Category: Singapuraku

Top 10 Electoral Battles To Watch

It is election season in Singapore. GE2015 is finally here and it is the most keenly contested election since 1965, with 181 candidates from 9 political parties and 2 independents going for all 89 seats in Parliament. No more walkovers and “instant MPs” whom we didn’t vote for!

There will a total of 13 Single-Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 16 GRCs in GE2015, up from the current 12 SMCs and 15 GRCs. That’s a total of 29 contests to watch. Which will be the most keenly contested or interesting ones to watch? Get ready your popcorn. Here is list of the top 10 battles,adjusted from my previous list, after taking into account the development on Nomination Day where all the contesting candidates in each wards are disclosed.

First off, I believe the National Solidarity Party (NSP), will no longer be a serious contender after all the flip-flopping and “pattern more than badminton” moves that the party has been up to over a span of just a few weeks leading up to Nomination Day. They also lost most of their strongest candidates from GE2011 like Hazel Poa and Nicole Seah.

Oh, and most of the election trolls like that Uber driver, the “Parrot Man”, the crying tuition teacher and even the supposed candidate backed by the king of online troll, SMRT Ltd (Feedback) – all did not make it.

Surprisingly, Han Hui Hui made it, resulting in a three-cornered fight in Radin Mas SMC. Nonetheless, Radin Mas is still not in the revised top ten as it is likely the incumbent PAP will win by a wide margin, given the two much weaker opposition candidates are going to split votes from each other.

Here’s the revised top ten list:

1.

East Coast GRC

Incumbents: PAP’s Lim Swee Say, Senior Lee Yi Shyan, Mohamad Maliki Osman and Jessica Tan

Challengers: WP’s Gerald Giam, Daniel Goh, Leon Perera and Mohamed Fairoz Shariff

Without a doubt, this will be the hottest contest to watch for GE2015. The strongest opposition party, with 7 MPs and 1 Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) in parliament, is set for a rematch in East Coast GRC where they narrowly lost to the People’s Action Party (PAP). It was the narrowest win for a GRC for the ruling party, with just 54.8% of valid votes. For the WP, Gerald Giam from the losing team in East Coast GRC managed to snatch a seat in parliament as a NCMP for being one of the best-performing losers.

Giam is leading the WP team for this second showdown. Will he be second time lucky? The incumbents seem pretty confident of defending their turf as much has been done by the team on the ground in recent years.

“Someone was joking to me that because we have undergone so many changes in Bedok Town Centre, some of (the Opposition candidates) who come here once every five years might get lost, so we might need to provide free tour guide services to show them around,” shared Lee Yi Shyan in a media interview.

2.

Aljunied GRC

Incumbents: WP’s Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh and Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap

Challengers: PAP’s Yeo Guat Kwang, Victor Lye, Chua Eng Leong, K. Muralidharan Pillai and Shamsul Kamar

This is the only GRC currently helmed by an opposition party. The WP’s top guns are all in this GRC, including WP’s secretary-general, Low Thia Khiang, and WP’s chairman, Slyvia Lim.

The PAP is unwilling to send any current bigwigs to contest in Aljunied GRC.Instead, they chose to field a ‘suicide squad’ of political unknowns, led by four-term labour MP Yeo Guat Kwang, mentored by former PAP chairman and Cabinet Minister Lim Boon Heng.

WP’s Achilles heel are the controversies over town council funds and the way the WP is running the town council. By fielding a team of grassroot leaders, the PAP may be capitalising on this issue to bring down the WP. Do not dismiss the ‘suicide squad’ just yet as they may be the underdogs necessary to win over the hearts of Aljunied voters. Not too sure how Lim Boon Heng will be of help though.

3.

Potong Pasir SMC

Incumbent: PAP’s Sitoh Yih Pin

Challenger: SPP’s Lina Chiam

This was the longest held opposition ward in Singapore for 27 years, helmed by popular opposition figure, Chiam See Tong, 80, Secretary-General of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP), until the PAP won back the SMC in 2011.

In GE2011, the wife of Chiam See Tong, Lina Chiam, lost the SMC to twice-unsuccessful challenger Sitoh Yih Pin of the PAP by a mere 114 votes in a close 7973-7859 vote count. Since then, Sitoh has been hard at work, slowly winning the ground with his sincerity.

Lina Chiam has also been shoring up her experience in parliament, speaking on a wide variety of issues, fielding the most questions among all the MPs, NMPs and NCMPs.

Both take their jobs very seriously. The two are now set for a rematch.

A third independent candidate, lawyer Tan Lam Siong had expressed interest to contest in the SMC but had pulled out at the last minute, choosing instead to lend his support to Mrs Chiam.

This will be a very close fight. It really could swing either way.

4.

Tanjong Pagar GRC

Incumbent: PAP’s Chan Chun Sing, Chia Shi-Lu, Indranee Rajah, Joan Pereira, Melvin Yong

Challenger: SingFirst’s Tan Jee Say, Ang Yong Guan, Chirag Desai, Fahmi Rais, Melvyn Chiu

The voters in Tanjong Pagar GRC has never voted before since the GRC was first set up as it was helmed by Singapore’s founding prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew, who passed away earlier this year.

It would be extremely foolhardy to go against Lee, who has a god-like status in the hearts and minds of most Singaporeans, regardless if they are supportive of him or not.

Nonetheless, the GRC is now helmed by newbie minister, Chan Chun Sing, Minister in Prime Minister’s Office and the Secretary-General of the National Trade Union Congress.

A new political party, Singaporeans First (SingFirst), helmed by Tan Jee Say, will be contesting the GRC. Tan is an investment adviser and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

The electoral at Tanjong Pagar GRC is largely untested as they have not voted for ages. As such, it will be interesting to observe how they vote.

5.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC

Incumbent: PAP’s Vivian Balakrishnan, Christopher de Souza, Liang Eng Hwa, Sim Ann

Challenger: SDP’s Chee Soon Juan, Chong Wai Fung, Paul Tambyah, Sidek Mallek

The Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) fielded their best team in this GRC. Dr Paul Ananth Tambyah, 50, Professor of the National University Hospital at the Department of Medicine is a strong candidate to watch from the SDP. Another interesting figure to watch will be Dr Chee Soon Juan, the controversial secretary-general of the party who was recently discharged from bankruptcy and is contesting in together with Dr Tambyah in the same GRC.

Holland-Bukit Timah GRC is led by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Dr Vivian Balakrishnan.

The SDP garnered a respectable 39.9% of valid votes, their best result for GE2011. Would they be able to up their vote shares this election? Or will the PAP be able to garner a wider vote share and win with an even bigger margin, given all the policy changes since 2011?

6.

Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC

Incumbent: PAP’s Ng Eng Hen, Josephine Teo, Chong Kee Hiong, Chee Hong Tat, Saktiandi Supaat

Challenger: SPP’s Benjamin Pwee, Hamim Aliyas, Law Kim Hwee, Abdillah Zamzuri, Bryan Long

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), led by Benjamin Pwee, fielded a joint team together with Chiam See Tong’s SPP, with two of their members quitting DPP to join SPP. Pwee contested in the GRC in 2011 together with Chiam under the SPP before he splintered off to join the DPP. They have since reunited.

The PAP is fielding a strong team at the GRC, helmed by Defence Minister, Dr Ng Eng Hen and Senior Minister of State for Transport and Finance, Josephine Teo.

They will be joined by three new faces – Chee Hong Tat, former Second Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry; Chong Kee Hiong, CEO, OUE Hospitality Trust; and Saktiandi Supaat, Head of Foreign Exchange Research, Maybank.

The PAP won with 56.93% of valid votes in GE2011. Would they be able to improve their winning margin? Or will the SPP be able to make further inroads to capture the GRC?

7.

Macpherson SMC

Incumbent: PAP’s Ms Tin Pei Ling

Challengers: WP’s Mr Bernard Chen and NSP’s Mr Cheo Chai Chen

This is a new SMC carved out from Marine Parade GRC and will see a three-cornered fight between the incumbent PAP’s candidate and a candidate each from WP and NSP.

Tin was extremely unpopular in 2011 and almost cost PAP to lose Marine Parade GRC which was helmed by former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong. She has since worked hard on the ground and in parliament. Her public image has improved and she seems to enjoy strong support in her constituency.

Bernard Chen is a long-time WP supporter and party member. He slowly rise through the ranks with his hard work and determination.

Cheo Chai Chen is a has-been, one-term MP when he contested and won a seat under the then-SDP led by Chiam See Tong. Many see him as a vote-spoiler for the opposition. It is unlikely he will draw much vote and I am of the opinion that he will get less than 1% of valid votes, losing his deposit.

Taking Cheo out of the equation, the battle is mainly between PAP and WP; Tin Pei Ling and Bernard Chen. For Tin, it will be sweet validation to all her critics if she can win this on her own, showing that her hard work paid off.

8.

Marine Parade GRC

Incumbent: PAP’s Goh Chok Tong, Edwin Tong, Fatimah Lateef, Seah Kian Peng, Tan Chuan-Jin

Challenger: WP’s Yee Jenn Jong, Dylan Ng, Terence Tan, Firuz Khan, He Ting Tu

Versus a weak opposition party, the NSP, who had just one strong candidate in their team, fresh face, Nicole Seah, then 23, the much stronger PAP team was only able to win with a small margin of 56.65% of valid votes in 2011.

For the coming election, the PAP team will see competition from a stronger opposition party, the WP. Plus Yee Jenn Jong nearly won in Joo Chiat SMC which has since been absorbed into Marine Parade. He is leading the WP team.

With Goh Chok Tong stepping down from the cabinet, the anchor minister for Marine Parade GRC is now Minister for Social and Family Development, Tan Chuan-Jin.

Would Tan be able to win back vote shares? Or would WP claw away more votes?

9.

Fengshan SMC

Candidates: PAP’s Ms Cheryl Chan and WP’s Mr Dennis Tan

This is a new SMC carved out from East Coast GRC, which many speculated as a move to protect East Coast GRC as Fengshan had allegedly polled poorly for the ruling party in GE2011. The anchor minister for East Coast GRC, Lim Swee Say, however, has dismissed this as untrue.

In any case, expect a keen contest between PAP and WP with a small winning margin.

Long-time grassroots volunteer Cheryl Chan is the first new PAP candidate to be fielded in a new SMC in nearly three decades, since the GRC system was introduced in 1988.

10.

Ang Mo Kio GRC

Incumbent: Lee Hsien Loong, Ang Hin Kee, Darryl David, Gan Thiam Poh, Intan Azura Mokhtar, Koh Poh Koon

Challenger: Reform Party’s M. Ravi, Gilbert Goh, Jesse Loo, Osman Sulaiman, Roy Ngerng, Siva Chandran

This GRC is helmed by none other than the current Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Hsien Loong. It is interesting how this GRC has consistently been contested since GE2006 when the WP fielded a young, untested ‘suicide squad’ led by Yaw Shin Leong, then the leader of the WP’s Youth Wing.

The PAP won with 66.14% of valid votes, lower than than the national average.

In GE2011, the PAP won with a wider margin of 69.33% of valid votes, against a motley crue of candidates, assembled last minute by the Reform Party.

The Reform Party is back again. This time with lawyer, M Ravi leading the team, featuring a roster of Hong Lim Park regulars like activist and blogger, Roy Ngerng as well as frequent rally organiser, Gilbert Goh.

Ngerng started his sociopolitical blog, The Heart Truths, in 2012. He was found guilty in October 2014 of defaming Lee Hsien Loong in a blog post. Goh is famous for the multiple ‘Say No to 6.9 million’ protests which he organised in Hong Lim Park.

All of them seem to have an axe to grind with Lee Hsien Loong.

While it is highly unlikely for the Reform Party to capture Ang Mo Kio GRC, it will still be extremely interesting to watch the group go about harassing Lee Hsien Loong at political rallies, cornering him with tough questions.

Get your popcorn ready!

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

September 2, 2015
SMU Apolitical Team GE2015 Guide Launch & Panel Discussion: First Class Voters Needed Too
On the 31th of August, SMU Apolitical team held a book launch event for its second publication titled A Guide to General Elections in Singapore (GE 2015 Edition) edited by alumnus Grace Morgan. Afterwards, a panel discussion followed the launch was graced by the following panelists:
- Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow from NUS’ Institute of Policy Studies
- Eugene Tan, Assoc Professor of Law from SMU
- Jack Lee, Asst Professor of Law from SMU
- P.N. Balji, Former editor of TNP and TODAY
This is our write-up on the points discussed by the panelists on the day, that we felt were essential and learning points relevant to what we’ve been writing on Offbeat Perspectives.

What the book covers
The booklet is a non-partisan informational guide for voters partaking in the upcoming GE2015. It comprehensively covers the terms used in Singapore’s political landscape to details of the electoral process and political parties in the field.

The booklet is the second of a series of primers introducing public law concepts to the general public in an easy-to-understand way. (directly adapted from the booklet synopsis)

Panel Discussion

Dr. Gillian Koh [Source]

Dr. Gillian Koh inaugurated the discussion with three points she feel that voters should take into consideration:
1. Matching party’s promises (from the last election) to their performance
2. Citizens’ demand for an efficient and diverse government for check-and-balance purpose
3. GE2015 may be the watershed election that will “filter” the opposition down to a few prominent parties
She recognized the pluralistic views among the younger generations, as well as the high-income and better-educated citizens, to want to have alternative voices within the government.

Also, she considered that voters’ decisions may be swayed by their emotions during the rally experiences. She explicates the rationality and the importance of looking at government’s policy development over the years to vote for the party who will be able to serve its people well.

Prof. Jack Lee [Source]

Prof. Jack questioned the ambiguous nature of politics-related laws, drawing attention to:
- Defamation Act
- Section 33 of the Films Act Ban: banning “party-political films” directed towards one’s political end (one gets charged merely having the film content to be related to politics?)
- Electoral laws and advertising (potential pitfalls for unwary parties)
He also mentioned that it is not allowed for parties or anyone from the general public to conduct opinion polls among voters to seek out information of the party they’re voting for. One-to-one message transmission is allowed but not via mass/social media. A food for thought raised by him was whether this stifles the opposition’s opportunity to garner votes.

P.N. Balji [Source]

P.N. Balji discussed about the media coverage on Singapore elections.

Firstly, he noted that the Workers’ Party received a considerable amount of media publicity during GE2011 (where it is a good situation). In years to come, media coverage will become “bolder*”.

*There weren’t any clear definition given to what it means for media coverage to be “bolder”. We interpreted that it means for mainstream media to become more receptive to cover both opposition and the ruling political parties during the election season

Secondly, the way the government manages the media sources has its impact on the professionalism and the sophistication of media content. It is also important to ensure ethical news reporting (i.e. truthful), as exemplified in the case of Chinese Daily’s wrongful allegations against WP candidate Daniel Goh [read about the case here].

Thirdly, social media plays an important role in today’s political landscape. There is an increasing number of players – some lie in the extremes (either pro- or anti-government) but there are certainly others who hold onto balanced views in their articles. The biggest problem encountered by these players is the lack of resources (manpower, time and cost) to conduct investigative journalism which is critical step to obtain objective information. There is also a lack of credible platforms for the government to put across their message to the citizens.

Balji illustrated the relationship between mainstream and independent media to be one of an interdependent one. While the independent relies on the mainstream for firsthand information like facts, the mainstream sources “surveil” and possibly model popular topics after independent sources to interest its readers.

Prof. Eugene [Source]

Being the moderator of the discussion, Prof. Eugene initiated the discussion and occasionally commented on the points mentioned by the above-panelists. He agrees with Dr. Gillian that GE2015 may see some opposition parties as being “irrelevant”, screening them down to a significant few. When asked about media, he expressed that there are “no such thing” as independent media since most of them would have to rely on funding from somewhere. He considered about the “illusion*” of independent media that most of us would have.

*The illusion wasn’t further elaborated by Prof. Eugene. We interpreted it as the objectivity of media, that there shouldn’t be a preconceived notion among us that allindependent sources are objective. Prof. Eugene added that nevertheless, we should refer to both mainstream and independent sources for information to form an unprejudiced perception of the situation.

Dr. Gillian then ended the panel discussion with some meaningful words on voting:

“What we need are first-class voters, not a first-world parliament. That would also mean we’d need to have a first class game (diversity within the government and unbiased media sources).“

Source: https://offbeatperspectives.wordpress.com
September 2, 2015
Faisal Manap: Workers’ Party Lebih Bersedia, 5 GRC Dijangka Menjadi Medan Pertarungan Panas

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.

Source: http://berita.mediacorp.sg

September 2, 2015
Workers’ Party, PAP, To Launch Rally Tonight In Radin Mas And Hougang SMC

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.

Source: www.todayonline.com

September 2, 2015
GE2015: 10 Key Election Speeches From Independence To GE2011

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.

Source: https://sg.news.yahoo.com

September 2, 2015