There appears to be a “swing” towards PAP in votes compared to the last election in 2011. Some Singaporeans are disappointed because the outcome seems to contradict the evidence on the ground.
The turnouts for opposition rallies, especially those of the WP, were much bigger than the last election. Social media also reflected the sentiments of the majority of Singaporeans months and years leading to the election. Almost everyone in coffee shops and among friends had a bone to pick with the PAP, and the ranting has gone on since the last election.
Singaporeans have been ranked the world’s unhappiest people and we all know the cause of this. Even new political opportunists jumped onto the campaigning bandwagon this time round. Internet videos show Singaporeans booing and avoiding PAP candidates while they campaign. Yet, the results fail to match the sentiments on the ground. This sentiment is further confirmed by the size of the turnout of people at PAP’s winning speeches last night.
This morning I saw a large group of men wearing white standing at Bedok market, as if waiting for residents to come up to congratulate them. But none went up to them. Lim Swee Say had to go and shake the hands of a few foreigners who work at the shops. The MIW left in a jiffy.
On first reaction, it seems that there must be some rigging going on with the results. Why are there so few supporters at the winning speeches? Why have a new counting system? What are they up to this time round? However, on further reflection, it is quite obvious that the “swing” came from the following groups of Singaporeans:
The Pioneer Generation: This population segment was an easy target for the PAP. These elders were literally won over with generous subsidies and personal selling. This group is unlikely to come out and support their heroes.
New Citizens: Needless to say. Why jeopardise a future in “paradise”? Why show their faces at PAP rallies when they know they are hated all over the island?
Government Employees: Like most Singaporean voters, they desire to vote for the opposition but despite their unhappiness with the PAP, they are obligated to vote for them. Same reason as new citizens – why jeopardise my position at work?
The Poor: Many of these have been “won” over by government subsidies and are dependent on monthly handouts. Even though the desire is to vote for the opposition, they see a threat that their lifeline might be cut off.
Government Contractors: Many businesses and proprietors are making a living as a result of government contracts and projects. The HDB upgrading programmes engage thousands of contractors and sub-contractors. I doubt any one of them would want to put their livelihood at risk. What about other industrial sectors? There are many more in the same situation.
Other Government-Reliant Persons: Would they vote for the opposition if they are waiting for a housing loan from the HDB or a medical subsidy or a scholarship? Or for that matter would they vote for the opposition if they have just received such benefits?
Now, all these groups of people may sit at coffeeshops, attack PAP policies and attend opposition rallies instead of PAP rallies. However, they will eventually vote PAP because of the fear of losing their benefits.
The conclusion is this: the PAP has leverage over the voting of the above groups of Singaporeans. Also, the election system has been designed by the PAP for PAP to win the majority of seats: GRC, electoral boundary redrawing, revealing campaigning date with little forewarning, etc. They have a two-pronged winning strategy.
So, do not read PAP’s win as a mandate from the people of Singapore. If it were so, Singaporeans all over the island would be jubilant this morning but their faces are clearly depressed and disappointed. Clearly, PAP does not have the heart and the mandate of the people.
So, who are PAP’s real supporters?
RC Members: Every few blocks has an RC chairman and members, with a hierarchy of chairmen and members across each precinct. All of them are benefitting from their associations. This is a large group even without including their family members who are also voters. They are the ones in white supporting the PAP at rallies, but they alone cannot make up the winning votes.
Who are the Opposition’s supporters?
The only group that PAP has no power over is the educated, working adults. These are the most economically active Singaporeans. They are those who are waiting for jobs, building families and have school-going children and can see that the government policies are not benefitting them and their future. This is the vocal and eloquent group you find on social media. Unfortunately, this group is now outnumbered by the above groups as the election outcome shows.
Being vocal and eloquent is the last thing the government wants Singaporeans to be. This is why they dissuade Singaporeans from taking degrees. They learnt about this a long time ago in the persons of Francis Seow, Jeyaratnam and now, Chee Soon Juan. It is better for the government to give more seats in tertiary institutions to foreigners than Singaporeans and keep Singaporeans lowly educated.
The most intelligent and most important population group for Singapore’s future is being marginalised because of their collective criticism of the PAP – just like the marginalisation of the professionals 15 years ago because of their critical views of PAP. As a result, the PAP allowed “FTs” to come in overnight to take over their jobs resulting in a large group branded as the world’s most educated taxi drivers. The children of these professionals are now suffering the same fate as their parents. The Opposition can serve only this group. So, how?
Politics is about leverage and the PAP has it. What leverage has the Opposition got?
I think the picture is clear. And the problem too.
Savvy Artist
Source: www.tremeritus.com
