Why Paul Tambayh's vote share in a SMC he contested previous dropped but Dr Chee's increased in a SMC he never contested before?

[True Believer]

Most residents want their MPs to look after their estate well to enhance the value of their HDB flats. They don't understand that we are actually voting for legislators in Parliament to make laws, raise issues and vote on bills. To them, the MP is like a highly paid estate manager - so if the MP is hardworking like LEH, they'll get the vote. PT is involved in teaching, doing research, seeing patients - this limits his ground work. He spends a few hours every Tue with the residents - probably not enough.

The irony is stark indeed. Dr Tambyah's global standing would likely have made him a Minister of Health elsewhere. However, in his own country - the very place he felt compelled to serve - he was not even elected when he clearly outshone his far less illustrious opponent. The residents of Bukit Panjang voted for the PAP - not their lacklustre candidate.

 

[True Believer]

9 out of 10, if you ask them if they understand what a party whip is, they will look at you and give you that WTF look ?

Up to 65% of voters asked to be whipped by the PAP for another 5 years. We could have voted 30% of the Opposition into Parliament to be a more effective check and balance to an authoritarian govt, but we chose not to.

 

[superpower]

9 out of 10, if you ask them if they understand what a party whip is, they will look at you and give you that WTF look ?

What is the point of your PAP MP speaking for you if they cannot vote against the wishes of the Party ? It's only chui gong lanpar song.

TCB was the only one who dared to abstain from voting. Even TCD didn't dare to vote against the Party whip.

Hence the need for that 1/3 oppo target in Parliament to act as a check on the PAP.

 

[True Believer]

Hence the need for that 1/3 oppo target in Parliament to act as a check on the PAP.

Groupthink is so entrenched in the SG Parliament that MPs feel compelled to prioritise the party line to maintain unity and avoid potential repercussions from deviating from it. This overshadows the specific needs and concerns raised by the MPs' residents. Too bad 65% of voters decided to sign away their freedom to an authoritarian govt that has a history of passing self-serving policies that heap hardship on the general populace.

 

[searcher1]

Bukit Panjang SMC shows that swing voters exist and good MPs get more votes​

Politics
Bukit Panjang SMC in this GE is basically a rematch of what happened in 2020. We have the same candidates, Liang Eng Hwa vs Paul Tambyah, same boundaries, and no new housing.

In 2020, LEH and PT are both new to the SMC and basically blank canvases. People vote based on what they know about the party and what they hear about the candidates. In the end, it was a 54/46 split in favour of PAP.

In 2025, PT is basically still the same guy that he was while LEH is also the same guy but with 5 years as MP to prove himself. I don't want to shill what he has done (you can google if you want to know) but he has been active on the ground and in parliament. He has shown himself to be a good MP in many people's eyes which might be why he got an 8% swing in votes.

If say hypothetically PAP fielded a new/unlikeable candidate (eg. Marshall Lim) against PT, there's a good chance the seat would go to SDP.

TLDR: The quality of PAP candidates matter too, good ones get rewarded with votes while new or rubbish candidates risk losing their seat.

If the people gave PT a chance & vote him in, they will never get to see how he perform for the next 5 years.
If PT was never voted in even once, forever PT have nothing to show the Public that he is actually capable.
Draw example from SK GRC, the Resident voted WP & realise their estate is not in shambles, they continue support WP