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- May 18, 2013
- Updated: 5:41am
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The lesson of the Singapore election
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Singapore's governing People's Action Party is soul-searching as to how it could have lost another election to the opposition Worker's Party of Singapore. Saturday's by-election defeat, the second in less than a year, on top of its worst-ever general poll showing in 2011, leaves it with 80 of the 87 elected seats in parliament. The party, having dominated politics for more than half a century, is unfamiliar with losing, so is bound to put its campaign strategy under the microscope. But as much as there is a temptation to try to win back what has been lost, its energies would be more wisely directed towards how to better serve a more demanding electorate.
The ruling party thought it had done all that was necessary to win, promising policy reforms and massive public spending in the lead-up to polling day. Theories abound as to how its candidate, a noted surgeon, could have lost to a middle-class corporate trainer. Perhaps it was due to a lack of political experience, insufficient campaign preparedness or a perception of elitism. Or maybe the hot Singapore issues of housing, immigration, transport congestion and the soaring cost of living were the main reasons.
Authorities are well aware of growing discontent, especially among young voters. They have moved aggressively to cool property prices, bolster social protections and limit the number of low-skilled foreign workers. But the fast-ageing population brings significant challenges, while policies, such as providing affordable housing, take time to implement.
Policies have to be formulated with consensus in mind. Plans unveiled yesterday to beat the low birth rate and maintain growth by attracting tens of thousands of foreign professionals and granting them permanent residency have caused controversy. If successful, it will swell the population by 30 per cent by 2030, cutting the proportion of native Singaporeans from 62 to 55 per cent. Such a dramatic change requires much debate and opposition politicians have a key role.
The Achilles' heel of Singapore's political system is the lack of a strong opposition party. Effective and credible alternative voices in parliament would ensure that those in power are better attuned and more responsive to the needs of the people. Singaporeans are not clamouring for a change in power, nor is the opposition yet prepared or ready to take it. The PAP would do well to view the by-election loss as an opportunity for improvement rather than a disaster.
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5:35pm
When the 90 years old Lee Kuan Yew who is ailing finally dies, the infighting within the PAP would help it to implode. The voters of Singapore are painfully aware of the self serving policies of the PAP and their approach to Meritocracy seems to be very limited to their own Elites. And buying loyalties with big salaries and directors fees is not a solution when push comes to shove.
6:13am
Has the duopolistic system in the US led to better policies? No. It has resulted in policy paralysis.
Same in Taiwan, South Korea and Japan.
Let's not get to simplistic here.
If the dominance of the PAP has been so authoritarian, would Singapore be where she is today.
Often dubbed as the most competitive economy in the world? A key global hub of business, finance and trade?
One of the highest GDP per capita in the world?
And with a public housing ownership scheme that is the envy of many, including HK.
And of course, with an air quality that we would gladly breathe.
Checks and balances to good policy making need not be in the form of OPPOSITION and POPULIST politiking.
It's about integrity and doing the right thing.
And of course, unlike in HK, if the people feel the govt is not doing the right thing, they can vote out the govt.
Yet time and again, the PAP gets returned to power.
Do you think the PAP crafts policies in isolation without considering this reality?
8:02am
Kazu.nagai.7 you notice these:
1.fighting in the law making processes
2.president committed suicide,president jailed
3.policies debates turn sour....personal attacks....abusive languages....violence...indecent activities
4.triad activities related election
Disguised democracy not the world's norm.Deformed democracy not the norm.
7:31pm
5:31pm
The typical Singaporeans who voted for the opposition were in pain inflicted by the PAP and as such, the PAP thinks they can win these recent non-PAP voters back.
However, the trend to vote against PAP is increasing and the PAP will have a very hard time in the 2016 General Elections.
1:15pm
Only one strong opposition party? Maybe 10 strong parties opposing one another are even better. Is this a strawman proposition or a dogma of the Democracy religion?
Statement like this won't pass muster of freshman philosophy.
9:18am
