Singaporeans voted yesterday in the most hotly contested election in the city-state’s history after massive turnouts at opposition rallies boosted chances that a two-party system would emerge from half a century of domination by the ruling party.
The People’s Action Party (PAP), cofounded by the late independence leader Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀) and now led by his son, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (李顯龍), was widely expected to retain a clear majority in the 89-seat parliament, but analysts said an emboldened opposition Workers’ Party (WP) — buoyed by turnouts of up to 30,000 at its rallies in contrast to weak attendance at PAP gatherings — could make further inroads after gains in the 2011 polls.
The PAP, which steered the former British colony to prosperity while using an iron fist to suppress dissent, was stunned in 2011 when its share of the vote plunged to 60 percent, its lowest ever.
Photo: Bloomberg
Government control of mainstream media was undermined in the campaign by independent portals and the opposition’s aggressive use of social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.
Polls closed at 8pm after staying open for 12 hours and voting was orderly. Results were expected by midnight.
The turnout was 93 percent in 2011. Voting is mandatory in Singapore with few exemptions.
Despite its drop in popularity in 2011, the PAP won 80 seats thanks to the block-voting system, while the WP captured seven seats, the opposition’s highest ever.
Lee Hsien Loong had staked the PAP’s fate on its record.
“In this election, we are showing a report card. We are proud of it, I hope you are proud of it, too. We are asking you for a mandate,” he said in his final election rally speech on Wednesday.
However, the WP urged voters to support the building of a robust legislative opposition to rein in the PAP and force it to reform its policies on immigration, healthcare and social security.
“We cannot allow Singapore to fall into a situation where our survival depends only on the PAP, or just on any one party,” WP leader Low Thia Khiang (劉程強) said in a campaign speech.
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