SINGAPORE: The People's Action Party (PAP) was less
effective in its campaign coordination and strategy during the
general election (GE) in May 2011.
Party Chairman Khaw Boon Wan said that in some
branches, campaign strategies on physical developments "did not
gain good traction with voters".
He said that at the national level, despite steering
the economy out of the country's deepest recession since
independence, the party was less effective in getting political
mileage out of it.
These were issues identified by a review committee,
which he is heading to analyse the results of the election.
Mr Khaw, who shared the findings at the PAP Convention on Sunday
said there was also a perceived disconnect with the people.
He highlighted four underlying trends from the results of the GE
that'll serve as useful lessons for members.
They are: a stronger mood for more opposition voices, a
strengthening of the opposition, a shift in demographics where more
young voters are influenced not just by what they read on the
Internet but also by a certain mood for political change, and the
era of the digital age.
Mr Khaw, who's also Minister for National Development, stressed
that the PAP must evolve to meet the intense competition that lies
ahead.
He said it must ensure that it remains constructive and continues
to put Singaporeans first.
During the May GE, the PAP was returned to power, winning 81 of the
87 seats in parliament and regaining Potong Pasir after 27
years.
It lost a Group Representation Constituency (GRC) for the first
time, and saw its vote share slip to 60.1 per cent.
Over the last seven months, the PAP conducted extensive
consultations with party activists at the branch, constituency and
district levels.
At Sunday's convention, members spent some time reflecting on the
results and lessons from the polls.
- CNA/ck
