Polling day reflections

I sincerely hope that GE2011 brings along a new dawn for S'pore politics and it is indeed heartening to see many fellow S'poreans getting involved in the proceedings, either from their postings online, turning up at the numerous rallies and right down to exercising their right to vote.

To be honest, I was expecting a big opposition win, from the various postings online and the conversations at the kopitiams. Not to mention, the most number of seats ever contested in Singapore's modern history.

But if you look at it, in GE2006, PAP won 30+ seats through walkovers and the opposition managed to win 2 seats. This year, we had 82 seats contested and the opposition won 6 seats. While it was indeed impressive for WP to conquer a GRC, you can do the math.

Anyway, I hope to see a more inclusive S'pore going fwd and I wish all fellow S'poreans well in the years ahead.

Till GE2016 :)

I agree with concern citizen. I am 47 years old and a avid follower of local and international politics.

I, like many baby-boomers had benefited from the stability, economic growth and opportunities afforded y the pioneering PAP leaders. My mum, who was from India, got married when she was only 17 years old, gave birth to me when she was 19, and had 4 kids by the age of 25. She is a illiterate, but together with my father, put 3 of us through university.

My late father used to describe the rampant corruption in Singapore in the 1950s, and, how difficult it was to get even a menial job. My mother's motto for voting PAP was "LKY gave me citizenship, a house, and a job..So I will vote for him". This, despite the fact that she had lived all her life in the west. At my age, I can appreciate her reasoning, though I used to disagree with her in my 20s.

However, Singapore needs to move on, and, I am afraid that the present generation of PAP leaders are not suited to lead us in the right direction. They are brilliant in terms of studies, but they lack the EQ factor, if I may used this term for lack of a better term. Singapore is vastly different from what it was in the 1950s/60s/70s/80s. Yet our leaders seem to harping back to the achievements of the pioneers as a raison de toure for their continued leadership. How can they?

Ming boggling pay, a elitist attitude, plus a total lack of empathy for struggling Singaporeans has soured even me. One glaring example is the so-called foreign talent. Truck-loads of them are coming, especially from China and India, and these people are crude, rude and utterly selfish. They look down upon us, mimicking the government line that we Singaporeans owe them a living. Since, when we did we ow them a living? Another, Lim Swee Say says that wage increment must lack productivity growth. But, how is it that political aappointees like ministers get between 2 to 3 million dollars salary annually. Where is the logic?

Unless PAP really mends it way in the next 5 years, it has set its own path to oblivion.

Poor Pioneer

I echo Miyagi's comment - time for MM and SM to look hard in the mirror, step back, step out, let PM run the show.

Look at George Yeo. How simple it would be to just keep quiet and let PAP do their magic and slot him into a comfortable role to hentak kaki for 5 years, then run for election again. But George Yeo, in his heart of hearts, knows when to "move on". He has the sincere respect of all Singaporeans.

LKY and GCT need to take a look in the mirror. Both have worked their guts out for most of their working life to make Singapore what it is today. Please do understand all Singaporeans appreciate and admire your dedication, even though it might be less meaningful for young Singaporeans who may not have understood how Singapore was in the50s to 70s. But you are in danger of outliving your repute. It's a different Singapore today, whose perception of their needs and standards are far different from the pioneering days.

just cremates and throw into singapore river,i am planning to do that for myself why wastes monies man.

why is the government continue to keep and pay MM & SM the fat salary and pension considering their irrelevant existence in parliament but give the people of Singapore only 20% rebate of income tax.. they are a liability to the country instead of asset.

It is really time for MM and SM to leave the political scene as well.... honestly they have messed up somewhat in this GE. I wish both of them a happy retirement soon..... We look forward to cheering them when that announcements are made....please dont look at the money that can be earned but at the spirit and the good of Singaporeans. Please act now! Leave honourably and earn the full respect of ALL Singaporeans.

i was very surprised at the polling results. after so much hoo ahh in the media still PAP won most of the seats. Sporeans still not ready for oppo. It will take another 20 years or so. probably the younger generation are better. I felt very sorry fot the oppo parties, they worked so hard and yet they need to wait another 5 years.

This does raise a question; if someone is mentally sound but physically unable to make a mark on paper (like Stephen Hawking, for example), can they vote? And how would they vote?

This is all about power and greed. He had once owned it and had contributed to the success of the 'credit card company', he felt powerful back then and the power still lingers on till today. It becomes an addiction. He held on so tightly and until today even he is already obsolete and no longer able to contribute effectively he still insist on holding on to it. By holding on to something no longer useful could only hinder the work of others, the credit card company has to generate zero monthly statement and mail out, the postman has to deliver and you have to clear the statements (cost incurred is higher than contribution). $40 to you probably is still not to much, but this $40 to a lot of poor people is their whole week's meal cost. POWER is scary, it leads to greed and once addicted you don't know when to stop and it may hurt people who are around you and who loves you.

Think about it, sometime you just have to tell him LET GO!

on polling day...i saw a chinese man dressing up his head like "Rambo" casting his vote with a angry vengeance expression...

It is every citizen's right to vote. Families with persons who are disable should ask the voting office to make sure provisions are made for them to vote, as with those who were overseas. Unless mentally unsound, certified so, we can all help fellow citizens to vote!
Also, election office, please do not use schools where the entrance has slopes and steps that make it hard for those who are less mobile. Should they fall, I think we should sue the elections office for inadequate care in layout preparations.

i wonder if any of you feel that its a dread of think of funeral wake expenses for our aged old parents and not to mention the urn prices etc. can the govt do something about it?

Singapore you deserve who you vote.

Go back to bed Singapore. Your governement is in control again. Here, here are Mediacorp, Straits Times, The New Paper & Singapore Idol. Forget about your rights and desensitize your sufferings watching this pictuary inconsequentials. You are free to do as told. Go back to bed Singapore and shop til you drop at your neighbourhood mall.

- Lifted and adapt from the late great Bill Hicks.

Thank you for this opportunity to make a choice for GE.

I really admire WP for their courage and persistence as reported in the chinese newspaper today (10 May 2011). The picture said a thousand words.

When the PAP abused their power, WP continued to serve the residents at the void deck, without air-conditioner, without flask, without proper cabinets to file cases. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

When the Town Council blatantly refused to provide the same place to be used, WP BUILT a place from scratch WITHOUT using tax payers money. While the existing Town Council became a white elephant gone to waste. THANK YOU WP.

Dear HDB, Town Council, People Association
Please remember that you are SERVING the residents and have NO RIGHT to reject based on this reason. Use your brains to serve and evaluate the HDB housing prices in Hougang respectfully. News have seeped out already regarding despicable acts. Do not be cowards and selfish to deprive residents of this ever again. This is absolutely childish and uncalled for.

Pre Polling, Polling and post polling days... full of memories. Many Oppositions won the hearts of the citizens and many Ministers said the "wrong" thing duing the rally. There were anger, threats and apologies. The election is over and the leading party should do damage control now that Mr George Yeo is 'leaving'. Why is TPL more deserving than Mr Yeo? Do they still want to continue to live in their own world?

All Singaporean will close ranks regardless of race, language or religion when we have a common opponent, FTs influx into Singapore.

Keep the Credit card and unsubscribe the service which no service is needed anymore, so why pay? Its a financial burden for the children to mantain. It has been keeping for too long and we the children did kept it for quite some time. Enough is enough. Can't justify to continue a no service needed subscription and also need to look out for threats of any penalty for late payment charges if didn't call up to waive the annual fee.

We just had an Election which 82 out of 87 seats were contested. PAP won 60.1 % of the votes. What does that mean? Around 2 million votes and nearly 40% for Opposition. PAP should take note that their policies does not go down well with a good number of people. There must be CHANGE or the next election will be VERY INTERESTING.

I understand your view and i think a 1st world country need a democratic society to advance where else a 3 rd world country require a 1 single strong parties to rule so that it could be more effective in ruling.

Singapore economy and people has already mature and we are near 1st world situation but our government still want the country to be in rule like any 3rd world country because it is convenient to run the country without any objection and this will benefit the government more.

As for the those who disagree for true value on democratic society are normally either PAP glass root leaders or otherwise they are either ignorance, naive, not educated people and do not understand what the benefit of democratic society can bring to it people.

The situation that recently has shown Singapore economic has grown but yet it people are not happy with the situation eg. minister is far overly paid, Public HDB or even private properties is over price, GST keep increasing without any room for deliberation is due to Singapore has not progress as a democratic society yet.
Ask yourself is US, Australia, German, or Western European countries progressed in a way that people are well taken care of and at the same time people enjoy political freedom? This is possible due the positive effect of a democratic society. I am not saying Democratic society has not flaws, but at least it will allow the people to grow together with the nation and not like Singapore, the nation has grown but it has left many of it citizen behind.
Only true democratic society can help to bridge the gap between the people and its government.

So PAP supporter, please also understand the true and benefit of democratic society before you object and make comments on why fellow singaporean choose the opposition. We need to be rationale if we want Singapore and it people to progress.. otherwise you only create unhappiness and break the Singaporeans into different parties.

A good example how a democratic society can benefit Singaporean in term of economy grow and citizen wealth together, we need to look at Hong Kong.
Does anyone know why Hong Kong does not have GST?
Does anyone know the cost of living of Hong Kong is lower than Singapore?
Does anyone know that Hong Kong public housing could be cheaper than Singapore?
Does anyone know Hong Konger on average many can retire without financial worried of their old age but Singaporean who have same qualification and profession can never?
Hong Kong political progress is more matured, has a fairer media reporting, has less dirty brainwashing tactic being applied by any political parties..
.
Hong Kong economy development and people income grow is better than Singapore.
.. so is there any problem cause to hong kong due to it democratic society that has hinder much in it economical growth?

Before anyone says two political parties system will tear Singapore apart please find out more before you comment.

Singapore has advance and its people no longer just look at bread and butter issues alone, more people also demand for a fairer system such as remove GRC and fair media reporting.
What is wrong if the opposition suggesting to have a check and balance system? In the world in fact many 1st world countries has benefit from such system too?
If Hong Kong can do it why not Singapore?
Unless Singaporean are not as rationale and civilize as Hong Konger?

if Singapore need to advance then why not now?
the majority of the population in Singapore is educated, political view is more mature.. currently many talented Singaporean had left Singapore to other first world country with good economic grow and have a democratic society..

Why cant Singapore believe in it people that we are just like any first world country that can enjoy a first world political system?

pls read more before you reject WP's suggestion. Don't object for the sake of objecting the opposition. You cant just look at surrounding 3 world countries to compare Singapore

MM, I've been supporting and admired you all along....now I have lost faith in you... for
your arrogant disrespectful attitude towards the fellow citizens....