Yaw Shin Leong campaigned together with "Ah Poh" in GE2001 and shares his post-GE reflections and his beliefs. He appeals to fellow like-minded young Singaporeans to step forward to serve fellow citizens of our beloved Singapore. He can be contacted at yawsl@wp.org.sg

While GE2001 may disappoint many in Singapore and seems to signal the death of oppositional politics, I beg to differ. Even though it is well said that it is not the duty of the PAP to ensure a vibrant opposition, this does not negate the necessity of political competition in our country. This article will outline why GE2001 has further reinforces my beliefs that what I am doing is RIGHT and also why as a result of the competitive process of GE2001, Singaporeans stand to benefit even more!

Right To Vote

Ever since the creation of the GRC system in 1988, many Singaporeans while owning the right to vote never had the opportunity to exercise it. This is a brilliant political maneuver that hits right at the resource limitations of opposition parties. As a result, we are the only country in the world whose government is formed even before polling day! This makes a mockery of the Westminster parliamentary system that we claim to be practicing. This is the soundest cry for the existence of opposition parties and political competition. The very presence of oppositional candidates offering themselves and their services to residents gives you, the citizens, a chance to exercise your rights.

Bargaining Power

Although the loss in Nee Soon East is an emotional setback at the party level, our participation in the electoral process has borne positive consequences for residents there at the national level. The consequences are two-pronged: the rectification of a deficient grassroots system; and the delivery of the ruling party's perennial upgrading carrot. Even though "Ah Poh" lost, temples are promised a more impartial process in their organization of the Seventh Month festivities while residents will soon be enjoying a higher standard of living under covered walkways and new hospital facilities. Such are the benefits of our "Ah Poh Effect". Residents outside Nee Soon East should not brush this issue aside as petty grassroots politics. In fact, this episode has highlighted the need for checks and balances at the grassroots level across constituencies and also at the national level.

The benefits to residents can be more obviously witnessed in both Hougang and Potong Pasir SMCs. It is because of the political competition from Mr. Low Thia Khiang and Mr. Chiam See Tong that promises of upgrading are extended to residents in exchange for merely diminishing the victory margins of the two veterans! More shocking is the PAP's promise of giving these two constituencies priority amongst all other PAP constituencies in its upgrading plans.

To further illustrate, in Hougang & Potong Pasir, the PAP even changes their conditions of carrot dangling. In 1997 GE, upgrading was either PAP win to upgrade or nothing. This time round, even if PAP looses, residents will still get upgrading provided that the conditions are met! When voters do not bite PAP's carrot and PAP is unable to achieve what it originally wants, PAP will then change the conditions to be even more acceptable and more appealing to the voters.

The above are the tangible benefits of political competition to citizens. It is clear that it is only with political competition that citizens are empowered with any bargaining power at all with the ruling regime.

Accountability

However, bargaining power during elections can only go so far. Without opposition in Parliament, the PAP government might or might not honour their election promises. One example is that of Cheng San GRC. It was promised upgrading in the 1997 General Elections, but how many of the estates under the old Cheng San have been upgraded today? And Cheng San no longer exists as a constituency. Bt Gombak (Hill View Estate) was promised upgrading by the PAP during the 1997 elections. The shocking situation was that after the elections, Hill View Estate was demolished Enbloc instead. The voters there who were swayed by the PAP upgrading carrot, ended up having to move out. To make matters worse, Hill View Estate has since become part of a GRC uncontested in recent elections. With no contest, even if the PAP did not keep their promise, what can the residents do?

The Baptism Of Fire

The other benefit of political competition is even more fundamental to the future of our country. The proverbial baptism of fire should not be taken lightly. It is ironic that this lack of baptism of fire is even a problem to begin with, because shouldn't all MPs be subject to this ritual? For all candidates, having to contest is the foundation to their political future because only by winning the contest, will they be provided with the mandate to office. On a personal level, having campaigned and reached out to the residents will make a better leader out of a candidate. Ho Peng Kee himself testified publicly that he is now a better politician. This can only augur well for the future of Singapore. Cheerios to yet another benefit of our "Ah Poh Effect"!

After the GE, PM Goh assigned top jobs to seven newcomers in our new cabinet. While these newcomers are experts in their own fields, but they have yet to prove themselves both at the grassroots and national levels yet are already designated future leaders, this mandate becomes even more critical to their legitimacy to lead. In fact, this baptism of fire is their only mandate to legitimacy.

Sounder Policies

Not only does political competition result in better and tougher leaders, it means better-formulated national policies. There are two scenarios to this. Firstly, in the knowledge that issues are bound to be scrutinized by opposition candidates during elections, the ruling party will be on their toes in ensuring that national policies are sound and acceptable. Secondly, if opposition candidates are voted into Parliament, this enables direct participation and scrutiny of policies, resulting in more accountability and transparency.

Alternative Voices

Lastly, political competition means the representation of alternative voices and more diversity in the Parliament. The very act of wanting to form a shadow cabinet from existing PAP ranks is their implicit acknowledgement of the need for alternative voices. But this concept is fundamentally lacking because all party members are governed by the party whip despite other assurances. Your shadow sits as you sit, stands as you stand, does as you do. So where is the alternative? Clearly the shadow cabinet is not the answer to PAP's search for alternative voices for this is the role of opposition MPs.

In the machinery of parliamentary democracy, political competition is an indispensable component in its day-to-day running. So it is that the opposition and its MPs are irreplaceable cogs in this machinery.

Singapore Needs You!

Having said all of the above, it is pointless to merely make it an academic exercise pointing out factors and reasons with no follow up action. I feel that it is a "chicken-egg-egg-chicken" issue. If fellow Singaporeans wishes to have more credible opposition members in Parliament, please do step forward! Please do not merely lament at the sideline! To cite a famous quotation "Ask not what the country can do for you, instead ask what you can do for the country" Yes YOU! Singapore needs YOU!

Monday, February 11, 2002