GE2015: Tears and cheers in Potong Pasir

An elderly man holding a Singapore People’s Party (SPP) flag could not hold back his tears as he greeted Lina Chiam who was standing in an open-top truck at Toa Payoh Lorong 8. In response, the SPP chairman gripped his right hand and patted his cheek to console him.

It was a poignant moment of the party’s procession in Potong Pasir on Sunday morning (13 Sep) that exemplified the disappointment felt by its supporters after Chiam lost in the Single-Member Constituency (SMC) to the People’s Action Party’s Sitoh Yih Pin in General Election (GE) 2015. She received 33.59 per cent of the vote share at Friday’s GE (11 Sep), a disappointing decline from a strong 49.64 per cent in GE 2011 that had helped her secure a seat as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP).

Despite not being able to return to Parliament, Chiam was in good spirits as she circled the constituency, trailed by an entourage of party members in cars who waved flags and blew whistles. Residents were seen waving from flats and coffeeshops as the SPP trucks drove by.

Chiam took to the loudhailer and told residents, "Thank you for your unflinching support. I am very grateful and indebted to the voters who have voted for me. You give us hope. You give the SPP hope to return to Potong Pasir."

The legacy of her husband and the SPP secretary-general Chiam See Tong, who was the MP for Potong Pasir from 1984-2011, still hovered in the constituency.

One emotional female supporter had chased after the SPP chairman’s entourage for some time and told her, "My husband and I have been voting for you and Mr Chiam See Tong." The two women embraced and took a photo together, with the supporter telling Chiam that she and her daughter would volunteer with the party.

The SPP also lost in the other constituencies that it contested - Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency, Hong Kah North SMC and Mountbatten SMC.

After the procession, Chiam shared her thoughts with reporters about the swing towards the PAP in the election. "I think it is due to many factors - like the LKY (death of Lee Kuan Yew) factor, upgrading, SG50, new citizens."

At the municipal level, she said that the PAP had enticed voters with promises to upgrade Potong Pasir. "The biggest carrot was the upgrading. As you can see, there are so many construction (projects) still being carried out. Also, Mr Sitoh Yih Pih was given 5 million dollars for neighbourhood renewal."

There has been speculation about her possible retirement from politics but Chiam was not ready to give a firm answer. "I think at this moment our thoughts are still fluid, and we will be taking one step at a time to see what happens," she said.

"We have a team, we do have a pipeline of talent in the SPP, and we will rebrand ourselves in terms of strategy and planning. We go on from there."

With the Chiams having invested considerable time and effort on Potong Pasir over the years, the constituency will remain core to the SPP’s future plans.

"Potong Pasir is close to our hearts. We will never give up Potong Pasir. The SPP will continue to fight another battle. Our team will be taking the necessary action to be ready for the next battle," the SPP chairman said.