GE2015

http://junlong-wenhui.blogspot.sg/2011/05/my-5-cents-worth-on-ge-2011.html
http://junlong-wenhui.blogspot.sg/2006/05/my-2-cents-worth-on-ge-2006.html

it is rather interesting and amusing to read what a 29YO and 24YO me wrote about past elections. GE2015 is over and it seems like nothing much change and it feels like something changed too. in the past 1.5 weeks, I was caught up like many Singaporeans during rally week. I pored over reports, I watched live rallies streamed on youtube, I (forced)get others - mostly poor mr ng- to discuss "politics" with me, I tried to rationalize my (ir)rational choice, I tried to influence and convince others to see my point, I got worked up with all the nonsensical comments on social media etc. it was exciting and emotionally draining at the same time and of cos I chose it upon myself. no one forces that on me, right?
and that's the beauty of it all- we make our choices. and we live with it.

vs 2011, I'm in a much more zen state though some things still get to me. it's age, I tell you.
still, want to pen down my thoughts to capture how i perceive this GE through my 33YO lens.

1. near to 70% victory for PAP
like many, i foresee the incumbent party winning the majority seats but didn't expect the margin to be this good. pleasant surprise for me as i was also victim of the negative sentiments online (#silent majority vs #vocalminority - more on this in my next point), I thought it's not impossible for PAP to lose up to 3 SMCs AND 2 GRCs to opposition this time round. so what's the reasons for the swing in votes? im sure analysts for next few days to weeks will do their job well but there will never be a confirmed version of truth. for me, 2 probable logical reasons - majority witnessed and gave credit to the hard work and improvements by PAP for the last 4+ years and they believe that PAP is still the capable and credible party to progress with Singapore. i know there may be all kind of reasons out there for people to cast their sacred vote but i sincerely hope it's driven by these rather than the reasons put out there by oppo fans - that scare tactics work, that we are cowards, that we are stupid people who cant see beyond the mainstream media manipulation etc. it's saddening and sweeping to think this way of the majority of those who cast their votes in favor of PAP.

2. silentmajority vs vocalminority
For those who even bothered to just discuss a little politics with people around you in an open-minded way, you will realize most people do it nicely and wouldn't mind a healthy debate on topics that are close to their heart. these are the silentmajority if you ask me, who don't go online and make a lot of noise on their opinions and shoved them down anyone's throats whether they ask for it or not. the vocalminority online (be it PAP or oppo) are so aggressive that most people i know including myself think twice of airing any opinion online. and that is exactly what's happening on social media platforms, the negative voices are louder and they reinforce one another's voices so much so that some of them felt blindsided when actual results are announced.

it's the same to MPs, they should reach out to silent majority for the vocal minority will always shout and let you know their opinions BUT their opinions may not be always right or representative of what Singapore really want or need.

3. WP + other opposition parties
i think WP has been commendable in continuing bringing in credible capable new additions to the party. Daniel goh and leon perera are strong candidates and i appreciate them being a pair of rational voices during the rally campaign. however, as compared to last GE, my opinion of WP as a party fell a notch or 2 though i still believe strongly in certain candidates. for me, a good MP needs to be capable, have the passion to serve and possess integrity. i know the AHPETC saga was discussed to death but unfortunately i belonged the camp which thinks there is no proper closure. i know PAP TCs have own troubles of their own and they are not doing the best jobs either but i just don't like it when a question is being deflated by another question. it took WP/Sylvia Lim until the last rally to admit that they could have done better. i wasn't expecting an admission that they did wrong but just that it could have been handled properly. and the way as i saw her responding all the while to queries by PAP/reporters, it reeks of the exact arrogance and defiance that WP has claimed PAP to be guilty of for the longest time. so WP doesn't really pass my integrity test for this GE. of cos, that's my basis and that's just 1 vote right - doesn't count?

that's exactly what i hope the opposition parties can realize from this GE - every vote counts.
much as the results may be counterintuitive to your expectations, don't sweep it away like how some of your supporters think and credit it to PAP sabotaging or voters being cowards etc. seek to understand like how you want to represent our voices. understand the reasons why we didn't cast the votes in your favor and change things to win back that vote of confidence. do something within your control rather than attributing it to forces outside your sphere of influence.

SDP and CSJ are synonymous, no? maybe yes, maybe no. after this GE, i continue to think CSJ will have a tough political career ahead. why, because fundamentally and at the end of the day, he is just not convincing enough. i was impressed with his first rally speech and as he himself mentioned, it was swinging for him probably due to most having low expectations of him after a decade absence from GE. but somehow, call it gut feelings or what, i just cant seem to trust him 100%. oh well, just my personal view.

and there were many other stuff that i have an opinion on:

• not convinced by minimum wage policy put out by WP, SDP etc
• Tharman was good with explaining the tax system in layman terms. he is living proof that PAP is definitely not that bad afterall
• if WP is at the one end of the spectrum, then RP is at the other end
• we share the same responsibility in making Singapore a better place - we really need to stop blaming the government for everything
• reflecting on this whole GE, i have a clearer idea what kind of voter i want my boys to be - whatever you believe in, no personal attacking on anyone! respect others' choices!
• Opposition needs to make their proposed policies more solid, stop over-claiming the credit that PAP has done
• PAP needs to communicate their policies better, let us know where they are coming from so we can let them know if we endorse these policies

at the end of the day, we stand as one united Singapore.
but i know haters will be haters and will continue to divide Singapore in little ways that they themselves may not even be aware of.
we just have to do our best, i guess. have faith!