An eldery resident signing the petition for a by-election in Potong Pasir
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
The residents of Potong Pasir have been a hardy, resilient bunch for 27 years. Since the constituency was won by Mr Chiam See Tong in 1984, the PAP had steadfastly refused to provide the ward with municipal upgrading works. After 6 successive failures, the ruling party has finally managed to win over Potong Pasir – but, judging from the reaction to the poll results, it will have to do a lot more if it wants to win over the hearts and minds of the residents there.
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, the PAP candidate, was third time lucky as he defeated Mrs Lina Chiam of the Singapore People’s Party by a razor-thin margin of 114 votes. After the overseas votes were counted, his margin of victory was even slimmer – a mere 78 votes. No wonder, then, that the residents are feeling aggrieved; and they have decided to take action: a petition has been started to call for a by-election in Potong Pasir.
The petition was started by the residents themselves, with no affiliation to the SPP or the Chiams. In fact, a crowd of more than 1,000 had gathered at Block 108 on the evening of May 8, and Mrs Chiam cancelled her plans to meet the residents because she was afraid that the gathering might constitute an illegal assembly. The residents are aiming to collect at least 8,000 signatures, and have also set up a Facebook page for their petition. It has received 10,000 “likes” thus far.
The constitutional and legal bases of the petition remain unclear, but what is plain to see is that the residents of Potong Pasir still hold tremendous affection for the Chiams. In the past two days, scores of testimonies have poured forward in tribute of Mr Chiam’s nearly three decades of dedicated service. They recount how they have never been made to pay a single cent for lift upgrading in their constituency, whereas those living in PAP-controlled wards have been made to co-pay for similar upgrading programmes.
One resident, Emir Shafri, recounted how the Potong Pasir Town Council under Mr Chiam was always quick to respond to the call of service:
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(Mr Chiam’s) Town Council went beyond that. They were truly servants of the people. When the circuit breaker of my house blew, Singapore Power/PUB told me that it’s after office hours, so tough luck. Electricians wanted to charge crazy ‘emergency call’ charges.
I tried my luck by calling the Town Council. They immediately sent someone within the hour (at 10pm) and identified the problem. He unfortunately didn’t have the replacement part, so he came back at 9am the next day (a weekend), with the part.
He only charged me around 20 bucks or so for the circuit breaker component, and when I offered to give more, he declined, saying that “it is our job to serve the people of Potong Pasir”.
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At the recently-concluded general election, Mr Chiam left his seat of 27 years to contest in the neighbouring Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, leaving Mrs Chiam to hold the fort in Potong Pasir. The gamble backfired, with both husband and wife losing their respective contests.
Mr Chiam managed to obtain a respectable 43 per cent of the votes in Bishan-Toa Payoh, despite coming up against two heavyweight PAP ministers in Mr Wong Kan Seng and Dr Ng Eng Hen. He was constantly mobbed by supporters at SPP rallies, some of whom were even moved to tears at the sight of Mr Chiam’s frail and hunched frame – the result of a debiliating stroke in 2008.
Upon the announcement of the results, Mr Chiam vowed that the SPP would win back Potong Pasir in the future, saying: “We shall never surrender. In the end, we will win the battle. We shall conquer.”
Chiam See Tong has lost his seat in Parliament after 6 terms in Potong Pasir. He remained defiant to the end and promised that the SPP would take back the ward.
With speculation that Potong Pasir will be redrawn into a GRC at the next general election, some residents are afraid that they will not get the chance to heed Mr Chiam’s call. As such, they feel that petitioning for a by-election is in order, especially since the margin of Mr Sitoh’s victory was even smaller than the total number of spoilt votes. Resident Vanitar Sindaya said: “We find a petition will help a lot. We would like some kind of clarification and explanation, a breakdown of the votes.”
It remains to be seen if the petition will gain any ground. If anything, it ought to be noted that Mr Chiam is the only opposition politician to have ever won a court case against the government. In 1981, Mr Chiam received a public apology and out-of-court damages from then Foreign Minister S Dhanabalan for undermining his professional ability and competence at an election rally. Then Defence Minister Howe Yoon Chong, Mr Chiam’s opponent in Potong Pasir, was also forced to make amends for having made similar remarks.
For now, Mr and Mrs Chiam can take solace from the fact that they still remain the first couple of Potong Pasir. Their legacy has won them the unequivocal love, respect and admiration of the whole of Singapore – something that will long outlast the short five-year term of a Member of Parliament.
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The writer is Chief Editor of The Satay Club.
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another Crap…by election?? Rematch? So if this time round, SPP win by 50 votes, then how? PAP supporter want rematch again? IF PAP win by 20 votes, SPP want another rematch? You really think those vote counter, staff dman free to spend every weekend counting votes??
Win mean Win,lose mean lose.
if not, we will see a lot of rematch likee Chelsea lost one goal to Man United also want rematch etc.
do you have any heart for Potong Pasir residents! Mr Chiam SPP SERVING THERE AND CARING EVERY RESIDENT WITH GREAT GOOD HEART.JUST LIKE A FATHER TAKING CARE CHILDERN WITHOUT DOUNT! IS RIGHT FOR REVOT! BECAUSE THERE ARE 224 STUPID OR MISTAKEN REJECTED VOTES! THIS 223 VOTES CAN MAKE A GREAT CHANGE!
NOT STUPID SOCCER MATCH THAT PLAY EVERY YEAR! IS FIVE YEARS! WINNING AND CARING FOR THE LIVING OF RESIDENTS IN POTONG PASIR! USE YOUR HEART THINK FOR THE RESIDENTS NOT STUPID SOCCER MATCHES!
One person One Vote, Majority Win. Which part do you dont understand? Of cos i feel for Chiam,I vote for him, but so what? Tell me when will it end? if SPP win by 110 votes, PAP supporter want by election again….then how?
When result is out, we should respect the decision of others as all citizen are equal. If you think opposition supporter got more rights, then we are going backward. then might as well PAP stayed in power.
The problem with Potong Pasir is that , SPP wants to keep everything within the family …husband handing over to the wife kinda of strategy doesn’t go down well if the wife is a newbie in politics , Chiam See Tong should have thought about renewal 5 years ago ! where was the grooming ? where was the succession ? and if this is Mr Chiam’s game plan of handing it over to the wife again 5 years later, without any plans for renewal and new blood
Mr Chiam See Tong … read my lips
You can forget about about Potong Pasir !!
What have potong pasir got to lose ? Let them upgrade the area but don’t pay anything more than is needed , its their right
We seem to have forgotten , potong pasir residents are singaporeans too !
The actions of the pro-SPP camp are totally undemocratic. Even Mr Chiam himself came out and said that there is “fishy business going on” because during campaigning many people supported him but when it came to voting, the results showed otherwise.
This is very disappointing coming from someone like Mr Chiam who has served for 27 years as an MP and been through 6 electoral victories. Was there no “fishy business” going on when he won? Then how come when he loses, there is suddenly “fishy business”? Comments like that only serve to make voters disappointed with Mr Chiam. They completely dent his stature as a MP and statesman.
Now, with regards to the actions of the pro-SPP faction, do you really think they are doing so with totally no backing from the party itself?
Either way, their actions are undemocratic. If they lose, they lose. No need to cry foul. Just because they have kept Potong Pasir under dynastic (one family) rule for 27 years does not mean that they have a divine right to win.
The petition and proposed court challenge should not proceed. If Mr Chiam wants to prove that he respects democracy, he should put a stop to it right away and offer his congratulations to Mr Sitoh. Do you note a difference between his actions and the actions of Mr George Yeo?
Did George Yeo say that “fishy business was going on” after losing in Aljunied?
That just shows the difference in mindset and attitude between the two.
Fm TKL’s Blog by reader. Can he be the next SG “Anwar” though better morales and gd man to 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.
I think half the people of Potong Pasir still cannot come to terms of the loss. 27 years is a long time, moreover Chiam See Tong is a very good “people” MP, so this is a hard pill to swallow. Come to think of it, some will get upgrading and some will turn into slums because PAP know by precinct vote count who are pro-PAP and pro-SPP. tough luck. Potong Pasir will be swallowed by Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC come 2016.
…This is a First-World electorate?
How can we have a First-World Parliament if we don’t have a First-World electorate to begin with?
How do honestly say that you are member of parliament with only 114 supporting you , out of the whole potong pasir estate , that figure is even less for voters of some primitive african tribes !!!!
114 difference between PAP and SPP.
And after the overseas votes were taken into account there were only 78 votes difference between PAP and SPP.
Which means, SPP lost by only 78 votes.
This is a democratic process and we should learn to respect the wishes of the majority, even in razor-thin victory such as this. The Parliamentary Elections Act does not provide for any basis to call for a by-election in the current situation. When Mr Chiam won by a few hundred votes in 2006, Mr Sitoh accepted it and moved on. Similarly, the pro-SPP camp should accept the 2011 results and move on.
Chiam won by 1,718 votes (55.28%), not by a “few hundred”. Good spin, Jack, don’t try and fool people.
Hi Quittor – you’re right and I stand corrected. The winning margin in 2006 was 1,718 votes.
Jack , if you can’t get the facts right , shut up !!!
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Winning a simple housewife with not much political experience by 114 votes is not really much to gloat about
The mandate is weak and not convincing !
If the person who won wants to be really fair , he should voluntary by his own free will without influence call for a re-election only for potong pasir to get a clear and convincing mandate
Who knows the 114 votes might be from those who don’t have the slightest idea who they are voting for
have a big heart ! Have a rematch !
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The margin of victory was only 78 votes after including overseas votes.
The spoilt votes on the other hand were over 200.
So, there could be a real dispute regarding why certain votes were rejected. Could it be that they voted for Chiam but accidentally put a tick instead of a cross?
THe call for a re-election is justified.
Potong Pasir residents are “used” to voting, every election was contested, so really hard to say they voted wrongly. The spoilt votes at 242 is the lowest of the SMCs, followed by Hougang at 261. The average of spoilt votes over 12 SMCs is 473. So my point that PP and Hougang voters are “laojiaw” made sense, ain’t it?
I have read where spoilt votes were taken as valid votes, not in favor of the opposition.
Although I have deep respect for Mr Chiam See Tong, I think that this is not the right thing to do. In a democracy, if you lose in a fair contest, you have to accept it. Even if you lose by 1 vote, it’s still a loss. So they should really show that they are gentlemen and not proceed with this petition. It seems like sour grapes to me.
Agree with you. Not only that, the law does not provide for a by-election in such a case anyway.
Had the situation been reverse i.e. SPP won by 100 votes, would SPP’s supporters agree with PAP’s call for a by-election?
i intially thought that a by-election and petition are not possible but after reading a counting agent’s first hand experience, i think there is a case. what many layman would considered a spoilt vote was actually a valid vote. read..an eye opener
http://yawningbread.wordpress.com/2011/05/08/counting-agent-me/#more-4261
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