Results not a surprise: analysts

The final verdict is out – Singapore’s ruling People's Action Party is back in power after securing 81 out of 87 seats in Parliament.

But while they swept into power with a two-thirds majority in parliament, the PAP lost six seats to the Workers' Party and its share of the popular vote slipped to 60.1 per cent -- its lowest margin of victory in history.

Yahoo Singapore spoke to three analysts for their take on the results.

They are Eugene Tan, Assistant Professor or Law at Singapore Managment University, Gillian Koh, Senior Research Fellow at the Institure of Policy Studies and National University of Singapore sociologist Tan Ern Ser.

QUESTION: Are the results a big blow to the PAP?

Eugene Tan: I'm not surprised the vote share went down. It shows that Singaporeans are prepared to voice their concerns. We can see the PAP's policies may not change, but they will focus on HOW they will be implemented. For example, they would say , 'we need immigration, how do we bring in these people without making Singaporeans feel bad. How do we work towards integrating them?'...  Singaporeans will be ultimate beneficiaries.”

Tan Ern Ser: I think it did better than expected, losing only 1 GRC and 1 SMC, but overall, one could argue that there is either a significant swing away from the PAP or a swing to the opposition.

Gillian Koh: Nope. I think because of the higher level of contestation, facilitated by Lee Hsien Loong's reforms in 2009 when he spoke of lower numbers of GRCs, upped the numbers of NCMPs and wanted a government to be more representative. What we have today is partly the result of that. Opposition really rose to the occasion, put together their manifestos quite well.

QUESTION: Are WP the big winners in all this?

Eugene Tan: They were very careful and conscious, and had strategic electoral plans. It starts from walking the grounds, going down, putting candidates up… In Aljunied, they have people who can reach out to residents from all backgrounds – in their 20’s or 30’s, different races, women voters and more. They fought for the well-being of Singapore, something that Singaporeans bought into. They were able to tap on the unhappiness while the PAP government’s increasingly out of touch with the people.

Tan Ern Ser: WP has a brand name, credible candidates, and voiced issues and concerns that resonate with voters.

Gillian Koh: They strategised very well. They put their best team in Aljunied… which is quite reflective of Singapore's society. For instance, Mr Chen is well-qualified, a Singaporean who's been away for a long time. Their manifestos… cost of living issues resounded with the heartlanders. It is not surprising they won.

QUESTION: What are your thoughts on the other parties?

Eugene Tan: My sense is that all of them seem to have improved from their previous experiences. They have gained a lot of publicity – can they build on what they've achieved this GE, or will they go into hibernation?

Tan Ern Ser: The Singapore Democratic Party did better than before. It seems better organized and has attracted a bigger slate of credible candidates, while the other parties seem less able to do so.

Gillian Koh: There’s a bit of renewal in the Singapore People Party, they’ll be able to attract new candidates. SDP has somewhat rebranded itself – more competitive, focused on civil rights, broader appeal to the broader masses. I’m also glad to see the emergence of RP.

QUESTION: So George Yeo’s ousted and Tin Pei Ling’s in – the irony of the GRC?

Eugene Tan: That's the name of the game. So the WP decided to field their dream team where George Yeo is. That's how the game is played. Tin Pei Ling has got work cut out for her. Singaporeans are going to watch her performance, so will her party. Now that she's newly elected, we should let her prove her worth, I don't think we should judge her. Reports were blown out of proportion previously, that’s the power of new media – it can boost your reputation and take it down. We shouldn't go on a witch hunt, let the MPs get on with their job.

Tan Ern Ser: Without referring to any candidate in particular, I would argue that the GRC system is a double-edged sword.  It can allow an untested candidate to get elected, but it can also result in the defeat of a whole slate of "heavyweights" and "non-heavy weights".  However, thus far, the probability of the latter occurring has been rare.

QUESTION: What possible roles do you see for George Yeo?

Eugene Tan: I really have no idea. I think that's more for George to answer. We can be sure he'll continue to contribute in various ways.

Tan Ern Ser: I do not know if our constitution allows for a nominated minister.  If not possible, he could become a senior adviser for foreign affairs.

QUESTION: Over 1.8 million voters went to the polls out of the total electorate of 2.3 million. What happened to the rest?

Eugene Tan: The turnout was about 83% when I last looked at the figures. I didn’t think it was that bad, except for Joo Chiat perhaps. But I don't think the missing votes would have changed the result. There could be various reasons, Singaporeans travel a lot.

Tan Ern Ser: Are there really so many missing?  If so, these could be people who think that their votes don't matter much, or they are apathetic, or they do not want either party. 

Gillian Koh: I think something we noticed was the low turnout in some of the big GRCs. What happened to those Singaporeans?

QUESTION: With this breakthrough in a GRC, what lies ahead for Singapore?

Eugene Tan: I hope Singaporeans will continue their active involvement in politics. Obviously, we don't expect people to be this interested after the GE, but we should continue to demand a lot from politicians, whether it’s the ruling party or opposition. We get the government we deserve. What's really interesting to see is how all the parties will react after this. What will they make of the voters' views and verdicts? A lot of it depends on what they do from now till the next election, and it also falls on the Singaporeans to keep politicians on their toes, not just during the GE but on a continual basis.

Tan Ern Ser: If the WP continues to gain momentum, it could establish a sizable presence in Parliament and perhaps the beginning of a two-party system in future.