Tan Cheng Bock's take on the Punggol East BE result. Dr Tan remains our greatest hope to win the next Presidential elections in 2017. From the Punggol East BE result, there is a good chance that the PAP will lose their 2/3 majority in 2016. This makes the Presidential Elections in 2017 a critical milestone in the run up to 2021. I hope Dr Tan continues to stay active and is a candidate in the 2017 Presidential elections.
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Punggol East by-election. I got it wrong.
https://www.facebook.com/TanChengBock
On nomination day when l saw there were 4 candidates my immediate reaction was a repeat of the President election. It was going to be a close fight. However the result proved me wrong.
WP’s Lee Li Lian won a handsome victory of 54.5% and PAP Dr Koh managed 43.7%. She had come from behind to gain a swing of 13.5% from her previous 41% defeat in 2011. This is remarkable. The other 2 candidates did badly and both lost their deposits. What does this show?
The voters of Punggol East have sent a clear message that they want the WP’s Lee Li Lian and will not be distracted by the presence of 2 other opposition candidates. There was no splitting of opposition votes.
While the by-election effect would favour the opposition, the announcement of measures to improve transport, health care, housing and baby bonus did not excite the electorate. Perhaps they concluded that these measures would be implemented whatever the outcome.
PAP did put up a candidate with strong academic credentials but the people better empathise with Lee Li Lian, the typical heartlander who is less successful academically than Dr Koh and can identify with her as someone who had to struggle hard to make it
Ground sentiment is important. There is a growing wish for more opposition in parliament. In spite of the PAP and Reform parties’ attacks that the Workers Party MPs have not performed, the people perhaps decided that it is still their better bet and threw their support behind WP.
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Punggol East by-election. I got it wrong.
https://www.facebook.com/TanChengBock
On nomination day when l saw there were 4 candidates my immediate reaction was a repeat of the President election. It was going to be a close fight. However the result proved me wrong.
WP’s Lee Li Lian won a handsome victory of 54.5% and PAP Dr Koh managed 43.7%. She had come from behind to gain a swing of 13.5% from her previous 41% defeat in 2011. This is remarkable. The other 2 candidates did badly and both lost their deposits. What does this show?
The voters of Punggol East have sent a clear message that they want the WP’s Lee Li Lian and will not be distracted by the presence of 2 other opposition candidates. There was no splitting of opposition votes.
While the by-election effect would favour the opposition, the announcement of measures to improve transport, health care, housing and baby bonus did not excite the electorate. Perhaps they concluded that these measures would be implemented whatever the outcome.
PAP did put up a candidate with strong academic credentials but the people better empathise with Lee Li Lian, the typical heartlander who is less successful academically than Dr Koh and can identify with her as someone who had to struggle hard to make it
Ground sentiment is important. There is a growing wish for more opposition in parliament. In spite of the PAP and Reform parties’ attacks that the Workers Party MPs have not performed, the people perhaps decided that it is still their better bet and threw their support behind WP.
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