The WP's victory in Aljunied has captured the imagination of the whole country
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
There is a palpable buzz all over the Serangoon Gardens Market on the morning of May 8. The residents are upbeat and energetic, even though most of them went to bed much later than usual the night before. A new dawn has broken over the five wards that make up Aljunied GRC, and the people who live there know that they have done their part to make history.
A pick-up truck soon makes it way around the estate, with pale blue flags and loudhailers attached. The flags each bear a the insignia of a hammer, the famous emblem of the Workers’ Party, and on top of the vehicle, Aljunied’s five new Members of Parliament are blaring out messages of thanks to the 72,165 supporters who voted them in just hours ago. They are greeted with waves, cheers and calls of encouragement from passers-by. For them, life will never be the same again.
The WP’s Fantastic Five – Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Muhamad Faisal Manap and Pritam Singh – have cemented their places in the history books. They will go down as the first opposition candidates to have ever captured a GRC.
Ms Lim and Mr Faisal are respectively Singapore’s first female opposition MP and first Malay opposition MP. Mr Low will forever be remembered as the architect behind the WP’s famous victory; in one fell swoop, his party has won more seats than all the opposition parties combined have ever managed.
Even their defeated opponent, the outgoing Foreign Minister George Yeo, admitted in his concession speech that the WP victory has opened up a “new chapter in Singapore’s history”.
With Aljunied touted as the hottest battleground in the 2011 general elections, it was always inevitable that the eyes of the whole country would be fixated on this ward in the North-East.
Mr Chen Show Mao, MP-elect for Aljunied, thanks residents during a victory parade
Experts had predicted that this battle would be won or lost by a razor-thin margin. But in the end, it wasn’t even close. Mr Low and his team won 54.71% of the votes, leaving Mr Yeo’s PAP team unable even to demand a recount.
Mr Low attributed his team’s victory to the WP’s ability to convince Singaporeans that it is a “rational, responsible and credible” party, not one that “opposes for the sake of opposition”. He disagreed with claims that the PAP had lost Aljunied because of mistakes it made, saying that “starting with the Prime Minister’s apology, they have done the right thing.”
Indeed, it was not the PAP that lost Aljunied; rather, it was the WP that won it. Ms Lim, in particular, has worked the ground patiently for eight years, and as she passionately recounted in her final rally speech of the campaign, has had to bear with the humiliation and ignonimy of having her letters ignored by government departments despite being a Member of Parliament. She, more than anyone, deserves a chance to serve the residents that by all accounts have been overlooked by the PAP’s cold and unsympathetic machine.
The next task for the new Aljunied MPs will be to take over the Town Council. Mr Low has issued an challenge to the PAP to prove that it is looking to change its style of governance by allowing the WP to take over the current office premises – when he took over as MP for Hougang in 1991, he was told that he could not use the Town Council office, and was given 45 days to look for a new office on his own. If the PAP decides to refuse his request, it will be a sign that the ruling party is still rooted in its arrogant and intolerant old ways.
Singaporeans, in the meantime, will be looking forward to hearing the voices of the new WP MPs in Parliament, as the country takes a tentative but affirmative step towards democracy. Though the PAP still enjoys an overwhelming majority in Parliament, many are hopeful that six voices will be louder than two.
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The author is Chief Editor of The Satay Club
Finally, Cynthia Phua and Lim Hwee Hua are banished to hell!
It will be of historical significance to document the handing over of duties. I hope the WP or the PAP can journal this for and take photographs for record or future publication. This will add to the rich history of our little niche in Singapore and add to Singapore’s soul.
If Worker’s Party is listening , listen to this
please start from scratch in Aljunied , be like Hougang , built your own town council office and asked no favours from your opponents, cement your legacy there by being self sufficient and capable , you have achieve it before in Hougang , would Aljunied be any different …be weaned from a dependent mentality !
Why should WP have to build their own office from scratch?
Do you think there is any fairness or justice?
They are the elected MPs, chosen by the people.
They should be allowed to use the official town council office that was built with taxpayers’ money and BELONGS TO THE PEOPLE.
The town council is NOT property of the PAP.
To use an extreme illustration, if one day WP takes over the whole government.
Does it mean that WP has to build their own Parliament from scratch?
Does it mean they need to build their own Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Education, Health etc… from scratch?
Does it mean that they need to set up a brand new police force from scratch?
Come on.. can’t you see that this logic is totally flawed?
Do not let ego be in the way.
Take over what is rightfully the MPs’ to take over. Bear with the nitty gritty that small minded officials may throw at you.
Use your energy to served the electorate, use the money for building from scratch of new offices to build new facilities, landscapes and other things that benefit the people as well as leave a WPs’ mark.
So Singapore has LAW but no JUSTIC?
wht’s with this nani fella..the minute this “being” opens it’s ‘mouth’..it’s all about the criticizing the WP. why should the PAP do this…why should the PAP do tht..blah..blah..blah..hey maggot..!!jst accept the fact..WP won Aljunied GRC fare and square..so deal with it!!!
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Fm TKL’s Blog by reader. Can he be the next SG “Anwar” though better morales and gd man to std party-neutral,lead and unite the opposition.History has funny way of springing up very unlikely heros…we wait
Open Letter to All Opposition Parties in SG,
Post GE2011: For SG & Singaporeans Need For An Alternative Voices
Dear All Opposition Parties Of SG,
All: Moving On you need to have a joint meeting on next step forward outside your own party planning and post election evaluation.
1.Take note you tried to have a few towards the start of election but was not enough time.
2.The political landscape will change further esp winning WP team will draw more able candidates than now bec of success and results.
Not to take it negatively all opposition parties, this is natural and right step for political development.
3.But on your side continue to improve and change to build up your own parties and approaches to win gd candidates esp SDA, NSP.
4.But you all as Opposition Parties need to meet and engage in joint dialogue inorder to move forward as opposition parties in SG as end of day despite different party ways and manifestoes, you share a common goal to represent Singaporeans and challenge PAP’s arrogant and out of touch policies for the people of Singapore.
5.The reality of Post 2011 election towards YR2016 will see a bigger slate of opposition candidates to contest on WP cards in next elections which means 3 corner fights will be inevitable.But cn be done in a civil, proper equal playing field whic does not dilute opposition votes.
6.But unlike the SDA fiasco in Punggol East by Desmond which did not help any opposition party or SG people, this can be done in a better way.
7.Meaning a joint meeting and discussion needs to start moving forward by all opposition parties to some discuss on possible wards they will focus on in YR2016 minus the PAP’s continued plans for more gerry manderring or changes which cannot be avoided.
8.Least give each party an opportunity to focus on key wards or repeat wards and opportunity to build a base there and continue efforts than last minute changes and switches to new locations.
The latter normally erodes voter support as last minute parachutting vs incumbent PAP as they are there already.
9.So please start talking among yourselves, least a decent start based on whoever comes forward among you, reform party, NSP,SDA and WP.
10.Least a better strategy and gives you room to build your resources, work on target wards effectively and do not disappear as that will play into ruling party’s hands and make no mistake they are all changing and will prepare for the YR2016 fight starting from now.
11.For your survival, relevance in representing SG and most impt success for next GE2016.
Last Note; Mr Tan Kim Lian, you as a respected man by many in SG and a friend of the opposition and Singaporeans can step in to initiate a first meeting after this election so this can happen as is impt for our political landscape and survival as we want change.
Think opposition parties can talk and be civil as this is not like asking PAP to join in as they don’t even listen to you and anyone.
If the government change hand, does the new government has to build a new building to house their debate? Do we need to name a new capitol for the country too? Well done my fellow Aljunide residents. We stand firmed in our beliefs and not succumbed to outside pressures and forces that try to discredit us in our selection we charted for our future. Stay united and fight off the threat.
Latest news: Apparently Low TK told the Chinese papers that WP will be conducting Aljunied meet-the-people sessions in a void deck (no air-con). Why is this happening? Also, the Aljunied Town Council website is down. Apparently, alot of their staff didn’t come to work. After PAP’s defeat, they all run road?
When the master run road, so will their lackeys…
Yes, WP should provide a running commentary of the first 100 days in office. This will show if the PAP as promised by our PM has taken a rational view and is listening to the people. It’s about time the PAP learns to earn some respect as gentleman instead of being seen as arrangant sore loosers and bullies. The people no longer agree with MM that the government and PAP are the same and abuse the government funds for party interest.
The people of Aljunied have truly set a great example for Singaporeans with their courage and desire for change.
It will make sense for the PAP to hand over the town council office to WP. The town council office premises are not paid by the party known as PAP. They are paid by public funds. It would make no sense for all Aljunied residents including those who voted for WP to add to the expenses of the town council to start a new office from scratch. Such funds are better to be spent on the needy residents. A refusal to hand over the office amounts to the outgoing PAP team cutting their noses to spite their face. It makes no sense and will only make George Yeo and Lee Hsien Loong look bad. They will be foolhardy to behave like this after saying sorry a few days ago. The people of Aljunied will not be stupid not to see through such behaviour. MM did this 20 years ago but in PM’s words , “MM is MM”, so I hope PM will be a much more gracious than his father – who we can see from his interviews with the press yesterday that he has remained unrepentant of his recent comments (whether that Aljunied residents will have to repent if they vote in WP or his comments about Malays in his book ‘Hard Truths’). I hope his son and George will pass this little first post GE test.
Why should the PAP allow the WP to take over THEIR town council office? Since they are now the MPs, the five WP members should find their own office.
This is the price that Aljunied has to pay. Do you think PAP should deliberately go out to help their political opponents? Do you think that in the US, Republicans would donate to Democrats? That notion is just silly.
Hello… the town council is built using TAXPAYER’S MONEY and not PAP’S MONEY. Please learn how to differentiate party and state. PAP does not have control over state resources. THe SG government does. And it has to serve ALL Singaporeans. Last time they fix Hougang it’s ok, cos only 20k voters. Now let’s see if they have the GUTS to fix Aljunied, with 140k voters. If they do, let’s see what happen.. a backlash will take place
The problem is that state and party have been deliberately blurred (think NDP and PAP marchers – where are the other parties?) for too long to the point Nani cannot understand that the town council building was not bought and payed for by the PAP.
In UK after which our system is based, when the Councillors change after an election you think the council works all resign & the new team has to build a new building? It’s not a party HQ building – it’s meant to be a municipal building.
What happens if the outright win a GE – build a new parliament building because the one on the riverside is the PAP one?
At risk of sounding like a broken cassette tape, you do need to learn the distinction between the state and the party. Yes. They form the government, with 81-6 MPs and an unprecedented mandate of 60%, it doesn’t imply they can do willly nilly with OUR money. The Town Councils and associated committees are formed for the betterment of the people NOT the PAP.
People might actually be more receptive to your ideas if you sound more rational and objective. Like you welcomed my disagreement with you on the PAP’s track record because my argument sounded rational. In civilised society, logic and rationality are far better tools than fear-mongering and gutter politics.
Nani, I noticed you capitalized every letter in ‘THEIR’ town council office. Who is your ‘THEIR’? It is the Aljunied Town Council office. The Workers Party is now the the Chair of the Aljunied Town Council.
Your question…’Do you think PAP should deliberately go out to help their political opponents?’ You sound exactly like someone I ONCE respected. Answer…No we do not, but we expect decency in the way opponents handle each other. We expect fair play from people who uses white uniforms to symbolize intergrity.
So don’t be small minded, and hand over smoothly.
The WP should start publicising EVERY act of stonewalling, highhandedness and obstacle the various agencies place in their path to undermine their running of the
town council.
Exactly! this is most important.
obstacles will definitely be put infront of the 5 brave wp mps.
they must find a way for the people to know their difficulties so that people can see for themselves how petty the pap is and make the right decision in the next election.
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I hope Pritam Singh can control himself in Parliament!
If PAP refuses to let WP take over the town council, can WP challenge this in court? After all, they have 3 lawyers in their team!
Cannot la…WP have lawyers, but PAP got judge!