Singapore emerges victorious on Nomination Day

Faisal Wali

The 2011 General Elections prove to be unprecedented as compared to the previous editions of the parliamentary elections. Unprecedented because the type of candidates we normally associate with the ruling PAP are on the opposition’s ticket. From former high flying civil servants to former government scholars, they bring good credentials to the table and are prized catch for the opposition. It is also the first election in which social media is set to play a prominent feature. In the most popular personality in the social media circle contest, Miss Nicole Seah of the National Solidarity Party is currently the runaway leader.

The final results of nomination day indicate 82 out of 87 seats are being contested, with Tanjong Pagar GRC under Mr Lee Kuan Yew declared a walkover. The non-contest was not due to the inability to send a team to contest there but rather attributed to the fact that the Singapore Democratic Alliance was 35 seconds late in submitting its nomination papers.

That aside, the signs are there that there will be a very close fight in various GRCs and SMCs. Some observers seemed to have pinned their hopes on this election, believing that this election will be the first and final chance for the opposition to make headway. The belief is win all or failing which the opportunity is lost forever. A more optimistic view the fact that nearly all the wards save for one that is being contested is already a victory for Singapore. It is a fact acknowledged by none other than Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng himself who himself said that a contest for all 87 seats will be good for Singapore. There is a reason for this optimistic view.

The contest for all the wards or nearly all the wards save for one is a game changer especially where drawing of electoral boundaries are concerned. This is especially so this time round because high quality candidates are fielded based on the assumption that they will translate into votes. The implication is that we will witness a close contest in most if not all neighbouring wards.

If all neighbouring wards witness a close contest, no matter how the boundaries are redrawn, it will not make much of a difference. If all wards are closely contested, if, for example, one chunk from Ward A that supports a party is moved into neighbouring ward B, support is shored up in ward B for the party. However, it also means a diminishing of support for the party in Ward A. Of course, they may take out another chunk from another ward and put into A, but that translates to other wards suffering diminished support.

Thus, a close fight in neighbouring wards can be considered in a sense a victory for residents, even if the incumbent PAP wins. The higher quality opposition and the contesting of all except one ward is a game changer during this election. For one, redrawing of boundaries for whatever reasons will provide less of an advantage, and secondly, a close fight will keep the incumbent on its toes as it will want to maintain support of the residents. Ultimately, it is the residents who will benefit from better service from the incumbents determined not to lose support.

However, it is premature to conclude at this stage that none of the opposition parties contesting stand a chance of winning. The point is that all is not lost especially in the event of a close fight. Already, what is happening during the polls is a turning point and a game changer. In future elections, the ultimate winners will be Singaporeans.

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Photo courtesy of the Straits Times.