Originally posted by BillyBong:
[b]Keen to
vote, but OK with walkovers
First survey on Singapore young
voters, in the run-up to the general election, shows how they are
likely to vote. Sim Chi Yin
March 17, 2006
The Straits Times
THE vote matters to most young Singaporeans, with seven in 10 keen
to cast their ballot in the coming general election.
In the same breath, almost six in 10 would not be disappointed if
there was a walkover in their constituencies and they did not get a
chance to vote.
Their ambivalence - wanting a say but not being too bothered if
they do not get one - showed in the findings of a Straits Times
survey on young voters this month.
Some 413 Singaporeans aged 21 to 34 were interviewed.
About 70 per cent are keen to vote, with only 22 per cent saying it
'does not matter'.
Most young people interviewed this week feel the same way. Teacher
Dominic Chua, 30, who lives in Marine Parade, said: 'I haven't
voted before, but I would like to... It reminds me that we're a
democracy.'
Ms Nurzilawaty Hamid, 28, who is unemployed and lives in the
opposition-held Potong Pasir, believes 'it's for our own good that
we choose the better MP'.
Dr Amy Khor, mayor of Southwest Community Development Council and
an MP for Hong Kah GRC, said: 'To me, these statistics show that
increasingly more youths want to exercise their democratic right to
vote, to be involved in choosing the Government or have a say as to
who should represent them.
'This is really a healthy sign...With rising education and
affluence, more would want to participate in the electoral
process.'
Almost 45 per cent will be disappointed if there was a walkover in
their ward. But as wharf operations supervisor Fadzil Zakaria, 29,
said: 'We can't do anything about it.' Like eight in 10 young
Singaporeans surveyed, he has never voted.
In the last four general elections, the number of uncontested seats
have risen from 11 in 1988 to 41 in 1991, 47 in 1997 and 55 in
2001. This walkover effect on young voters is significant because
since 1988, close to 500,000 young Singaporeans had turned 21 and
were thus eligible to vote.
The lack of opportunity to vote for so many could be one reason for
the lack of interest in local politics among youths, said Dr
Terence Chong, a sociologist at the Institute of Southeast Asian
Studies.
'It seems that younger citizens are split into two camps - those
who are disappointed not to get to vote, and those who just don't
care. If there are more walkovers, those who are disappointed will
just switch off and not care anymore,' said Dr Chong.
About 55 per cent agreed with the suggestion of holding a
referendum in uncontested constituencies. Television producer Wang
Eng Eng, 27, said: 'No contest does not mean the people are
satisfied with the choice of MPs.'
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Charles Chong is not surprised that so
many favour a referendum.
'Even though there is no real option, voters want to have an
element of pressure on their MPs. They want to be able to choose,
to show their level of satisfaction or dissatisfaction, to have a
say.'
[email protected]
Asia1.com[/b]
Who say so?I am not happy with walkover!!!!Singapore newspaper
cannot read one,all side PAP,u dont know meh?
