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As a grassroots person, I needed to find out more about why WP lost on all fronts, including a razor-thin win against a PAP suicide-squad in the form of Yeo Guat Kwang, Victor Lye and gang. I talked to some friends over kopi this morning. Some of them voted WP in GE2011, but voted for PAP in GE2015.
Take it for what it is worth
1. To them, PAP team not considered a "suicide squad'.
It is just a PAP team. The vote count proved that most Aljunied residents did not consider them a 'suicide squad'. They very nearly won.
2. WP did not deliver on its 'First World Parliament' promises.
Swing voters were impressed with Chen Show Mao's credentials, and had very high expectations for him. But his performance over the past 4 years in Parliament ranged from dismal to average. Nobody they knew said Chen Show Mao's performance was good. Some even said NCMPs like Gerald Giam gave them a better impression.
There was also very little semblence of the First World Parliament that Low Thia Khiang promised. WP seem muted in Parliament, and a lot of the hard questions raised were done by non-partisan activists, not WP MPs.
They all agreed that the better performing WP MPs were Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim, which in a way, was disappointing, given the hype over Chen Show Mao. Pritam and Faisal's performance in Parliament were so-so only, and would not give WP any advantage.
3. WP too cocky
And we all thought only PAP was cocky. Some of my swing voter friends were put off by the way WP supporters and WP candidates hinted about conquering Fengshan, East Coast and Marine Parade. On the other hand, PAP supporters didn't crow so much about extinguishing opposition wards.
4. International/regional politics
It may have been something we all missed, but some of my swing voter friends pointed out that during the election hustings, Malaysia hinted at cutting off our water supply and Indonesia wanted to take back the Batam airspace. They were also looking at the Bersih protests and the UMNO's counter protest by the Red Shirts. And my swing voter friends wondered if WP can handle our regional politics to protect Singapore from being bullied by Malaysia and Indonesia.
5. Town council issue
My swing voter friends were satisfied that WP town council generally did an okay job. They also believe that WP is not corrupt. But they felt that WP made a mess of the town council and got away on a legal technicality. No one will go to jail, but people are pissed off that you got away on a legal loophole. Shanmugam reminded the voters that the High Court did rebuke WP town council for the mess they made. Unless you want to go down the road and say High Court is partisan, if not, this matter it seems PAP got the upperhand after all.
Voters in Singapore are very pragmatic. Until you show that you can run a town council better than PAP, they are not ready to let you goggle up more town councils and set yourself on a course to provide an alternative government.
As for Chee, they won't forgive Chee because they were all old enough to remember how Chiam rebuked Chee in Parliament for ousting him from SDP. They may not vote for Chiam, but they have tremendous respect for him nonetheless. They don't respect Chee. Till today, they are suspicious of Chee's intentions.
That's some feedback from my grassroots sources over some kopi.
Take it for what it is worth
1. To them, PAP team not considered a "suicide squad'.
It is just a PAP team. The vote count proved that most Aljunied residents did not consider them a 'suicide squad'. They very nearly won.
2. WP did not deliver on its 'First World Parliament' promises.
Swing voters were impressed with Chen Show Mao's credentials, and had very high expectations for him. But his performance over the past 4 years in Parliament ranged from dismal to average. Nobody they knew said Chen Show Mao's performance was good. Some even said NCMPs like Gerald Giam gave them a better impression.
There was also very little semblence of the First World Parliament that Low Thia Khiang promised. WP seem muted in Parliament, and a lot of the hard questions raised were done by non-partisan activists, not WP MPs.
They all agreed that the better performing WP MPs were Low Thia Khiang and Sylvia Lim, which in a way, was disappointing, given the hype over Chen Show Mao. Pritam and Faisal's performance in Parliament were so-so only, and would not give WP any advantage.
3. WP too cocky
And we all thought only PAP was cocky. Some of my swing voter friends were put off by the way WP supporters and WP candidates hinted about conquering Fengshan, East Coast and Marine Parade. On the other hand, PAP supporters didn't crow so much about extinguishing opposition wards.
4. International/regional politics
It may have been something we all missed, but some of my swing voter friends pointed out that during the election hustings, Malaysia hinted at cutting off our water supply and Indonesia wanted to take back the Batam airspace. They were also looking at the Bersih protests and the UMNO's counter protest by the Red Shirts. And my swing voter friends wondered if WP can handle our regional politics to protect Singapore from being bullied by Malaysia and Indonesia.
5. Town council issue
My swing voter friends were satisfied that WP town council generally did an okay job. They also believe that WP is not corrupt. But they felt that WP made a mess of the town council and got away on a legal technicality. No one will go to jail, but people are pissed off that you got away on a legal loophole. Shanmugam reminded the voters that the High Court did rebuke WP town council for the mess they made. Unless you want to go down the road and say High Court is partisan, if not, this matter it seems PAP got the upperhand after all.
Voters in Singapore are very pragmatic. Until you show that you can run a town council better than PAP, they are not ready to let you goggle up more town councils and set yourself on a course to provide an alternative government.
As for Chee, they won't forgive Chee because they were all old enough to remember how Chiam rebuked Chee in Parliament for ousting him from SDP. They may not vote for Chiam, but they have tremendous respect for him nonetheless. They don't respect Chee. Till today, they are suspicious of Chee's intentions.
That's some feedback from my grassroots sources over some kopi.
