Sekurang-kurangnya lima GRC dijangka hangat dipertandingkan dalam pilihan raya 11 September ini.
Empat GRC tersebut turut diwakili calon Melayu PAP.
Satu-satunya kawasan undi baru dalam pilihan raya kali ini – GRC Marsiling-Yew Tee, mengambil sebahagian besar kawasan GRC Chua Chu Kang dan Sembawang.
Pasukan PAP diterajui bersama Menteri Kebudayaan, Masyarakat dan Belia, Encik Lawrence Wong, dan Speaker Parlimen, Cik Halimah Yacob.
Mereka berdepan Parti Demokratik Singapura (SDP) pimpinan John Tan.
SDP kalah kepada PAP di GRC Sembawang pada pilihan raya umum 2011.
“Berikan kita peluang untuk terus berkhidmat dan kita akan bekerja dengan keras dan memberikan lebih banyak sumbangan kepada penduduk Marsiling-Yew Tee,” kata Cik Halimah.
Cik Halimah juga memberitahu pasukannya akan mengeluarkan sebuah manifesto yang mengandungi rancangan-rancangan mereka untuk kawasan undi tersebut.
Beliau menjelaskan, “Dalam manifesto tersebut ada dua bahagian. Satu daripadanya ialah rancangan pembaikan dari segi infrastruktur dan keadaan sekitaran bagi penduduk kita dan bukan sahaja program-program ‘hardware’ tetapi ‘software’ di mana program-program untuk membantu anak-anak, keluarga kurang berkemampuan dan sebagainya,”
GRC Tanjong Pagar pula tidak pernah ditandingi sejak lima pilihan raya lalu.
Kali ini hampir 130,000 pengundinya boleh membuat pilihan antara pasukan PAP dan pencabarnya Parti Warga Diutamakan (SingFirst).
Pasukan PAP dipimpin ketua pergerakan buruh, Menteri di Pejabat Perdana Menteri Chan Chun Sing, 45 tahun.
SingFirst, sebuah parti politik baru diketuai Encik Tan Jee Say, mantan calon Presiden.
Satu lagi diramalkan sebagai antara ‘kerusi panas’ pilihan raya kali ini ialah pertarungan bagi GRC Jalan Besar pimpinan Menteri Perhubungan dan Penerangan Dr Yaacob Ibrahim.
Pada pilihan raya lalu, GRC ini membentuk sebahagian GRC Moulmein-Kallang dan meraih 58.55 peratus undi menentang WP.
Pasukan Dr Yaacob sekali lagi ditentang WP yang dipimpin pensyarah politeknik L Somasundaram.
“Kami berempat berterima kasihmenjadi calon bagi GRC Jalan Besar.Undilah PAP parti yang bekerjasama untuk kepentingan anda, parti yang bekerjasama untuk anda demi untuk Singapura,” jelas Dr Yaccob.
GRC East Coast juga sekali lagi menjadi medan pertarungan antara pasukan PAP dan WP.
Pada 2011, pasukan PAP meraih 54.83 peratus undi menentang WP yang menampilkan Gerald Giam dan Png Eng Huat.
Ia merupakan kemenangan paling tipis bagi PAP dan Encik Giam mendapat kerusi di Parlimen sebagai AP Tanpa Kawasan Undi.
Pasukan PAP yang mempertahankan GRC itu dipimpin Menteri Tenaga Manusia Lim Swee Say dan turut dianggotai Menteri Negara Pertahanan merangkap Pembangunan Negara, Mohd Maliki Osman.
Pasukan PAP di Aljunied pula siap sedia berjuang bagi mencabar lawannya dari WP.
Diketuai AP veteran Yeo Guat Kwang, pasukan muka baru ini bertekad untuk menawan semula GRC Aljunied.
WP juga menyatakan hasrat ingin kekal mempertahankan kerusi itu dengan pasukan ‘A’ mereka.
“Dengan pengalaman yang ditimba, kami lebih bersedia, berkomited dan bersemangat untuk berkhidmat kepada anda semua kali ini,” jelas Faisal Manap, Calon WP bagi GRC Aljunied.
“Pengundi-pengundi Aljunied, berilah kami kesempatan untuk berkhidmat untuk anda. Rakan-rakan kami akan bekerja keras untuk kamu, bagi kamu, demi untuk Singapura,” kata Shamsul Kamar, Calon PAP bagi GRC Aljunied.
Poised at what the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) deems a critical juncture in its history, the Republic yesterday entered what will be its most intensely fought elections ever, with a record 181 candidates vying for 89 seats in Parliament.
After nominations were closed at the stroke of noon, the record books had a new entry: All 16 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and 13 Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) were contested, the first time since Singapore’s independence that an election will see a battle in every ward.
Yet, few surprises were sprung on a day that has traditionally thrown up its fair share. Almost everything went according to script, save for an independent candidate who appeared out of the blue to throw his hat into the ring, and in the process help the 2015 GE to notch another entry into the books: It will see the most multi-cornered fights in almost a quarter of a century, with the MacPherson, Radin Mas and Bukit Batok single-seat wards all seeing three-way contests.
Despite the tumult caused within the National Solidarity Party by its decision to go head-to-head with the Workers’ Party and the PAP in MacPherson — which led to the resignation of its head, Ms Hazel Poa, and a subsequent reversal by central executive committee member Steve Chia, who entered the ring, only to withdraw his candidacy later — the NSP stuck to its guns and entered the fray.
At Radin Mas SMC, the fight will be between the PAP, the Reform Party and independent candidate Han Hui Hui, an activist who had previously made headlines for her protests against the Central Provident Fund.
While private-car driver Shirwin Eu had his hopes of standing in the GE dashed after he failed to garner the required signatures, Mr Samir Salim Neji, 45 — who was previously virtually unheard of — turned up at Keming Primary School and successfully filed his papers to contest in Bukit Batok SMC.
Mr Samir, the managing director of business planning software company Anaplan Asia Pacific, will go up against PAP’s David Ong and Singapore Democratic Party candidate Sadasivam Veriyah. Adding that he stands for “more happiness and less stress”, Mr Samir told reporters that he wants to turn Bukit Batok into a “start-up village”.
At the eight other Nomination Centres across the island, there was little drama, with party supporters — who gathered as early as 8am before making their way to the centres with the candidates — in good voice and spirits despite the hot sun, notwithstanding the jeering at some of the candidates from sections of the crowd.
While the support was fiercely partisan, the mood was mostly benign and friendly — and this extended to the halls, where candidates were busy making sure their papers were in order.
Two PAP candidates, Mr S Iswaran and Ms Grace Fu, alerted their opponents to mistakes in their forms, helping them avoid disqualification. In return, Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam and SDP candidate Jaslyn Go showed appreciation for the gesture, even as they downplayed the significance of the errors.
With the battle joined, rallies will begin tonight, with the PAP and WP getting off the blocks in Radin Mas and Hougang, respectively.
Over the next eight days, rallies could be held at 46 rally sites — comprising one for each SMC, two for each GRC and a lunchtime rally venue in the Central Business District — across the island, before Cooling-Off Day puts the brakes on campaigning and voting takes place on Sept 11.
The WP has indicated that it plans to hold a rally every night over the campaigning period.
Yesterday, hours after the morning frenzy at the Nomination Centres ended, political parties began sending their representatives to apply for permits for the sites. These included supporters of Singapore People’s Party Mountbatten candidate Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss, PAP grassroots volunteers for Marine Parade GRC and Potong Pasir SMC, and a group of WP supporters representing teams from various constituencies.
In an advisory issued yesterday, the police strongly encouraged people to take public transport to the rally sites, given the large crowds expected. It added that motorists travelling near the rallies should be prepared for traffic diversions or lane closures. Real-time updates on the traffic situation will be broadcast on radio.
The police also sought the cooperation of supporters and members of the public to assemble at, and disperse from, the rally sites in an orderly manner. It issued a reminder that the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles or drones is prohibited for public safety reasons, and added that police officers will be deployed at the rally sites to maintain law and order.
We look back at some of the significant speeches and rallies held by candidates and the historical turning points from past elections.
By Hong Xinying
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a lunchtime rally in 2011. Image: Yahoo file photo/ Kzan
1. The uncontested 1966 by-elections
This was the year when four of five People’s Action Party (PAP) candidates were elected, uncontested at the three by-elections held in January, March and November 1966.
By-elections were held after Barisan Sosialis members of parliament quit en masse in 1966. The now-defunct opposition party was formed in 1961 by former PAP members with leftist sympathies.
Lawyer M. P. D. Nair and clerk Chan Yoke Kwong were the only independent candidates who contested for and lost the Thomson seat at the by-elections that year.
“It is good to see other people coming out to contest the elections again,” said then Minister of Labour Jek Yeun Thong, as reported by local newspaper The Straits Times.
He added: “This helps to nail the lie of the Barisan Sosialis that democracy is dead in Singapore and that people are no more interested in elections.”
2. When PAP first became ruling party by default
In 1968, the People’s Action Party (PAP) was automatically returned to power on Nomination Day itself, as 51 of 58 seats were left uncontested. Independent candidates fielded for and lost the remaining seven seats to PAP. Its biggest opponent, Barisan Sosialis chose to boycott the elections that year as well.
In a public statement made on Nomination Day, then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew said simply that he “would have preferred many more contests” from opposition leaders, to serve as “good training to our younger men (of PAP).”
3. Lee Kuan Yew’s ‘that iron in him’ 1980 rally speech
Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew gave one of his most memorable quotes at a December 20 rally at Fullerton Square in 1980, ahead of polling day that year.
As reported by The Straits Times, Lee said: “Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him, or give it up! This is not a game of cards! This is your life and mine! I spent a whole lifetime building this, and as long as I am in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.”
He also discussed how the 1980 election was “the most tranquil election” he had had in post-independence Singapore, and harangued the opposition parties “to make some effort” in fielding more candidates.
That year, 38 out of 75 seats were contested by opposition politicians from the United People’s Front, Workers’ Party, United Front, Barisan Sosialis, Singapore Malay National Organisation (also known as PKMS), Singapore Democratic Party and the Singapore Justice Party.
4. The first opposition politician in parliament
At the 1981 by-elections, Opposition leader J B. Jeyaretnam of Workers’ Party (WP) became the first opposition politician in parliament at a post-independence election. No other opposition leader was successfully elected since the Barisan Sosialis boycott in 1966.
Jeyaretnam contested and won the Anson ward with 51.93 per cent of the vote, beating PAP candidate Pang Kim Hin and independent candidate Harbans Singh.
At a WP election rally in October 1981, Jeyaretnam said he had the people’s interest at heart when he decided to stand for election. “I want to do it for you. This is your fight, not mine,” said Jeyaretnam at the rally, as reported by local newspaper The Straits Times.
5. Chiam See Tong’s winning 1984 campaign
A notable Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) rally held on December 17 at Toa Payoh Lorong 8 drew a large crowd that a Straits Times editor called ‘stupendous’.
During the rally, then SDP secretary-general Chiam See Tong said he stood for election because Singaporeans “cannot take things for granted”.
He spoke in reference to bread and butter issues such as the prices of HDB (Housing Development Board) flats, Central Provident Fund (CPF) withdrawals, as well as the controversial graduate mother scheme (which gave said mums financial benefits).
Chiam stood for and won the seat for Potong Pasir that year and was re-elected at subsequent elections up to 2011.
6. The GRC and presidential power debates in 1988
This was the year where the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) system was first introduced. Before 1988, candidates competed for single-member seats, which are now known as Single Member Constituencies (SMCs).
The new system also required multi-racial representation in contesting groups; at least one of the candidates must belong to an ethnic minority for each group constituency.
United People’s Front leader Harbans Singh said the GRC system was ‘rubbish’. To such criticism, the then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew gave a sharp retort.
“Vote for the best candidate … If you vote for the wrong man, then I wish you well, you will soon find out,” said Lee at the 22 August rally covered by The Straits Times.
At the rally, Lee again defended his hard-line approach to politics. He suggested that “affable, soft-approach, soft-touch leaders” might not have the “certain steel in them to stand up to pressures”.
Candidates from four political parties contesting the 1988 general election also went on screen to woo voters to their cause, in the first unedited and televised political debate in Singapore.
In his televised segment, PAP politician Goh Chok Tong echoed the single-minded, pragmatic approach of Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.
Goh spoke of how the ruling party government dealt with the 1985 financial crisis and triumphed, with policies that were “difficult and unpleasant to implement” but ultimately “succeeded”.
Opposition leaders, on the other hand, criticised the proposed new powers to be granted to future presidents.
Chiam See Tong felt that the elected presidents would not be “a true representative” of the voters’ choice, as a select few would qualify to be elected.
National Solidarity Party (NSP) candidate Ken Sunn felt that any changes to presidential powers should be passed only after a national referendum.
The impact of that televised debate however, is debatable. PAP returned to power that year with 80 out of 81 seats; Chiam was the only opposition leader who fielded and got elected in 1988 with 63.3 per cent of votes for Potong Pasir.
7. Breakthrough for opposition leaders in 1991
This election was held just nine months after the role of Prime Minister was passed from Lee Kuan Yew to Goh Chok Tong. The ruling party PAP lost four seats to opposition leaders in 1991 but held on to the majority vote with 77 out of 81 seats in parliament.
WP candidate Low Thia Khiang (the party’s current secretary-general in 2015) was elected for the Hougang SMC for the first time at this election.
At a Hougang rally that year, Low said that voters need to think long-term when voting. He argued that support for opposition leaders could send “strong signals” that will encourage more qualified candidates to join the opposition ranks.
8. The recession election in 2001
The PAP political slogan for the year was “A People United” — this election was held in the year of the September 11 attacks, while Singapore was also in the midst of economic downturn.
“What we offer is a trusted team, reliable, whom you can depend on to deliver,” said Lee Hsien Loong (then PAP’s first assistant secretary-general), when the PAP election manifesto was released on 20 October, according to a Today report.
He also spoke of the $11.3 billion fund for tax cuts and handouts meant to help Singaporeans in need, during the recession period.
This was also the year that an opposition coalition was formed with the creation of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) banner, led by Chiam See Tong.
PAP eventually won 82 of 84 seats, with the largest number of overall votes (75.3 per cent of total votes) in history since 1980.
9. Opposition parties united with a purpose in 2006
The year saw opposition parties making a concerted effort to avoid three-cornered contests against the ruling party.
The argument goes that it would diminish the overall votes for all opposition candidates involved. That year, all contested wards (47 seats out of 84 in total) were straight fights between an opposition party (SDP, WP or SDA) and the ruling party.
“We’re trying to avoid a three-cornered fight,” said Chiam See Tong, according to a March 10 report by Today newspaper. “If we enter into one, we’re only going to kill ourselves. We’re not that stupid.”
This was also the first year that WP opposition leader Sylvia Lim stood for election. She was the only female opposition politician contesting that year.
“It’s important to have a credible opposition in Singapore … I felt it was important for the system to have some balance and facilitate the voting contest,” Lim told Today newspaper, in a March 8 report.
10. PM Lee’s apology in 2011
“If we didn’t get it right, I’m sorry. But we will try better the next time,” said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at a rally held on May 3 at Boat Quay next to UOB Plaza, ahead of election day in 2011.
The apology was notable for its conciliatory note (rare for the party known for its unwavering conviction) and how the ruling party owned up to problems caused by what Lee had described as “side effects” of government initiatives. These include the traffic congestion on trains and problem gambling at the integrated resorts.
PM Lee also indirectly addressed the controversial comments made by Singapore’s first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew on 30 April. The then-minister mentor (MM) had said that Aljunied voters had five years to “live and repent”, should they vote for the opposition team from Workers’ Party.
PM Lee described the MM’s style as one which “tells it like it is”, while describing the current generation of PAP leaders as politicians who “don’t try to do it (Minister Mentor’s) MM’s style”.
“We do it our way, we spend some time to talk, to explain … to overcome some of these working problems so that we can go in the right strategic directions,” said PM Lee. Some analysts suggest the difference in political style may have led to MM Lee’s decision to leave the cabinet after the 2011 elections.
2. At the Nomination Centre at Kemming Primary School on Sept 1 , Samir was almost disqualified from contesting as a candidate in Bukit Batok as he had only one Proposer, one Seconder and one Assentor – all three are his relatives , Indians from Kerala of non Singapore origin .
3. PAP members provided another 3 Assentors who are residents of Bukit Batok SMC.
4. Samir Salim Neji application was eventually accepted and approved for contest by the Election Returning Officers (ELD)
When asked why he was contesting , Mr Samir Replied that ‘ he was bored ‘
Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (photo) did not mince his words when he warned voters that the policies of his opponents from the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) “will set us on our paths to Greece”.
He and his People’s Action Party team are up against SDP’s team headed by Dr Chee Soon Juan at the polls for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.
Dr Balakrishnan went on the offensive, calling for a press conference at the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council at Bangkit Road hours after nominations closed yesterday.
He said of SDP’s policies: “Tax, spend, cut essential services and investments, including defence, that will put our country at risk and ultimately lead to bankruptcy, and a very big bill being passed to our children, not to mention very high levels of taxation.
“These are not new ideas, these are ideas cut and copied and pasted from other parts of the world, which have failed.
“In other words, the SDP will set us on the road to Greece and it’s the duty of my team to awaken Singaporeans to the dangers of such policies.”
