In an article on ST today (‘Ten reflections on GE 2015′, 17 Sep), Prof Tommy Koh, the Singapore Ambassador-At-Large, commented on some of the reasons why PAP won the GE in a big way.
He started his article off by relating a story on Cooling-off Day. His friend had invited him to lunch with a group of eminent Singaporeans. At the lunch, they talked about politics and he asked the group to predict the outcome of GE.
The majority said PAP’s votes would go down and predicted that the PAP would lose 1 GRC and 1 SMC. But just like the pundits and the bookies, all were wrong when the results came out.
Prof Koh then proceeded to give his 10 reflections on PAP’s, in his own words, “surprising and extraordinary” victory:
1, SG50 – It helps to increase the popularity of the PAP at the polls.
2. THE LEE KUAN YEW FACTOR – Mr Lee’s passing triggered a spontaneous outpouring of feelings for him by Singaporeans. Singaporeans acknowledged that the success of Singapore was due, in large part, to the vision, courage and determination of Mr Lee and the other founding fathers. Some of these goodwill for Mr Lee had also helped PAP at the polls.
3. FEAR OF A FREAK ELECTION – All seats were contested in this GE, making it possible for PAP to warn Singaporeans against a freak election. Singaporeans want a credible, constructive and responsible opposition in Parliament, but also want PAP to continue to form the government. Singaporeans fear that the fragmented oppositions were not in a position to form a government.
4. THE SILVER VOTE – The Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life, and the Silver Support Scheme have helped to win the hearts and minds of senior citizens. Prof Koh thinks that the majority of half a million elderly voters (age over 65), would have voted for the PAP.
5. REMEDYING THE PAIN POINTS – PAP has brought relief to three of the pain points that emerged in the last GE:
Housing – increased the supply of public housing, and cooled the overheated property market
Immigration – reduced the intake of foreign workers
Transport – Although trains still break down but more buses have been employed to relief the situation
Of the 3, PAP has brought relief to two-and-a-half of them. The electorate, which is fair-minded, has therefore decided to reward the PAP for having listened to its concerns and for responding to them, Prof Koh said.
6. THE CHALLENGE OF INEQUALITY – Introduction of schemes like Workfare and the Progressive Wage Model have helped. Govt has also opened two schools for students who failed their PSLE. It has upgraded the quality of technical and vocational education offered by ITE. It has introduced a new educational initiative called SkillsFuture, based on the successful apprenticeship system in Germany and Switzerland. It has expanded its support for early education.
PAP Govt was given much credit for the many initiatives it has taken to address the problem.
7. CREDIBILITY OF THE WORKERS’ PARTY – Although the WP has rebutted the PAP’s allegation on AHPETC issue, the exchange left some voters in doubt about WP. This factor could have explained the loss of Punggol East, the drop in votes in Hougang and Aljunied GRC, and its failure to capture East Coast GRC and Fengshan SMC. Prof Koh said it’s important for the WP to clear its name, and to restore the electorate’s faith in its competence and integrity.
8. PAP’S ELECTORAL STRATEGY – PAP devoted more manpower and resources to door-to-door campaigning and retail diplomacy. The party also decided to capitalise on the popularity of PM Lee by putting up his poster in every constituency. It was a gamble but the PAP strategy seemed to have paid off.
9. AN INSECURE WORLD – Sentiments of the electorate have always been affected by the external environment, Prof Koh noted. In this GE, the PAP’s narrative about the terrorist threat from ISIS and the uncertain global economy worked to its advantage.
The Voice of Reason
Finally, Prof Koh saved the best of his 10 reflections to the last – the voice of reason.
Of all the PAP leaders, Prof Koh singled out only DPM and Finanace Minister Tharman for being model leader.
“I am glad that the PAP leader whose team scored the highest popular vote of 79 per cent was Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He was always calm and measured,” Prof Koh Said.
“He never uttered an insult or a threat. Instead, he explained the PAP’s policies and rebutted the alternatives put forward by the opposition in a clear and rational way. He was intellectually brilliant but came across as humble and open-minded.”
In other words, DPM Tharman never engaged in personal attacks in this GE, unlike some of the other PAP leaders, including some of the up and coming younger ones like Sim Ann, who had attacked SDP Dr Chee voraciously.
In his final words in the article, Prof Koh said, “I hope other politicians would seek to emulate him (DPM Tharman).”
He started his article off by relating a story on Cooling-off Day. His friend had invited him to lunch with a group of eminent Singaporeans. At the lunch, they talked about politics and he asked the group to predict the outcome of GE.
The majority said PAP’s votes would go down and predicted that the PAP would lose 1 GRC and 1 SMC. But just like the pundits and the bookies, all were wrong when the results came out.
Prof Koh then proceeded to give his 10 reflections on PAP’s, in his own words, “surprising and extraordinary” victory:
1, SG50 – It helps to increase the popularity of the PAP at the polls.
2. THE LEE KUAN YEW FACTOR – Mr Lee’s passing triggered a spontaneous outpouring of feelings for him by Singaporeans. Singaporeans acknowledged that the success of Singapore was due, in large part, to the vision, courage and determination of Mr Lee and the other founding fathers. Some of these goodwill for Mr Lee had also helped PAP at the polls.
3. FEAR OF A FREAK ELECTION – All seats were contested in this GE, making it possible for PAP to warn Singaporeans against a freak election. Singaporeans want a credible, constructive and responsible opposition in Parliament, but also want PAP to continue to form the government. Singaporeans fear that the fragmented oppositions were not in a position to form a government.
4. THE SILVER VOTE – The Pioneer Generation Package, MediShield Life, and the Silver Support Scheme have helped to win the hearts and minds of senior citizens. Prof Koh thinks that the majority of half a million elderly voters (age over 65), would have voted for the PAP.
5. REMEDYING THE PAIN POINTS – PAP has brought relief to three of the pain points that emerged in the last GE:
Housing – increased the supply of public housing, and cooled the overheated property market
Immigration – reduced the intake of foreign workers
Transport – Although trains still break down but more buses have been employed to relief the situation
Of the 3, PAP has brought relief to two-and-a-half of them. The electorate, which is fair-minded, has therefore decided to reward the PAP for having listened to its concerns and for responding to them, Prof Koh said.
6. THE CHALLENGE OF INEQUALITY – Introduction of schemes like Workfare and the Progressive Wage Model have helped. Govt has also opened two schools for students who failed their PSLE. It has upgraded the quality of technical and vocational education offered by ITE. It has introduced a new educational initiative called SkillsFuture, based on the successful apprenticeship system in Germany and Switzerland. It has expanded its support for early education.
PAP Govt was given much credit for the many initiatives it has taken to address the problem.
7. CREDIBILITY OF THE WORKERS’ PARTY – Although the WP has rebutted the PAP’s allegation on AHPETC issue, the exchange left some voters in doubt about WP. This factor could have explained the loss of Punggol East, the drop in votes in Hougang and Aljunied GRC, and its failure to capture East Coast GRC and Fengshan SMC. Prof Koh said it’s important for the WP to clear its name, and to restore the electorate’s faith in its competence and integrity.
8. PAP’S ELECTORAL STRATEGY – PAP devoted more manpower and resources to door-to-door campaigning and retail diplomacy. The party also decided to capitalise on the popularity of PM Lee by putting up his poster in every constituency. It was a gamble but the PAP strategy seemed to have paid off.
9. AN INSECURE WORLD – Sentiments of the electorate have always been affected by the external environment, Prof Koh noted. In this GE, the PAP’s narrative about the terrorist threat from ISIS and the uncertain global economy worked to its advantage.
The Voice of Reason
Finally, Prof Koh saved the best of his 10 reflections to the last – the voice of reason.
Of all the PAP leaders, Prof Koh singled out only DPM and Finanace Minister Tharman for being model leader.
“I am glad that the PAP leader whose team scored the highest popular vote of 79 per cent was Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam. He was always calm and measured,” Prof Koh Said.
“He never uttered an insult or a threat. Instead, he explained the PAP’s policies and rebutted the alternatives put forward by the opposition in a clear and rational way. He was intellectually brilliant but came across as humble and open-minded.”
In other words, DPM Tharman never engaged in personal attacks in this GE, unlike some of the other PAP leaders, including some of the up and coming younger ones like Sim Ann, who had attacked SDP Dr Chee voraciously.
In his final words in the article, Prof Koh said, “I hope other politicians would seek to emulate him (DPM Tharman).”
