Elections 2006

Well, it's a few days past the results of the elections.. What can I say? I feel that the results is one of the best possible outcomes for Singapore as a whole.

Why do I say that? Well, it's true that exactly the status quo has been maintained - 2 Opposition SMCs, maybe an NCMP or two. That's true. But the great is that people are starting to become politically conscious. The quality of the Opposition's candidates are improving (look at the WP's chairman man. What a cool woman. haha. JBJ must be glad the WP's fortunes are improving). The Opposition's starting to be more active, for the first time in a while they're contesting more then half the consituencies.

And even more heartening, flickers of political awareness are starting to disseminate through the net. Look at the popularity of Mr Brown's semi-satire Persistent Non Political Podcasts, especially the Bak Chor Mee one.. haha.. And the carrot of HDB upgrading didn't sway the Opposition wards neither, which is heartening. Time the PAP thought of something new man..

And above all this, the most important thing, PM Lee has managed to get a convincing mandate for his first term, which is absolutely essential for Singapore's survival. Many MNCs invest in Singapore because they have faith in the SIngapore brand, which (currently) lives and dies with the wellbeing of the PAP. True, the "Suicide squad" sent to contest the PM's ward got one out of three votes, but 2/3s of the vote isn't bad either, and gives PM Lee more legitimacy instead of being an "walkover" PM.

Chiam and Low held on to their seats too, which is really reassuring.

Singapore's prosperity and survival is inexorably tied to the government, and the government is inexorably tied to the PAP. This has been mentioned even by the PAP themselves. If truly by some freak accident, more than half of the AMK GRC went "Ah, everybody else must be voting for the PM, let's give the WP a sympathy vote", and PM Lee lost his GRC, we would be in chaos overnight. Don't talk about political diversity and checks and balanced - our percieved stability as a invester friendly nation would be destroyed.

This election result is truly the best of both worlds - PM Lee gets a good mandate, and the Opposition aren't totally discouraged.

Haha, not really in writing form today, will whip this post into shape some other day =p