Good Morning Singapore!!! What a beautiful day!!!!

[kopiOuncle]

Landslide Victory for the PAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SINGAPORE: The General Election results were in stark contrast with prevailing sentiment on social media sites as well as high attendance at the rallies of Opposition parties, analysts noted on Friday (Sep 11).

Photographs of the massive turnout at Workers’ Party rallies and long lines for Singapore Democratic Party chief Chee Soon Juan’s autographs dominated social media, but results from Polling Day — the People’s Action Party (PAP) walked away with 69.86 per cent of the vote — suggest that popularity on social media does not necessarily translate to votes.

Former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Siew Kum Hong said the silent majority — those who do not express their views online — appeared to be behind the swing towards the PAP. “Since the 2001 General Election, in every election the Internet seems to always predict big advances for the Opposition, so I am not surprised by the disconnect,” said Mr Siew, pointing to the Government’s responsiveness to voters since the last General Election, thepassing of Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Golden Jubilee as reasons for the PAP’s success.

Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan felt that social media may also have played a part in encouraging undecided voters to take the flight to safety”.

“Much of social media predicted or encouraged voters to further erode the PAP’s electoral support, and I think that did cause a concern among the middle ground, whether the political realities would be radically different ... And I think there was thisflight to safety, but of course that’s also impacted upon by concerns about regional insecurities and economic uncertainties as well,” said Prof Tan.

Some of the more “extreme” messages online may have caused voters to digest the rhetoric on social media with more care, he added.

Dr Felix Tan of the SIM Global Education said social media is often used as a sounding board to “highlight problems that plague our society or a specific segment of Singapore society”. But some of these issues are “rather anecdotal and/or personalised, meaning it affects only a comparatively small segment of society and not the larger society per se”, he noted.

Associate Professor Alan Chong from the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies said the Internet as a platform is a “potential leveller of the playing field” for the Opposition. But when it comes to getting votes, the human touch may still count for more.

“If your candidates can go house to house, door to door, if he or she actually leaves a message for you to say please vote for me, I wish you well, these things can’t be done on social media,” said Assoc Prof Chong, adding that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s messages have been very effective.

“If you look at PM Lee’s messages, he appealed to the good old-fashioned advantages of keeping the PAP in power to ensure continuity in national security and economic prosperity. Some of the voters at the last minute probably thought, let’s not spoil the party, vote the incumbent. This last-minute messaging worked,” he said.

Read the original TODAY report here.

-TODAY/cy

 

[kopiOuncle]

intimidating massive rallies did not translate into votes for the opposition - predictable and no surprise

the more intimidating they are, the worse for the opposition because singaporeans are pragmatic and intelligent people

year after year, these massive rallies are just for entertainment only - majulah pap!!! majulah singapura!!!

intimidating rallies frighten away voters at the booth....

 

[kopiOuncle]

lucky to stay alive...

won by a whisker

ltk can retire - let the young turks take over. good luck.

Sylvia can fall deeper in love and get married - can retire gracefully.

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

LTK should be sent to jail. He set opposition back by 20 years with his Teochew Gangsterism and wayang over the AHPTEC issues.

 

[kopiOuncle]

the blue dot in a sea of red...

a little dressing for the salad...

 

[kopiOuncle]

a great disappointment for dr chee and his A team

but the result is predictable . the FALL GUY never really got up....

 

[kopiOuncle]

Disappointed PAP supporter after Aljunied GRC results announced.
#GE2015
tnp.sg/ge2015

..it's okay to let Aljunied stay and it's okay to let AHTC stay...

it's ok...thanks to AHPETC and all the flip flopping issues on foreign workers by an immature team...it's ok

there is still opposition in Singapore...hehe

 

[kopiOuncle]

MANDATE GIVEN: The People's Action Party won nearly 70% of votes - its biggest since 2001 - and recapturing Punggol East SMC while making inroads in almost all constituencies.

 

[kopiOuncle]

GE2015 demonstrated the adaptability of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and the resilience of the one-party system in Singapore. With their ballots, Singa*poreans have handed the PAP a strong mandate. The outcome was unexpected, as the party romped home comfortably in most contests. The swing back to the PAP was across the board, representing widespread endorsement of the party, which has governed Singapore since 1959.

 

[kopiOuncle]

How do we explain this significant, unexpected result?

First, given regional insecurities and economic uncertainty, a flight to safety” mindset galvanised voters — especially a significant middle ground of undecided ones — who opted for the tried-and-tested PAP as the best way to deal with the real threats and those over the horizon. Prior to Polling Day, there was a pervasive sense of foreboding that the PAP may see further and deep decline in electoral support. While a freak election result was not deemed to be at play, voters probably felt that a further loss of political support would be highly challenging for the PAP with regard to how it would govern in its next five-year term.



Second, the PAP has been working hard since the previous election in May 2011. There were enough hot-button issues, such as cost of living, public transport inadequacies, healthcare affordability, retirement adequacy and immigration. In pulling out all the stops to address these issues, which had caused voters to turn away from it in the 2011 election, the PAP demonstrated that it could rise to the occasion even with its back against the wall. Once again, the PAP’s track record of delivering on its promises provided a safe harbour for voters seeking atrusted and tested brand.

Third, the Workers’ Party (WP)-run Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC), which became the meme of the PAP’s campaigns, caused voters in the PAP-WP match-ups to consider closely whether the WP measured up in the task of running a town council. This titanic struggle was about driving home the grand narratives of what AHPETC ultimately represented.

For the PAP, AHPETC was about the WP’s competence, character and integrity, as well as the imperative of honest and responsible politics in Singapore. The WP portrayed the AHPETC issue as representing all that is wrong with one-party dominance as well as the supposed bullying that comes with the concentration of power and the lack of checks and balances in the system of governance.

It is clear that the AHPETC issue seriously undermined the WP’s electoral fortunes. In the final analysis, the PAP’s narrative on the AHPETC issue prevailed and resonated better with voters. This was demonstrated in the WP’s loss of support across the board — even in its Hougang stronghold and the Aljunied crown jewel — and in the PAP wresting back Punggol East.

HOW SINGAPORE IS GOVERNED WILL MATTER

The election outcome can also be explained through how voters regarded the relationship between two variables: One, the largest number of elected Opposition Members of Parliament between 2011 and this year; and two, the PAP government’s significant policy changes and how it had engaged the electorate since the previous General Election.

Given the significant electoral swing-back to the PAP, voters clearly did not see the relationship as a causal one, despite the WP’s claim otherwise. Voters saw the relationship as a mere correlation, and assessed that the PAP’s policy changes and innovations, such as the Pioneer Generation Package and MediShield Life, the several rounds of property cooling measures, as well as the efforts to deal with the public transport crunch, were largely driven by the PAP’s efforts to get things right. Singaporeans have used their votes to duly reward the PAP’s conscientious attempts to assuage their unhappiness on these hot-button issues.

Fourth, this poll appears to have conferred a strategic advantage on the PAP. In essence, Singaporeans were in a positive mood after the climax of the Golden Jubilee celebrations, fully savouring the celebration, pride, unity and reflection. The massive outpouring of emotion at the death of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew appears to have given the PAP an “LKY dividend”, made more poignant given that Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s birthday anniversary is on Sept 16. While one should not overstate the effect of the combination of the SG50 celebrations and Mr Lee’s passing, it should not surprise us that the PAP’s campaign sought to reinforce in the minds of voters the PAP’s and the late Mr Lee’s critical role in the growth and development of Singapore.

Fifth, regional andeconomic insecurities also contributed to the national swing to the PAP. The haze from Indonesia, which peaked on Cooling-off Day, was a stark reminder of Singapore’s vulnerabilities. These potential threats also helped the PAP garner support, given its strong record in national and internal security, as well as foreign relations.

Sixth, although the PAP did not carry out a campaign of particular note, the Opposition parties did themselves no favours by seeking to be even more to the left than the PAP. They assailed voters with grand schemes of more expenditures on various things such as free healthcare and unemployment benefits. Ultimately, voters carefully considered how sustainable and purposeful suchplans were and were not taken in by the political false prophets.



GE2015 did not provide a firm indication as to whether Singapore is moving away from the one-party-dominant to a two-party or multi-party political system. This time, voters did not seem to place weight on the WP’s intrinsic value as the leading Opposition party and its role in Singapore’s evolving political landscape, where the idea of one-party dominance is increasingly being challenged. Despite high expectations, the WP was not able toconsolidate and build on its gains of seven elected seats. The PAP stymied and even rolled back the WP’s gains and ascendancy.

As for the non-WP opposition, GE2015 demonstrates that itrisks becoming irrelevant in a more competitive and demanding political landscape. Singaporeans are firm that there should not be opposition for opposition’s sake.

While an aberration globally, Singapore’s one-party-dominant system, which has been in place since 1959, remains dynamic and robust. With their ballots, Singaporean voters are signalling that the PAP Government must govern with empathy and less haughtiness, and not lose the common-man touch. It is not merely about whether Singapore is well governed, but how it is governed that will matter increasingly in the years ahead.

The PAP still has lots of soul-searching to do. It has to grapple with its own instinctive quest for dominance, and balance that with the electorate’s growing belief that political competition, diversity and contestation are critical ingredients in a society at the crossroads.

The battle for the hearts and minds of Singaporeans is now concluded. Now, it is time for Singaporeans to put aside their political affiliations and work together for a better future.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Eugene K B Tan is associate professor of law at the Singapore Management University..

 

[kopiOuncle]

well done PM Lee !!!

congratulations PM Lee !!!

you did Singapore proud !!!

majulah pap !!! Majulah Singapura!!!

 

[kopiOuncle]

massive rallies are for entertainment only

they all look rather intimidating,threatening the fine and fragile social fabric of singaporeans

singaporeans are not swayed by sheer entertainment alone

well done singaporeans!!! you did Singapore proud!!!

majulah singapura!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kopiOuncle]

[video=youtube_share;XrS8yiItYS0]https://youtu.be/XrS8yiItYS0[/video]

we have done our best.....

 

[kopiOuncle]

The highs, the lows, the hustling, the support, and heart-wrenching moments. We bring you highlights and special moments from our campaign so far. We also want to take this opportunity to thank all our supporters and volunteers, we couldn't have done it without you.

Vote Workers' Party, Empower Your Future!

?#?GE2015? ?#?VoteWorkersParty? ?#?EmpowerYourFuture


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well done...

good luck.............see you at the next general election

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

Now's the time to crucify the opposition gangsters who have been loud and obnoxious. Round them all up.

 

[kopiOuncle]

PM Lee Hsien Loong , together with the members of the Party, gave a press conference after the announcement of the election results.

PM Lee: "Let us be united .. to build a bright future for all Singaporeans."

 

[kopiOuncle]

East Coast GRC results. Lim Swee Say and Team to retain their seats. "From the bottom of our hearts, thank you very much..." says Lim Swee Say in his Thank You speech #GE2015 #PAP4SG

 

[kopiOuncle]

wow!!!!!!!! PAP wins in Marine Parade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Scrooball (clone)]

wow!!!!!!!! PAP wins in Marine Parade!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can see that Singaporeans are happy not to be governed by a bunch of political gangsters

 

[kopiOuncle]

"We are very happy, at the same time we are very humbled..." - Secretary General Lee Hsien Loong in his Thank You speech - his team has just won majority votes (>78%) in Ang Mo Kio GRC.

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