister, said "We hear all your voices". Let's hope he and his PAP really, really takes heed. Should they ever forget, they now have 6 co-drivers in parliament to smack them on their heads so as to ensure they stay on the right track.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Do you hear the people sing?
If the Singapore General Election 2011 were to have a theme song, it would surely be 'Do You Hear the People Sing?' from the musical Les Miserables.
For weeks, I, along with many other Singaporeans, have been following closely all the campaigning, commentaries, drama etc associated with this year's election. You can tell there is something significant about it because interest in this election is particularly high. Popular blogs and websites discussing socio-political issues have been covering the various rallies and speeches closely, and their coverage have attracted a great many readers. On Facebook, friends of mine who have previously never expressed interest in politics or had an opinion on politics are sharing elections-related news, commentaries and parodies. Now, this is most interesting in the Singapore context, because Singaporeans have commonly been described as either politically apathetic or afraid to touch politics even with a ten-foot pole.
Why the sudden surge in interest? For one thing, for many Singaporeans, this is the first time they have a chance to vote. In previous elections, many Group Representative Constituencies (GRCs), which are sort of like districts, experience walkovers i.e. they were uncontested. This election, all but one GRC was contested by the opposition parties. For the ruling party, this means they are suddenly no longer assured of having a majority in parliament. For Singaporeans, the presence of a contest means that they will have a chance to take part in the electoral process. And many, such as my Mum and Dad, have never had the opportunity to do so before.
Secondly, and more importantly, people are so heavily emotinally invested in this election because they want to see change. For years, there has been an accumulation of grouses against the ruling party (PAP), which has held on to power for decades. PAP, unfortunately, does not take kindly to criticism and occasionally resorts to suing and jailing those who openly speak out against it. You can imagine the climate of fear that creates. Recently, though, people have been more vocal about their unhappiness. The online media has become a platform where many express their frustrations and dissatisfaction. Certain government policies and blunders of late have also neatively impacted large segments of society, most notably the policy of allowing a overwhelmingly huge influx of foreigners into Singapore, causing many who previously supported PAP or didn't care about politics to question what was going on with the country. People are pissed, really pissed by now,and the opposition parties are taking advantage of the electorate's unhappiness to contest many GRCs.
In short, this election reflects an awakening of sorts for Singaporeans. People are tired and frustrated with the status quo, and they want to see change. And this has lead Singaporeans to overcome the climate of fear and do things they previously would never have dared to: speak out against the PAP, openly support opposition parties, discuss and debate politics etc. The change in attitude is really quite astounding. As a Singaporean (but one that does not have the chance to vote this year, unfortunately), it is fascinating and heartening to see my countrymen unite and rise above fear, to stand up for themselves for the first time against a party that has long ruled the country with an iron fist.
"Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!"
I hear it all right. I can hear the expressions of frustration and longings for change, the music of a people who don't want to slave away under the PAP regime any more. I can hear the rapid beating of hearts, of those caught up in the fervour of aspirations of a new life about to start with the dawn of a different political landscape when (the day after) tomorrow comes. You can be sure that all eyes will be on the actual voting this Saturday, and the announcement of results afterwards. You know this election is something special, because you can hear the people sing. Loudly.
For weeks, I, along with many other Singaporeans, have been following closely all the campaigning, commentaries, drama etc associated with this year's election. You can tell there is something significant about it because interest in this election is particularly high. Popular blogs and websites discussing socio-political issues have been covering the various rallies and speeches closely, and their coverage have attracted a great many readers. On Facebook, friends of mine who have previously never expressed interest in politics or had an opinion on politics are sharing elections-related news, commentaries and parodies. Now, this is most interesting in the Singapore context, because Singaporeans have commonly been described as either politically apathetic or afraid to touch politics even with a ten-foot pole.
Why the sudden surge in interest? For one thing, for many Singaporeans, this is the first time they have a chance to vote. In previous elections, many Group Representative Constituencies (GRCs), which are sort of like districts, experience walkovers i.e. they were uncontested. This election, all but one GRC was contested by the opposition parties. For the ruling party, this means they are suddenly no longer assured of having a majority in parliament. For Singaporeans, the presence of a contest means that they will have a chance to take part in the electoral process. And many, such as my Mum and Dad, have never had the opportunity to do so before.
Secondly, and more importantly, people are so heavily emotinally invested in this election because they want to see change. For years, there has been an accumulation of grouses against the ruling party (PAP), which has held on to power for decades. PAP, unfortunately, does not take kindly to criticism and occasionally resorts to suing and jailing those who openly speak out against it. You can imagine the climate of fear that creates. Recently, though, people have been more vocal about their unhappiness. The online media has become a platform where many express their frustrations and dissatisfaction. Certain government policies and blunders of late have also neatively impacted large segments of society, most notably the policy of allowing a overwhelmingly huge influx of foreigners into Singapore, causing many who previously supported PAP or didn't care about politics to question what was going on with the country. People are pissed, really pissed by now,and the opposition parties are taking advantage of the electorate's unhappiness to contest many GRCs.
In short, this election reflects an awakening of sorts for Singaporeans. People are tired and frustrated with the status quo, and they want to see change. And this has lead Singaporeans to overcome the climate of fear and do things they previously would never have dared to: speak out against the PAP, openly support opposition parties, discuss and debate politics etc. The change in attitude is really quite astounding. As a Singaporean (but one that does not have the chance to vote this year, unfortunately), it is fascinating and heartening to see my countrymen unite and rise above fear, to stand up for themselves for the first time against a party that has long ruled the country with an iron fist.
"Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!"
I hear it all right. I can hear the expressions of frustration and longings for change, the music of a people who don't want to slave away under the PAP regime any more. I can hear the rapid beating of hearts, of those caught up in the fervour of aspirations of a new life about to start with the dawn of a different political landscape when (the day after) tomorrow comes. You can be sure that all eyes will be on the actual voting this Saturday, and the announcement of results afterwards. You know this election is something special, because you can hear the people sing. Loudly.
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