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[h=1]Why does everyone want to contest Punggol East?[/h]
Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam (inset) and former Singapore People's Party candidate Benjamin Pwee are two of the six candidates contesting for Punggol East's single seat.
By Jeremy Au Yong
Singapolitics
Thursday, Dec 27, 2012
SINGAPORE - That makes it six.
With the Singapore Democratic Party announcing on Thursday that it too wants to contest the Punggol East single seat, we now have the prospect of an election ballot with half a dozen choices on it - PAP, Workers' Party, SDP, Reform Party (RP), Singapore Democratic Alliance and former Singapore People's Party (SPP) candidate Benjamin Pwee.
Two others have bowed out of the race, the SPP and the National Solidarity Party.
This time, there was no apparent discussion among the parties of who would get to contest it. The traditional pow-wow that the opposition parties have to carve up the turf before general elections has not taken place. Instead, it seems to be a contest of who can boast the best claim on the ward. To boost their credentials, RP and SDA have even started conducting visits there.
The question, of course, is why?
The same scramble did not take place when Hougang went up for a by-election so why is everyone so interested in contesting Punggol East?
Here are some possible theories:
1. The weaker WP claim: Punggol East is no Hougang. While one is a recognised WP stronghold, the other is a place where the party has little track record or brand loyalty. The new ward has only been contested once by the WP and even then it certainly appeared to be low on the their priority list. Most of its resources were focused, perhaps rightly, on campaigning elsewhere.
Then there is the question of the candidate. Does WP have a good one? One that could trump the party chiefs of the other contenders? If not, the others may feel that they can put up a better fight.
The opposition is known to take into account the strength of candidate and track record when carving up turf. On both counts here, it looks like this is a place where all the parties are starting out on an approximately equal footing.
Others may argue that since WP appeared to discount the SDA's claim on the ward in 2011, it has less clout to negotiate for others to make way.
2. Is it winnable? Mr Michael Palmer won 54.5 per cent of the vote in 2011. If the trend for by-elections hold and we assume that the opposition will make up ground, then the lead held by the PAP is a slim one. Add to that the possibility that the scandal might have eaten away at vote share, and the opposition parties may be betting on an upset.
3. Strategic bargaining: Another possibility is that many of the parties will ultimately choose not to contest. But having thrown their hat in the ring, they can use their apparent concession here for leverage the next time they are at the table carving up turf.
4. Historical legacy: If there is an by-election here, it will be a historical one. Never before has such a high-ranking PAP member had to resign in disgrace. And here is a chance for an opposition party to really rub salt in the wound. Win or lose, participants know they are going to get some good exposure simply by competing. The publicity might be even worth risking their deposit for.
Do you have a theory? Why do you think so many opposition parties are going for Punggol East? Do you think a multi-cornered fight is desirable or should one party be allowed to go in for a straight fight? Which one?
Reform Party chief Kenneth Jeyaretnam (inset) and former Singapore People's Party candidate Benjamin Pwee are two of the six candidates contesting for Punggol East's single seat.
By Jeremy Au Yong
Singapolitics
Thursday, Dec 27, 2012
SINGAPORE - That makes it six.
With the Singapore Democratic Party announcing on Thursday that it too wants to contest the Punggol East single seat, we now have the prospect of an election ballot with half a dozen choices on it - PAP, Workers' Party, SDP, Reform Party (RP), Singapore Democratic Alliance and former Singapore People's Party (SPP) candidate Benjamin Pwee.
Two others have bowed out of the race, the SPP and the National Solidarity Party.
This time, there was no apparent discussion among the parties of who would get to contest it. The traditional pow-wow that the opposition parties have to carve up the turf before general elections has not taken place. Instead, it seems to be a contest of who can boast the best claim on the ward. To boost their credentials, RP and SDA have even started conducting visits there.
The question, of course, is why?
The same scramble did not take place when Hougang went up for a by-election so why is everyone so interested in contesting Punggol East?
Here are some possible theories:
1. The weaker WP claim: Punggol East is no Hougang. While one is a recognised WP stronghold, the other is a place where the party has little track record or brand loyalty. The new ward has only been contested once by the WP and even then it certainly appeared to be low on the their priority list. Most of its resources were focused, perhaps rightly, on campaigning elsewhere.
Then there is the question of the candidate. Does WP have a good one? One that could trump the party chiefs of the other contenders? If not, the others may feel that they can put up a better fight.
The opposition is known to take into account the strength of candidate and track record when carving up turf. On both counts here, it looks like this is a place where all the parties are starting out on an approximately equal footing.
Others may argue that since WP appeared to discount the SDA's claim on the ward in 2011, it has less clout to negotiate for others to make way.
2. Is it winnable? Mr Michael Palmer won 54.5 per cent of the vote in 2011. If the trend for by-elections hold and we assume that the opposition will make up ground, then the lead held by the PAP is a slim one. Add to that the possibility that the scandal might have eaten away at vote share, and the opposition parties may be betting on an upset.
3. Strategic bargaining: Another possibility is that many of the parties will ultimately choose not to contest. But having thrown their hat in the ring, they can use their apparent concession here for leverage the next time they are at the table carving up turf.
4. Historical legacy: If there is an by-election here, it will be a historical one. Never before has such a high-ranking PAP member had to resign in disgrace. And here is a chance for an opposition party to really rub salt in the wound. Win or lose, participants know they are going to get some good exposure simply by competing. The publicity might be even worth risking their deposit for.
Do you have a theory? Why do you think so many opposition parties are going for Punggol East? Do you think a multi-cornered fight is desirable or should one party be allowed to go in for a straight fight? Which one?
