I refer to the CNA’s report, “GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP, winning 87 of 97 seats with higher national vote share in PM Wong’s first electoral test” (May 4).
GE2025 has clearly delivered the following key messages/notes from the vast majority of voters:
The Workers’ Party (WP) has done a fantastic good job in defending its stronghold turfs, such as Sengkang GRC, Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, and earning the trust and support from the majority of its constituents despite the robust fights put forth by the ruling party. These amazing performances by the WP have displayed in the areas of town council and estates management, community service, bonding and connectivity.
However, WP could not make a breakthrough in any of the contested constituencies (SMC and GRC) were really disappointed by meeting most Singaporeans, as the huge crowd turn up at the WP’s rallies could
not transpired into total valid votes.
The post election analysis by many political analysts are right that the ruling party’s advocacy for losing its political office holders will greatly diminish the government’s governance and credibility, and this fear-mongering tactic has proven effective in this general election. For examples, in the hotly contested Punggol Tampines and East Coast GRC.
However, the respective WP teams have achieved “worth comforting”results (average 44% of the total valid votes) in these hotly fought constituencies.
Voters of Singapore generally do not like to see multi-cornered fights in any constituency. For example, in the Tampines, East Coast and Sembawang GRC where the “mosquito” party was badly defeated and worst, their election deposits were forfeited.
The PAP’s election strategies have worked well and had achieved an astounding victory – 65.57 % of the total valid votes up from the last GE2020 of 61.24%.
For examples, PAP cleverly applied the tariffs threats from the Trump’s administration to institute fear that Singapore needs a strong government and mandate from all Singaporean voters in order for the government to negotiate confidently with the US counterpart as well as leading Singapore forward and steadfastly steering and charting in the water of global economic uncertainty and turbulence.
PAP claims that advocacy for more liberal democracy and diverse political voices will weaken the governance of the government and the stability of its existing political system.
The continual redrawing of electoral boundaries has indirectly contributed to the landslide victory of the PAP. As, this strategy has really resulted the entire opposition with insufficient time and resources for the preparation for the GE.
Hence, this time round, although the people of Singapore generally like to have the presence of more opposition members in the parliament. But, at the same time, they also like to see more capable, rational and responsible opposition candidates especially from the promising younger ones to represent them in the parliament to deliver their voices, concerns, ideas and aspirations/hopes.
However, many small political parties are unable to do it or fulfilling the demands from the majority of voters. In due course, we can also witness that many rejected/void votes in this election (at approximately 9000 plus), and the lowest voter turnout in the country’s history at 92.47 per cent.
Most importantly, in this general election, we can also sense that all voters hate to see and strongly reject the practice of gutter politics and the interference or infiltration of foreign power. For example, playing along the flimsy and gaslighting line of xenophobic racism and religion.
Last but not least, this GE2025, the people of Singapore see a critical need to have a diverse, fairer, inclusive and open political landscape which can accommodate diversity of ideas, opinions and perspectives in the parliament.
To an extent, quite a number of voters buy the advocacy of some opposition parties which call for the People Association to be depoliticised because its funding comes directly from the government of today. So that it is deemed unfair for the PA to be used as a political tool to advance the ruling party’s interests.
Nonetheless, the respective opposition parties must rethink and re-examine their political vision, positions, outlooks and strategies. At the same time, in order to consolidate the resources of the
opposition party as a whole, it is necessary to reconsider the integration and unity of several small and inconspicuous parties into a strong and promising opposition party (besides the Workers’ Party). Otherwise, they are easily being defeated by the strongest ruling party.
It is simply because majority of voters don’t want to see so many “mosquitoes” political parties (which are without clear and good manifesto, proposal and advocacy) in the political arena.
Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)
