Asia
Lee, With Less Support, Gets Singapore `Wake-Up Call'
May 8 (Bloomberg) -- Singaporeans returned Prime Minister Lee Hsien
Loong to power with a smaller share of the vote at weekend
elections, signaling a growing appetite for political change in the
city-state, analysts said.
The People's Action Party, which has ruled since 1959, won 67
percent of votes cast on May 6, down from 75 percent at the last
election in 2001.
While the economic policies of the People's Action Party have
entrenched Singaporeans as the wealthiest in Southeast Asia, voters
took a stand on domestic issues, personal liberty and the expense
of day-to-day life, analysts said. The country's government has
been criticized by groups including Human Rights Watch and
billionaire George Soros, who have called for fewer restrictions on
speech and political lobbying.
Young voters ``want more than just economic stability,'' said Dr.
Terence Chong, a fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
in Singapore. ``They want political openness and most importantly,
more opposition in parliament, hence the overall good showing of
the opposition this time round.''
Opposition groups for the first time since 1988 mustered enough
candidates to prevent the People's Action Party from being
reinstated without a vote. The government won 82 of 84 seats in
Parliament.
`Change'
``Perhaps Singaporeans would like the style of government to
change,'' said Jeanne Conceicao, research fellow at the Institute
of Policy Studies in Singapore. ``People are trying to get them to
cut the cost of living. We can expect programs on this in months to
come.''
Last month, Lee Kuan Yew, founder of modern Singapore, said the gap
between the city's rich and poor was an ``increasing problem'' that
might persist for a decade.
The government's election campaign, which highlighted the lowest
unemployment rate in more than four years and the country's growth
prospects, was overshadowed by lawsuits against senior members of
the rival Singapore Democratic Party and a spat with opposition
candidate James Gomez.
Gomez, the subject of a police investigation over complaints made
by the elections department, was part of a Workers' Party group
competing in the government-held constituency of Aljunied. Though
Gomez and four colleagues failed to dislodge a team that included
Foreign Minister George Yeo, the reduced margin of victory may have
concerned the People's Action Party, at least one analyst
said.
`Wake-up Call'
The Workers' Party in Aljunied drew 44 percent of the vote. In
1997, the government took 67 percent of votes in the area. The
district is a so-called Group Representation Constituency, which
may have as many as six members of parliament. In 2001, Aljunied
was unopposed.
``The PAP nearly lost a GRC,'' said Conceicao. ``If a GRC is lost,
it would be a wake-up call to all. In fact, because it was such a
close call in Aljunied, we've woken up already.''
A Workers' Party victory in Aljunied would have more than doubled
the opposition's seats in Parliament. The result suggests the
electorate needs only a ``credible opposition'' in the future to
give the government ``a run for its money,'' said Conceicao.
In the two seats retained by the opposition, Hougang and Potong
Pasir, the government's share of the vote declined, even after it
wooed voters with accommodation upgrades.
``The electorate is clearly telling the government they are willing
to exercise their vote,'' said Antonio Rappa, a political scientist
at the National University of Singapore. ``The PAP will have to pay
attention to local issues. In future, the battle will be
tougher.''
`Very Strong Mandate'
Prime Minister Lee called the election result ``a very strong
mandate.'' It was hard to take the two opposition seats because
Singaporeans had a ``natural loyalty'' to incumbents, he
said.
About 94 percent of the 1.22 million Singaporeans who live in
contested electorates voted. There were no polls in areas where
opposition candidates did not stand.
The electoral system allows for extra seats to be provided in
Parliament. As many as three members of the opposition and nine
others unconnected to any parties may be selected.
The People's Action Party, after securing its 11th straight
victory, is seeking to freshen its appeal with new candidates.
After this year's election, 80 percent of lawmakers will be those
who entered Parliament after 1997, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan
Seng said.
The ruling party aims to bring in more than 20 new candidates at
the next election, Prime Minister Lee said at a press
conference.
The Asian Network for Free Elections yesterday recommended that the
government create an independent elections department, make
vote-counting accessible to the public, and liberalize the
country's media.
Victory Margin
The margin of Lee's victory was the second-largest since
1980.
``I don't think this is the kind of result that will lead to much
softening or reform,'' said Diane Mauzy, professor of political
science at the University of British Columbia in Canada, who has
written on politics in Singapore and Malaysia.
``This is really a pretty solid performance by the PAP and they
must be secretly quite pleased and relieved,'' she said. ``The only
way the opposition can improve its position is if the PAP runs into
trouble, as dominant parties sometimes do.''
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