The WP's rally at Hougang drew an enormous crowd of spectators, just like in 2006
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
Rally season has officially gotten under way, and just like in years past, it is the opposition that is drawing the crowds.
At least 60,000 supporters turned up at Hougang Avenue 4 for the Workers’ Party rally on Thursday evening, while the Singapore Democratic Party and National Solidarity Party drew crowds of around 20,000 to their rallies in Clementi and Geylang respectively. The new Reform Party, contesting its first-ever election, managed to attract a modest but respectable 8,000 to its rally in West Coast.
In contrast, the PAP’s rally in Sengkang was attended by no more than 3,000, the vast majority of whom were activists from grassroots organisations.
This is nothing new, and as past results have indicated, the lack of support for the PAP’s rallies is not an accurate measure for the actual support that the party will receive at the polls. The vast majority of PAP voters are silent supporters of the party, with most of them happy with the status quo and not wanting to rock the boat.
Opposition supporters, on the other hand, are a far more angsty bunch. They have always been deeply disenfranchised with life in Singapore – either because they feel that PAP policymakers are aloof and out of touch with their concerns, or simply because they feel that a one-party system is contrary to their democratic ideals. Either way, they firmly believe that there is a need for more opposition in Parliament, and they are prepared to be vocal and passionate about this belief.
The ‘silent majority’, however, has proven to be far larger than people expected it to be in past elections. The PAP received a whopping 66.6% of the vote in 2006, even though attendances at their rallies were poor. The WP, in contrast, were regularly drawing crowds of up to 100,000, yet only received slightly over one-third of the vote in the constituencies they contested. WP candidate Chen Show Mao addressed this at the party’s Hougang rally, urging the candidates to show their support where it counts – at the ballot box.
Observers have attributed the ‘silent majority’ phenomenon to a general apathy towards politics in the past. Many Singaporeans weren’t – and still aren’t – comfortable discussing politics openly even in private because it was perceived as being taboo – something the opposition has described as a ‘climate of fear’.
The PAP rally at Sengkang only managed to draw a modest crowd of around 3,000 spectators, mostly made up of grassroots activists
With the advent of the internet age, however, Singaporeans have become – if ever so slightly – more politically mature. Politicians with mainstream appeal such as Sylvia Lim and Nicole Seah have become ‘stars’ in their own right, with the latter even receiving an offer from watch retailers City Chain to endorse their products. This means the word ‘opposition’ is no longer a dirty word, at least not for younger Singaporeans.
As the WP leader Low Thia Khiang has mentioned, the new media has also played an integral role in changing perceptions. Even the state-controlled Straits Times has been forced to adopt a more balanced approach instead of blatantly acting as an unofficial PAP mouthpiece. The availability of alternative news sources now means that people will be able to read what they want no matter, whether the Straits Times reports it or not.
While analysts have predicted that the ground has shifted away from the PAP thanks to issues such as the rising cost of living, the huge influx of foreigners and depressed wages, a swing of 5 to 8% could easily be negated by votes from “new citizens” who now make up a significant part of the electorate. These naturalised voters are expected to support the PAP’s liberal immigration policies, while being put off by the opposition’s attempts to restrict the inflow of foreigners. This is a significant group of voters who will add to the PAP’s ‘silent majority’, since they will likely vote for the ruling party automatically even though they won’t bother turning up at the rallies.
Though many are hopeful that the opposition will finally make a breakthrough at this election, expectations that the PAP will lose one or two GRCs may be overly optimistic. The rally crowds, as we have seen, are not necessarily indicative of the sentiment on the ground. While opposition rallies are attended by hundreds of thousands, many of them are just there out of curiosity and to enjoy the adrenaline-charged atmosphere that only comes about once every five years. On Polling Day, many of them will still vote for the PAP.
And then, there are still the millions of silent voters who are indifferent about rallies and political debates, and just want to go about their daily routines with minimal disruption to the status quo.
They are the PAP’s real ‘secret weapons’.
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The author is Chief Editor of The Satay Club
Singapore is so small, can Singaporeans, please cast aside our our ward’s considerations and give their opposition candidates a chance? Don’t hug your personal opinions so tight when so much is at stake. When Chiam first won, you cannot say he was the man but people gave him a chance. When Low took Hougang, he was hampered by the fact that he was Chinese educated. But their sincerity and comittment came through for them, together with their exposure to the workings of parliament made them what they are today. Today, Low has improved so much from 20 years ago. Everybody needs a chance, if we write off opposition, save for a few of our favorites, we will have another 20 years of opposition regression. Face it, Chiam’s health ain’t gonna help, Low not getting younger. So we got Chen, 2 from SDP, probably Nicole, Sylvia left. Can they even get elected this time?
Sure, give me quality & quantity anytime. But don’t assume that the rest of the opposition are of not high enough quality. Did anyone think that Low could emerge into such a leading political force?.
My point is : Dear Singaporeans, there is a need for critical opposition mass in parliament. If these opposition folks have the heart & passion for our nation, please give them the chance regardless of race, language or religion. Like Chiam and Low before them, they will not disappoint. If they fail, they will be out in 5 years’ time.
There are many who supported PAP and yet complaint the hell long than those who did not vote for them…
Here’s my experience when I went down to the WP rally April 29. I walked to several folks who were rooting for the WP speakers. But what they said was troubling: Of the 6 people , 2 will vote for the PAP, 3 undecided, the last one wanted to spoil his vote. Amazing but true. How to have an alternative voice in parliament?
What is saddening is that Sgs want to nick pick. One guy came from Jurong, but won’t vote for the opposition guy because he doesn’t like the guy. THis is the same guy who wants opposition in parliament. Another said that a certain party, not WP is unstable, so he votes PAP. He doesn’t like PAP policies but still vote them in. Can’t see his sense.
Another guy was undecided, actually didn’t know which GRC he is in now, tks to redrawing. But you could tell he wouldn’t vote for Opposition.
If people cannot see the big picture of wanting & the need for an alternative voice in parliament and everybody wants his fave oppo candidate to stand in his ward, then he will vote opposition, then we will never have a co-driver in government.
People are still studying the details of the trees in the forest. Can’t people give the opposition a chance, otherwise, the PAP sweeps the election again. Aljunied goes to them. End of the story.
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