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http://www.zaobao.com.sg/special/singapore/ge2006/pages/ge060520.html
"Obsession" with the opposition on the Net
The
2006 General Election would be a new
watershed in Singapore's political history, so
said then prime minister Goh Chok Tong at the end of 2000.
Looking back at the just-concluded GE, it is indeed a watershed in more ways than one.
From the ruling party's perspective, it means a new and strong leadership will be fully responsible for governing Singapore.
Besides, about 60 per cent of voters in this election were born before Independence while the rest are post-65ers.
Of the slate of 24 new candidates unveiled by the People's Action Party, half were born after 1965. In other words, the new faces represent both the older and younger generations of Singaporeans.
The opposition Workers' Party fielded mainly young candidates who are "not afraid to die" to contest in three Group Representation Constituencies. They lost but put up a credible performance by securing a good overall percentage of votes.
From the voters' point of view, the role of the Internet in the election can also be seen as a turning point.
The influence of technology and creativity during the hustings may not have been felt strongly by the political parties or traditional media.
But to the latter, the phenomenon can also be considered a watershed in that it will, in future, face more challenges from the new technology which can have a major impact on elections.
Compared to the functions and contents of the Internet as a new medium, the usually cautious traditional media is no longer adequate in the eyes of many.
Through the fast and limitless reach and the convenience of anonymity in cyberspace, e-mail, podcasts and blogs have displayed tremendous influence, allowing Genext, or the younger generation and computer geeks to witness election campaigning in a way that is different from previous elections.
For older voters, the feeling is that this election was more open and also fairer. The fear of voting for the opposition had also diminished.
The perception of some young first-time voters, however, is that coverage by the mainstream media was less than balanced and tended to favour the ruling party. Hence the sense of mission among some netizens to report the "truth".
On the same night that an opposition rally ended, one could read blogs that come complete with comments of spectators, photographs and recording of the speeches made. One could "virtually" be there, so to speak.
Blogs have replaced coffeeshop talk to become the platform for alternative voices in this election.
As the views of the ruling party's candidates and party leaders who helped them canvass for votes were readily available in mainstream media, what was circulating in cyberspace tended to be opinions and comments on the opposition.
The better quality of the opposition candidates this time round is the key reason why they have become the talk of the Internet.
This is especially true for the young candidates of Workers' Party who, with their professional qualifications and political views, presented a refreshing and positive image that is very different from their predecessors.
It is generally believed that the power of the Internet will not be used irrationally. Netizens appeared more taken with the improved quality of the opposition candidates than with PAP candidates who are earnest but seem to be in the same mould. Besides, they also disagreed with some of the PAP's election tactics. These prompted them to make full use of cyberspace and create waves of interest in it.
When the younger generation of voters becomes more dominant, the power of the Internet will be even more evident in the next election and it will provide greater space for discussion and debate.
Traditional media and the ruling party must start thinking seriously about how to counter the "obsession" with the opposition on the Internet and create conditions favourable for themselves.
The political landscape that we are familiar with might really change if they continue to be complacent and underestimate undercurrents which may not be obvious.
The writer is Associate Editor of My Paper, a free Chinese newspaper to be launched on June 1. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.
