The Singapore general election was a watershed poll in many ways. Dr Terence Chong provides a snapshot view of some of the highlights of the campaign and notable results.
Singapore general election 2011
Why was this GE different?
82 out of 87 seats contested
2011 – 2.3m voters; 2006 – 2.1m; 2001 – 2m
Largest number of first time voters
Largest number of younger voters
Credible opposition slate
High number of young candidates across the board
Highest number of first time candidates too
Low Thia Khiang moves to Aljunied
How did the campaign unfold?
Perennial issues: high cost of living; widening wage gap; high ministerial salaries; liberal immigration policies
Issues since 2006: raising GST from 5% to 7% months after 2006 GE; YOG expenditure; Mas Selamat escape; downtown floods
Politicking began with Tin Pei Ling – Tin came to personify the unfairness of the GRC system
Dr Chia Shi-Lu replaces PAP candidate Steve Tan in Tanjong Pagar GRC Vivian Balakrishnan’s disclosure of Vincent Wijeysingha’s “gay agenda” video
Goh Chok Tong: series of puzzling remarks – SDP candidate Tan Jee Seng not good enough to become Perm Sec; implied WKS was less competent than George Yeo; called NSP “No Substance Party” after calling for “clean and fair fight”; admitted he had no feel for the youth.
Lee Kuan Yew: voters of Aljunied would have 5 years to repent if they voted WP; remarks on Malays not integrating unsettled Malay voters
PM Lee Hsien Loong’s public apology for government’s mistakes – Boat Quay lunch rally, 3 May
George Yeo’s appeal to voters for chance to reform PAP on Youtube, 6 May
WP expressed ground sentiments over rising cost and immigration policies
WP’s campaign message of democratic Parliament
PAP’s campaign message of ‘good track record’ and ‘estate upgrading’ did not appeal
Spectre of a Parliament with 87 PAP seats
LKY’s ‘5 years to regret’ remarks
Gerrymandering in favour of WP: Aljunied absorbed parts of Cheng San GRC, Eunos GRC and parts of Hougang SMC
Source: Slides presented by Dr Terence Chong during a roundtable discussion on Singapore’s General Election at the Sime Darby Convention Centre on 20 May 2011.
Dr Chong, a Senior Fellow at the Institute of the Southeast Asian Studies, is also editor of the book Management of Success: Singapore Revisited.
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Support our work by making a donation. Tap to download the QR code below and scan this QR code from Gallery by using TnG e-wallet or most banking apps:
