What's changed after GE 2011?

Clivebenss SG

By Imelda Saad | Posted: 05 May 2012 1534 hrs

SINGAPORE: It is nearly one year since the 2011 General Election, and many have said they noticed change in government-people engagement and politics.

Much has been written about why the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) lost support in the last General Election.

These include a change in demographics, the impact and access of new media, as well as a better educated and more demanding populace.

Post-election, PAP promised to transform itself, to refocus efforts on winning back support and engaging better with the public.

New Members of Parliament (MPs) have taken their own route at a very local level -- with regular dialogues, house visits, and much effort put into direct engagement with residents.

At a macro level, there is acknowledgement that more effort is needed to explain government policies.

Since getting elected, Acting Minister for Community Development Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing has been holding monthly sessions with residents, at the Buona Vista CC.

"If I may use an analogy from eating a pizza, recently you find a new generation of pizza shops that's quite interesting," Mr Chan said.

"You go in there, you want to try out different things, you tell the chefs, they can prepare it differently for you.

"Sometimes you can even be involved in the making of the pizza and at the end of the day, you eat what you have [put together] yourself.

"That probably reflects the way which our society is evolving. I think people are not just happy to have solutions, even if they are good solutions presented to them, they want to know how this solution is developed, what were the considerations behind the development of this solution."

That change has also affected the opposition.

In Aljunied Group Representation Constituency (GRC), the opposition Workers' Party (WP) has been putting in effort to build its grassroots network, even as PAP activists strategise and renew efforts to win over residents.

WP chairman and MP for Aljunied GRC Sylvia Lim said: "People are more open about their links with parties such as ours. [They are] happy to be linked to Worker's Party and to come forward to help us in various ways, sometimes, even to talk about their votes for opposition party.

"In that sense, the climate is more open now and it is probably easier for opposition parties to get more manpower and help."

Ms Lim said she feels the party has managed Aljunied "reasonably well", as it focused the first six months on getting what she called "its municipal politics right".

Visibility is important, with her fellow MPs making it a point to have constant contact with residents.

At the national level, several policy changes have helped to ease some of the concerns raised during the General Election - from the ministerial pay review and government funding of new buses to crowding on public transport and influx of foreigners.

Institute of Policy Studies deputy director Arun Mahizhnan said: "Definitely, the government will be responding to the electoral outcome and what they perceive to be the major grievances.

"But some people may think that this is so different from the past. I don't share the view, I don't see this as a paradigm shift. I see this as greater emphasis on certain areas than before.

"That's because the problems are greater, the grievances are more intense, more acute, but this government has mostly been responsive to major complaints most of the time.

What is clear post-GE 2011 is that both politicians and the people will continue to navigate this new terrain of engagement.

For more, watch Channel NewsAsia's "Singapore 2.0: Status Uploading" on Sunday, 8pm.

- CNA/wk

Clivebenss SG

Mr Chan really like to eat a lot, first carrot cakes now pizzas.

FireIce SG

Things are supposed to get better.

Clivebenss SG

must be the world economy.

GHoST_18 SG

prices.

upwards.

lce SG

"Sometimes you can even be involved in the making of the pizza and at the end of the day, you eat what you have [put together] yourself."

but the kitchen has only mee siam mai hum n no other toppings so no matter how much effort u put in making tat pizza. the end taste is still the same

FireIce SG

me like hawaiian.

GHoST_18 SG

pepperoni

laurence82 SG

a lot has changed

more flooding

more mrt breakdowns

more ah tiongs, pinoys and banglas

more inflation

everything is more....what more can we ask for???

Fcukpap SG

yes...agreed!

and more productivity...

except for more income....

makes me feel like smoking.....

charlize SG

I think they preparing for by election.

Good news about them all start coming out.

charlize SG

a lot has changed

more flooding

more mrt breakdowns

more ah tiongs, pinoys and banglas

more inflation

everything is more....what more can we ask for???

More stress.

Haiz.

charlize SG

Times are bad.

winsomeea SG

Change! Now the Peee M has launched facebook. Wayang wayang wayang!

Read comments: http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/05/05/censorship-imposed-on-pm-lees-facebook/

In a posting on his Facebook, PM Lee shared pictures taken by a photographer Sam Kang Li of his neighbors in his HDB block in Tampines. Mr Lee took the opportunity to ask Singaporeans to come up with similar creative ideas to build bonds among the residents.

PM Lee wrote, “I hope other Singaporeans come up with similarly creative ideas, to build friendship and community among ourselves.”

One netizen then replied, “I have taken many photos of elderly still working as rubbish collectors, cardboard collectors, toilet cleaners, waiters, beggars, living off the street. Sir, I am wondering if you would be interested to take a look at the photos too?”

Minutes later, the netizen’s comment was deleted:

Of course, comments that sing praises are left intact.

The netizen’s comment is likely to be deleted by PM Lee’s Facebook team.

It’s no secret that a number of our elderly are being forced to work in menial jobs beyond what their physical bodies are capable of, so as to make a living. It’s no secret that our CPF is generally not enough to see Singaporeans through their retirement. It’s no secret that Singapore government does not believe in providing welfare for the aged and enacts laws to mandate the children must take care of their aged parents, never mind if the children are also struggling to make a living themselves for their own family.

Hence, why the need for PM Lee’s Facebook team to delete a perfectly legitimate concern from a netizen, especially if he has the photos of elderly working in menial jobs to prove it? Otherwise, how are Singaporeans going to feedback the ground situation in Singapore to the PM and the establishment?

Didn’t Dr Yaacob just said, “We have stepped up our engagement and there was a call for more voices to be heard and more voices to be invited in some of the processes” ?

The PM’s Facebook team should have just left the netizen’s comment alone.

Clivebenss SG

can't face criticisms then dun do facebook. Now like that lagi jialat.

iveco SG

I think they preparing for by election.

Good news about them all start coming out.

Is PM calling for by-election in AMK ward as well? Rumours have it that Seng Han Thong wants to retire.

alize SG

Haha, Imelda Saad. Who does she work for?

alize SG

Is PM calling for by-election in AMK ward as well? Rumours have it that Seng Han Thong wants to retire.

Firstly LHL stated in 2008 that if any seat falls vacant for any reason, the decision is up to him and he will choose not to have a by-election. He won't change track and lose face.

Secondly AMK got a high PAP vote by 2011 standards (because RP competed). He won't want to lose this bragging right since people are unhappier now. What more if another party steps in.

Any rumours of SHT retiring are leading others to call for a by-election.

charlize SG

So when by election?

Anybody knows?

winsomeea SG

Wait, be patience. PM looking for funds to give us money then announce the date.