PAP must do more to connect with voters: Khaw

The People's Action Party (PAP) must try harder to connect with voters, said its chairman Khaw Boon Wan.

Speaking at the party's convention on Sunday, Khaw, who is also National Development Minister, said the ruling party has do better in communicating and presenting policies in a way that resonates with the people, reported AsiaOne.

He also shared the party's postmortem of this year's general election, which saw the PAP’s total share of vote fall to 60 per cent, its lowest ever.

In his written speech, Khaw said stronger mood for opposition voices, strengthening of the opposition, shift in demographics and the era of the digital age were the underlying trends in this year’s polls.

The key challenges ahead, Khaw highlighted, will be intense competition and changing the perception that the government is not listening.

"As the governing party, we are for the whole population and have to implement long-term rational policies," Khaw said.

"For the opposition, they merely criticise, advocate populist policies and appeal to emotions. They conveniently shy away from stating their position on difficult trade-offs which the government has to make," he added.

To communicate more effectively with the people, the party plans to overhaul its external engagement and outreach strategy, and be more active in listening as well as countering mistaken views.

PAP members must adjust their style to make stronger emotional connections with the people, he stressed.

To reach out to the online community, Khaw asked PAP members of parliament (MPs) and activists to make full use of online media and connect with the young.

"Ministers, in turn, must pay close attention to the political presentation and communication of our policies, so that Singaporeans can see that what we are doing, as being for improving their lives," said Khaw

"We must not turn populist, but we must work harder to build political support for hard policies," he added.

Khaw pointed out that there are more young voters now and some of them are influenced not just by what they read on the Internet, but also by a certain mood for political change. This is propagated by digital media, where anti-establishment messages are posted and translated into the physical world.

He noted that "our society has become more politicised and this has energised the opposition."

Prime Minister and party secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong echoed Khaw’s view.

PM Lee saw that as Singapore evolves, new generation Singaporeans have diverse perspectives and they will live in a new political environment that is more vocal and demanding.

Good policies will be essential, but they need to go together with good politics, PM Lee said.