Monday, May 9, 2011

My Home Ground, In Aljunied GRC

Lets Strive Towards A First World Parliament: WP
Press Release By The Workers’ Party.

The Workers’ Party would like to thank all voters, members, friends, volunteers and supporters who have directly and indirectly helped us in our journey towards a First World Parliament in GE 2011!
Thank you, the voters of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC for giving us your support to vote our candidates into the 12th Parliament of the Republic of Singapore.
Thank you, the voters of East Coast GRC, Nee Soon GRC, Moulmein-Kallang GRC, Joo Chiat SMC, Punggol East SMC, and Sengkang West SMC for your support during GE 2011.
Thank you, members of the Workers’ Party for your selfless sacrifice, dedication and valued contribution all these years leading up to this historic moment.
Thank you, all citizens and netizens of Singapore who have come to support us during our 8 rallies during GE 2011 in person and in cyberspace.
Let us continue to strive together, as all citizens of Singapore, towards a First World Parliament.

The Workers’ Party
9 May 2011

Source: The Online Citizen - May 9, 2011

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Singapore's general election 2011 has created history.

It should be regarded as a major opposition victory.
The opposition, the Worker's Party (WP) has made a breakthrough by capturing the Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC) under the wind of change, in the country's democratic process.

Since the first day of the election campaign, the Aljunied GRC has always been the main focus.
Aljunied was a hotly contested constituency in the elections that ended two days ago.
It attracted the attention of islandwide Singaporeans.

The mission is almost impossible.
But to WP, the possibility is tested and positively proven.
With sweetener added, winning GRC constituency means, WP has also managed to win six seats, five seats more compared to the previous general election, including the Hougang single constituency. 
WP has broken the bastion of the PAP and become the only opposition party gaining more than 40% of votes in all contested constituencies. 
It thus has become the biggest opposition party of Singapore.

Changes have become a trend in global politics, and Singapore is no exception.
Even the world's cleanest and most efficient government of Singapore could not resist it.
For sure, the political evolution of Singapore in the next five years will cast greater interest in Me.
Whether this scenario continues, remains a normal state of affairs, is left to be seen.

What 'normalcy' is to remain in a normal state of affairs, after PAP evaluates its performance?
How would the transformation be, for PAP (People's Action Party) to avoid being a political party overshadowed by the opposition?

Though PAP managed to win 81 out of 87 seats, there was massive vote swing island-wide.
There is a drop in the PAP's vote share from 66.6% in 2006 to 60.1% in this year's general election.
Its support rate has fallen by 6.46% compared to the previous general election.

The 60.14% valid votes garnered by the PAP this time is the third lowest in history, after it gained 53.40% in 1959 and 46.60% in 1963.
However, 60.14% is the lowest after the country's independence.
Before this, the worst result of the PAP after the independence was 60.97% in 1991 when it lost four seats in the Parliament.

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The loss of a well-liked Foreign Minister, two Cabinet ministers posts and a GRC is a sure sign to rattle, sending ripples to the highest order.

Most Asean ministers and leaders were 'surprised' by Foreign Minister George Yeo's defeat in Singapore's general election.
He was the highest-level casualty in Saturday's polls after losing in Aljunied GRC to the Workers' Party.

Although Mr George Yeo has lost his seat in Parliament, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong indicated that Mr Yeo's call for a 'transformed PAP' on Thursday, would not go unheeded.
Losing the Aljunied GRC to WP is PAP's historic loss, and failing to win back Hougang single seat ward, as the Prime Minister said early on Sunday, in the weeks and months ahead, PAP will be 'soul-searching and studying'.

In the weeks and months ahead, PAP will be searching for a 'formula to go forward.'
The Prime Minister showed his soft image.
He said that the government has heard the voice of the people and voters have conveyed their messages.

The voters are asking the government to change.
The PM promised that the government will improve.
The opposition will stay, to check and balance the government.

The loss of Aljunied GRC, and a well-liked Foreign Minister is guaranteed to send shiver.
The voters had showed PAP its report card.
Proven that PAP is not above changing the rules to be on the same playing field.

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Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew remarked that the younger generation 'does not remember from whence we came'.
But unfortunately, Mr Lee is no historian, studying long extinct and dead fossil.
Mr Lee is a politician.
And politicians always have to look forward for the betterment of Singaporeans.
Although his five-member PAP team was returned uncontested on Nomination Day, but the sign is for all to see.
Like it or not, Singapore is as almost truly to have entered the post-Lee Kuan Yew era.

We came from humble beginnings.
Now when we are better, with standards raised, we look at the world to access ourselves, no more confining our myopic sight to 'The Little Red Dot' we live in.
Things will change, but just hope and pray hard that every changes are towards positivity, prosperity and harmony to all mankind and breathing souls in Singapore.

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Singaporeans has lost a good minister, Mr George Yeo, because of the GRC.

Personally, it is a dilemma to Me, as we know, Singaporeans can have both a good minister and a more democratic Singapore without sacrificing nor favour anyone.
Singaporeans like stability even when voting for change.

The masses had spoken through ballot boxes.
Vote swing, a stronger opposition and Workers’ Party woke us up.
Reality laid bare in front of us.
Another two PAP heavyweight ministers, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mah Bow Tan lost a significant share of votes, compared to 2006 election.

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The Workers’ Party’s communication plan was the strongest.
WP stood above, and away from other opposition.
And it does work wonderfully on voters.

Candidate knew the party’s mission, ending every speech with a consistent  
“Vote for the Workers’ Party towards a First World Parliament”.

That line became synonymous with the party.
It became the strongest rallying cry for the election.
And they have the results to show for it.

The leader and “star appeal” has always been the Workers’ Party chief, Mr Low Thia Kiang.

Mr Low left his stronghold, Hougang, which he had represented in parliament since 1991, to contest the neighbouring Aljunied.
He left Hougang in his trusted aide's hands, Mr Yaw Shin Leong.

Mr Low and his team – Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap, Pritam Singh and Sylvia Lim, stepped into the unknown to contest for a GRC.
The high-flying corporate lawyer and former Rhodes scholar Chen Show Mao, not only captured the minds, but also the hearts of voters.
The challenge was thrown during Nomination Day and the battle lines were drawn.
Mr Low's team not only won Aljunied, his trusted aide, Mr Yaw also retained Hougang.

The spotlight was always on Mr Low.
Nobody seem to detract that spotlight from him.

In the next Parliament, there will be the most ever number, six elected opposition MPs in Parliament.
In addition, there will be three Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs), the 'best losers' from the polls.

Beside winning my home ground, Aljunied GRC, Workers Party retained its Hougang stronghold.

It thus triggered the evolution of Singapore's parliamentary and political system'.

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