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    Heavy loss to my Cabinet: PM Lee

    PM Lee's PAP party is returned to power by 60.1 per cent of votes -- the lowest winning margin since independence. (AP photo)PM Lee's PAP party is returned to power by 60.1 per cent of votes -- the lowest winning margin since independence. …
    PM Lee Hsien Loong says losing Aljunied GRC is "a heavy loss to my Cabinet."

    Speaking at a People's Action Party (PAP) press conference after GE results were announced on early Sunday morning, PM Lee said the losing PAP team led by Foreign Minister George Yeo was made up of "five good men and women".

    Besides Mr Yeo, the team that lost to the Workers' Party team included two ministers -- Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Zainul Abidin Rasheed and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua -- as well as Cynthia Phua and promising new candidate Ong Ye Kung.

    PM Lee, who is the PAP's secretary-general, said, "Aljunied put up a strong fight, but we were disappointed that the PAP lost not just over the last nine days, but for the last five years and even longer. We were disappointed but respect the voters’ decision."

    He said he had spoken to Minister Yeo over the phone and that "he has accepted the voters' decision."

    Although the PAP won 81 out of 87 seats in Parliament , the ruling party were returned to power with the lowest overall margin of victory -- 60.1 per cent of votes -- since 1963.

    Acknowledging the strong signal that sent to his team, PM Lee promised the PAP would engage in "soul-searching" and "analyse results, improve ourselves and serve you better."

    Flanked by DPMs Teo Chee Hean and Wong Kan Seng, a solemn PM Lee said, "We hear all your voices... It is a different world and a very different Singapore".

    He added many Singaporeans wanted to see "a different style and approach in government, with a new generation who want to see more opposition."

    "It has been intense and emotional. We have heard you on issues like the cost of living, housing, about our political system and values. There has been ventilation on the frustration of aspirations in person and on the Internet," said the PM, who successfully defended his own seat in Ang Mo Kio GRC.PM Lee's team in Ang Mo Kio GRC won by a healthy margin of votes. (AFP photo)PM Lee's team in Ang Mo Kio GRC won by a healthy margin of votes. (AFP photo)

    Recognising the role of new media played in these elections, PM Lee added the electorate of today is "different, with many young voters with different educational qualifications".

    With the WP also successfully defending their seat in Hougang SMC, they will have six elected Members of Parliament.

    Two from the Workers Party, from Joo Chiat and East Coast, and Lina Chiam, who narrowly lost in Potong Pasir, are expected to form the nine Opposition voices in Parliament.

    PM Lee said he was looking forward to them "presenting, arguing, offering alternatives, to debating in a constructive manner. We encourage them to carry out their duties with diligence and dedication."

    With the Elections over, PM Lee said it is now time for the Singaporeans to "close ranks" and move forward as one.

    "There are no easy choices, and we need to find better answers and workable solutions… But the GE was yesterday. Today is already the day after... It is a time for healing...let us close ranks to secure our future together."

    Follow our full coverage of Singapore's historic election here. You'll also find us on Twitter and Facebook.

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    1,649 comments

    • Transparent  •  9 months ago
      To The Aljuinied winners, Workers' Party : Work even harder, walk and grounds and fix the problems, be reasonable, don't fight the PAP for the sake of fighting, if they are right, give them credit. As for PAP, people don't vote for you don't mean you squeeze them. Be gracious and generous and win them over. Be humble and sincere. Citizens pay money so even if they don't vote you, you must allow them to upgrade and don't alienate them. If not, people have pride. They can die die stick with opposition party because they will feel you discriminate against them. They would rather suffer than get humiliated.

      I learnt from my grandma who often taught me,"You can be poor but you must be poor with dignity. If you are rich and you are not dignified, you are poorer than the poorest men on earth."

      Some ministers are like that - Poorer than the poorest because they don't know how to respect people. No love inside them.

      I am just very, very sad George Yeo loses. He's a graceful, gracious man. All because of the stupid GRCs formulated by the Papayas. Very unfair to Geroge Yeo ! People like MBT, GCT should get out instead.
    • Teo  •  9 months ago
      dear PM Sir

      transparency starts with Parliament Debate. Will you open up for us to see what really happen? This provides equal accountability of both ruling and opposition party
    • chong  •  9 months ago
      PM, Please be informed to change the image to your MPs. I hate to see MPs sitting at the back of the parliment each time when opposition speech and will shows their mockery or whishper behind the scene or laughing. Perhaps, You don't noticed this because you are sitting in the front. Ask them to behave properly in the parliment. This is my personal observation and feedback to you. Wish to see this first change.
    • Aigoo  •  9 months ago
      I feel that ---- was good at his job. MBT should have been the one to take the hit. He should give his salary to ----. To all MBT supporters..... remember, MBT was not the one who created HDB but he was the one who created expensive PUBLIC HOUSING flats.
    • Donald  •  9 months ago
      I'm going to regret and repent if the Gov is not looking the issue like housing, electricity and water bill, medical cost (that can kill us) and food (how much cost for 3 meal). Life is hard so have to move on that is life and learn within our mean. SAD....
    • WAKE UP  •  9 months ago
      I hope our PM will appreciate the voice of the people - reshuffle the cabinet & remove some of the unfavourable ministers. I believe there are many better candidates in the PAP.
    • Suakoo  •  9 months ago
      Proof: GRC system is NOT necessary:
      PAP claims that the GRC system is necessary in order to ensure that we have minority-race MPs.
      Mr Lee recently mentioned that they have a test case this election: a minority-race candidate in a SMC.
      Well, he (the minority-race candidate) won.
      PROVEN: minority-race candidates do NOT need GRC to be elected.
      Therefore the stated reason does not stand.
      Time to dismantle GRCs.
    • LW  •  9 months ago
      The biggest losers are the folks under TPL.
      You got a MP who nearly sunk a team led my SM, flout the rules, low EQ, speaks like a brainwashed robot and is evidently grossly immature for a 27 year old MP.
    • Janette  •  9 months ago
      If PAP really "hears" the common singaporeans' problems, then people will return to your hug in 5 years time if NOT i can't imagine the consequences in the next election.

      Please look into the policies carefully, what that is really good for the country in your big picture may help the economy in a way but making life harder for the middle and lower class.

      Medical, education, employment, housing and Accepting of Foreign Talents are issues that need to be review seriously.

      Please prove to us that you really cares for us.

      JIA YOU
    • yim  •  9 months ago
      Quite dissapointed at JooChiat having just lost by 1% only, I doubt Chales Chong can deliver there. He has speech problem and arrogant. Hopefully Yee will win back next election. Yee is more down to earth person and well known in Joo Chiat.
    • Perpetuate Kindness  •  9 months ago
      hope every MP, regardless of party, will use parliament for healthy, constructive debate, for the sake of Singapore, not for pride, party or pocket.
    • Build to Wait  •  9 months ago
      It pains me to see MAH bOW TAN is still in-charge of our HDB policies. THe young Singaporean couples will need to wait 4-5 years for their BTO and forget about buying resale flats. That's your lot in life. To 5 more years of suffering.
    • PixieSparkleBaybee  •  9 months ago
      PAP should not only relook at all the policies. They need to do some spring cleaning. Bad unpopular ministers out, good ministers stay. PM should know who these people are.
    • ben  •  9 months ago
      It is time for a change, but at the expense of Mr George Yeo is pitiful. Mr George Yeo has done great works but what has MBT done in these 5 years? MBT has created sorrows to Singaporeans with his ideas and changes to HDB prices and rules. We would rather see MBT leave than to see Mr George Yeo leave.
    • hermitmount  •  9 months ago
      To HonourPrime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Since living in the same old flat for 35 years, we still saw no improvements of the RC Members behaviours. Many behaved as though they are "BIG SHOT"in their estatesand very ill manners.

      Singaporean can own only 1 HDB flat but this RC member owned another flat not to live in but rented out to foreigners. So he had breached the rules, and until now no actions taken against him. So where is the corrections to right this RC Member's abuses. As the results of that, we Singaporeans living in the HDB flats had no deep respects for RC people. This groups are also a menances in your founding party. So it is time to boot them out soonest and actions against the culprit as soon as possible. We hope your actions work louder than word spoken. Thank you for your immediate action. cc Also attention to HDB & CPIB
    • lowcut  •  9 months ago
      Dear PAP,

      Count yourself lucky, please..
      You could have loses more, wake up for the next 5 years or more to come.
      Yet, MBT's accountilibilty is not accounted for but don't thnk times will fade it away.
      We still demend an answer.

      If you are still sleeping, I urge to to wake up and wash up your face.
      This serve as a warning to you if you think PAP rules...

      Again, I must say, get MBT accountable or more justice will comes...
      Hear it or leave it, up to you....
    • Jake B  •  9 months ago
      "We hear all your voices" ... really?!?!?
      (Just remember one simple fundamental .. Singaporeans needs must come first)

      There are a lot of things that you can do off the bat ... to make good your promises:
      1. Stop giving free schorlarship to foreigners ... take care and train our youngs .. they are the life-blood of our future. Foreigners are just here to suck up the benefits .. they do not have plans to settle here. Why should they .. even the citizens are apprehensive of the government, if they convert, they will just be in the mess with the rest of us.
      2. Take care of our old. Remember the stupid remarks about dumping our aged to JB ... burn it in your brain. If an act is not acceptable for you to do it to your own parents .. then don't be an idiot and recommend it to others. You are paid highly to come up with proper solutions.
      3. Understand the difference between white collar jobs and blue collar jobs!! Blue collar jobs might be getting the wages depress ... but white collar jobs FTs are pushing the wage baseline because of all the bogus qualifications negotiated by the FTs. PUT IN BETTER AND A MORE ROBUST SCREENING PROCESS because there are just too many "faked talents" here ... level up th eplaying field ... these are bad for both Singaporeans and Singapore!!! Deploy "Singaporeans First" recruitment policy .. and start that with the Civil Service!!!
      4. (Rather than say sorry that a percentage of S'poreans are slipping through the bureaucratic cracks) ... Make sure your people have a roof over their heads, food in our stomach, secure jobs for us, health care we can actually afford.
      5. STOP MAKING MONEY OFF YOUR OWN PEOPLE!!! Utilities, transport, healthcare, GST on food essentials ... these are our basic needs.. why are you profiteering from your people?!?!

      Listen to the oppositions .. they have really good ideas you can leverage on.
    • Alwin  •  9 months ago
      PM, you heard from ppl, who should have been voted in and who shouldn't have

      GRC systems MUST changed
    • Seb  •  9 months ago
      I am one of the 40% who voted for change! Although I feel cheated but I understand the will of the majority. Nevertheless, LHL needs to be doing some soul searching and I am sure he will. Much has been said about his ministers and their incompetence, eg. VB, MBT, WKS etc. He has apologised but now he needs to do something about his apolo----. It cannot be business as usual.
      In this soul searching LHL, can I suggest you also include the PAP grassroots, RCs etc. Did these people really give you and the MP good feedback? Did these people themselves walk around with a swagger and talk to the residents with contempt? Did they gloss over the issues of the people and paint you a tainted picture of reality? How? Whenever you and your entourage come around, its very well announced, 3 or 4 days before you show up, the place is very well cleaned and maintained, people screened etc.
      Please learn some very humble things that the earlier PAP MPs and Mr Low Thia Khiang and Mr Chiam See Tong did and still do, walk around unannounced and meet people face to face at the coffee shop, bus stop and wakes. You do this for only 3 months and I promise you your image and the image of MPs and ministers will improve...if not suffer humiliation in 2016.
      Then again, knowing the PAP you will engineer it in such a way to bring in all the FTs who will eventually vote for them and we the citizens will become second class.
    • Noni  •  9 months ago
      Because of GRC system, good mp like george yeo is out and people like Tin Pei Ling is in, what a world. How nice if they can swap George Yeo and replace TPL...sigh