Like I mentioned in my previous posts, the Social Media made a huge contribution in opening up channels for Singaporeans to voice their opinions and share their sentiments. As result, many Singaporeans are no longer politically apathetic and unafraid to express their views.
Besides actively lapping up the latest tidbits online, I decided to make my own not-so-subtle stand and was dressed in blue for the entire period from the close of Nomination Day right up Polling Day. I’d also bought two baby-blue tops when I ran out of light blue clothes.
Before I was given the ballot paper, I presented my identification card to the officer who checked my name against the registered voters and crossed it out. Then he wrote my serial number on the ballot sheet and read out my name loudly. He handed over the ballot paper and another officer lead me to the triangular-shaped booth where I was to mark a “X” on the names of the candidates and political party they represented. Coincidentally, we’re all Aljunied voters and our constituency is the most keenly watched this elections because the opposition party contesting in our area is none other than Workers’ Party (WP) led by Secretary-General Low Thia Khiang.
There wasn’t much of a queue and we were all done in less than 15 minutes. As we weren’t allowed to use our phones within the area (lest the secrecy of our votes is compromised), I didn’t manage to snap any pictures.
Needless to say, I was restless the entire day and kept checking the clock. Many Singaporeans, including myself, wanted more alternative voices and the elections was the simplest way get our message across.
At 9.30pm, I plonked myself in front of the TV and waited eagerly for the official results as stations began their “live” broadcast of the elections. My laptop was on and the tweets came in fast and furious, with “sources” on the ground releasing the results way before the official results were announced.
Unfortunately my younger daughters Wen and Wei couldn’t have chosen a better time to fall ill and they both took turns to develop fevers sporadically from morning till night, hitting 38.5 degrees! :(
I was certainly hit by election fever, sponging them and checking the tweets intermittently.
Before midnight, the Internet was abuzz with news of a historic victory pulled off by the WP at Aljunied. The previously impregnable fortress of the GRC system was in danger of being breached. But I didn’t want to believe anything that’s not official so I patiently waited while checking the girls’ temperature, surfing the net and gluing my eyes to the TV set simultaneously.
Across the main road from my home is Hougang Stadium where are the ardent WP supporters had gathered since early evening while they wait in anticipation. Occasionally the peace of the still night was interrupted by cheers. Even with the air conditioner on and windows closed in my bedroom, I could still hear the chants and whistles.
Then suddenly Robocop Elections Returning Officer Extraordinaire Yam Ah Mee appeared on screen and I held my breath as he oh-so-slowly delivered the news the entire nation was waiting for. His deadpan delivery gave away nothing as he monotonously read the statistics and results:
WP (54.7%) : PAP (45.3%)
WOOOOOOOOOOOO-HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!
What a historic victory by WP! The team had wrestled Aljunied GRC away from the PAP – a first ever GRC win since the time GRCs were introduced. Party Chief’s Low Thia Khiang’s biggest political gamble paid off when he left his stronghold of Hougang in the hands of his trusted protégé Yaw Shih Leong to lead his A-star ensemble of party chairman Sylvia Lim, corporate lawyer Chen Show Mao, postgrad law student Pritam Singh and family counsellor Faisal Abdul Manap. They trounced the PAP’s team helmed by Foreign Minister George Yeo, Second Minister for Finance and Transport Lim Hwee Hwa, potential Parliamentary Speaker Zainul Abidin Rasheed, Grassroots veteran Cynthia Phua and rookie Ong Ye Kung.
Naturally, Hougang Stadium erupted with thunderous applause as rapturous roars echoed within the vicinity. If my girls hadn’t been down with fever, I’d have been there jostling with the crowd and joining in the celebrations. And I'm proud to have contributed to Singapore's history.
The various opposition parties made several in-roads in GE 2011 and although they only won 6 seats out of 87, it’s the best showing by the Opposition since Singapore’s Independence in 1965. On the other hands, PAP's approval ratings slipped, having garnered only 60.1% of total votes cast.
If only veteran Opposition Leader Chiam See Tong and his Singapore People’s Party (SPP) managed to defend their 27-year-helmed ward of Potong Pasir. Instead, Chiam opted for a similar tactic to WP and left his stronghold to contest in a GRC. They lost the GRC and was narrowly edged out by merely 114 votes to PAP’s Sito Yih Pin.
Such a slim margin of defeat. *Sigh*
GE2011, aptly touted as a watershed election, proved to be a huge wake-up call for PAP as they never expected to lose a GRC and in the process, three ministers, potential 4th generation leader and grassroots veteran. Unlike the pioneer generation of no-nonsense PAP leaders before him, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's softening towards the end of the campaign signalled that he's now more willing to make listen, compromise and accommodate the needs of the people.
The wheels of change have been set in motion and things can only get better for Singapore in the long run.
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