Singapore General Elections

These few days have been following very closely the election back in S’pore via todayonline. Have always not been very interested in politics and stuff all along, especially in S’pore, where the election and politics actions are always not a big surprise. This year, however, there seems to be a lot of hoo-ha about the General Election. I guess there’s a lot of factors that led to it.

Firstly, I’ve been living in Ang Mo Kio my whole life, even before I was born and I’m so used to being walked-over by the PAP. This time, there was a contest by the Workers’ Party and thus giving us AMKians a chance to vote.

Secondly, AMK is a ward held by Lee Hsien Loong, who is now our Prime Minister. Previously, he is already held in awe and at bay because he’s the son of Lee Kwan Yew, one of our fore-fathers. Now that he’s the PM, nobody is expected to contest him and win. So, this contest by WP really, really makes everyone sit up.

Thirdly, AMK is an old, old town and everyone can see how pretty and well the town is. To tell the truth, can’t really complain a lot about the PAP. They really has done a good job in AMK. We get upgrades everywhere and the blocks are always kept nice, with nice walkways and such. When your MP is such an important man in the Parliament, you can get all the funds you want for your town!

Fourthly, this is the first time that overseas voting is allowed for S’poreans overseas. This is very exciting to me cos I’m overseas! Although I didn’t register to vote here in USA, but the fact that it can be done already excites me. I didn’t do it at first cos I didn’t know how to register for it. When I figured it out, the deadline is over to register. Also, have to go all the way to Washington DC or San Francisco to vote. That’s so far. It’s a 4-5 hours drive to DC and a 6 hours plane ride to SF. If they have it at the S’pore consulate in NY, then I would definitely go for it since it’s so near. Don’t know why they don’t do that. I’m sure there’s more S’poreans in NY, CT, Long Island, Philadelphia and Boston than in DC. Perhaps cos DC is sort of a central state.

Now that the government power has been returned to the PAP, I sort of feel much safer. I am actually someone who’s very adverse to change. Coming from someone who lives so far from home for 2 years and going to move again, this may sound surprising, but it’s true. That’s why whenever the subject of moving house back in S’pore comes up, I would dissuade my parents from doing it. I just feel that since the PAP has been doing the job for so long, they know better how to do it. I may not agree with all of their policies, but so far S’pore has only been progressing, albeit, sometimes at too fast a pace. The opposition parties have not been able to show us that they can be the government and do a good job at it. I really shudder to think of the opposition taking over as government one day. Wonder if that day will come in my lifetime. I guess when, eventually, Minister Mentor Lee Kwan Yew, bless his heart, passed on, then maybe there would be a radical change in the political scene in S’pore. But until that day comes, I think the opposition has to work more on themselves in recruiting credible people and to learn more from the PAP. Most of the time, they give me the impression that they’re like children who just wants to go against their parents and criticise everything they do in the hope that one of the things would hit the mark and prove their point. Running a country is not that easy and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Having been living and travelling abroad so many years, I still think S’pore, with its many faults and rules and fines, is still a much better place to live in than the other countries. It is precisely this government that gives us the stability that other countries only crave for.

Having said that, I think the government can do more to help the average citizens. Prices are going up and up while salary tiers are going down and down. We work so hard just to maintain a basic level of living but can’t really enjoy the fruits of our labour. Most of us work till 9-10pm at night and 5-day work week is mostly a privilege rather than a given thing. Who has the time to socialise and have fun? No wonder the birth rate is going down and people are getting married older.

Well, just had a bunch of things to say after seeing the results of the election. I just hope the government will hold on to it’s promises. I really look forward to the government listening more to the average citizen on the street and helping us make life easier in S’pore.