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Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao removes its poll of public views on holding an election during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic
by S.Ling
2020-03-31
4 min read
Recently, Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao posted a poll on its website, asking people, “What are your views on holding an election during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic?” Of 11,635 voters, a total of 7,859 voters (67.55%) disagree to hold the election amid the coronavirus pandemic as it would be difficult to hold rallies due to the current restrictions.
While the majority vote to disagree, 2,550 (21.92%) of those polled said that they would be open to having an election at this time as “daily life must go on”. The remaining 1,226 voters (10.54%) said that it didn’t matter to them either way.
In a separate poll by Yahoo Singapore, with the question, “Should Singapore hold a general election amid the COVID-19 pandemic?”, more than 1,100 voters (85%) of the voters answered “NO”, with only 11% answered “YES”, and another 4% said that it doesn’t matter to them.
However, the recent poll on Lianhe Zaobao is no longer on the website as seen by TOC earlier today (31 March), raising doubts on whether the site removed the poll as the results contradicted the government’s hint that an early election might be called.
TOC has reached out to Lianhe Zaobao but has yet to receive a reply.
Meanwhile, chief editor of Lianhe Zaobao, Han Yong Mei, in her article titled, “Merits of holding a GE during an outbreak” that was published on the Straits Times on 20 March, noted that the COVID-19 outbreak period may be a “critical period” for the ruling government to hold GE, “but it also presents the best opportunity”.
On the strategy taken by the government to manage the COVID-19 outbreak, Ms Han remarked that Singapore has gained international recognition, while the government has also “won more praise than criticism” within the country.
She commended the government’s ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak which “is very likely to subside” in about a month though the disease cannot be completely eliminated.
“If it is not possible to put an end to the global outbreak within a year, it will be better to hold the elections while the outbreak remains under control, rather than wait until the April 2021 deadline under the Constitution,” added Ms Han.
2020-03-31
4 min read
Recently, Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao posted a poll on its website, asking people, “What are your views on holding an election during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic?” Of 11,635 voters, a total of 7,859 voters (67.55%) disagree to hold the election amid the coronavirus pandemic as it would be difficult to hold rallies due to the current restrictions.
While the majority vote to disagree, 2,550 (21.92%) of those polled said that they would be open to having an election at this time as “daily life must go on”. The remaining 1,226 voters (10.54%) said that it didn’t matter to them either way.
In a separate poll by Yahoo Singapore, with the question, “Should Singapore hold a general election amid the COVID-19 pandemic?”, more than 1,100 voters (85%) of the voters answered “NO”, with only 11% answered “YES”, and another 4% said that it doesn’t matter to them.
However, the recent poll on Lianhe Zaobao is no longer on the website as seen by TOC earlier today (31 March), raising doubts on whether the site removed the poll as the results contradicted the government’s hint that an early election might be called.
TOC has reached out to Lianhe Zaobao but has yet to receive a reply.
Meanwhile, chief editor of Lianhe Zaobao, Han Yong Mei, in her article titled, “Merits of holding a GE during an outbreak” that was published on the Straits Times on 20 March, noted that the COVID-19 outbreak period may be a “critical period” for the ruling government to hold GE, “but it also presents the best opportunity”.
On the strategy taken by the government to manage the COVID-19 outbreak, Ms Han remarked that Singapore has gained international recognition, while the government has also “won more praise than criticism” within the country.
She commended the government’s ongoing efforts to contain the outbreak which “is very likely to subside” in about a month though the disease cannot be completely eliminated.
“If it is not possible to put an end to the global outbreak within a year, it will be better to hold the elections while the outbreak remains under control, rather than wait until the April 2021 deadline under the Constitution,” added Ms Han.
