"Lack of contest in 2011 is a 'challenge' for Tanjong Pagar MPs: Dr Chia Shi-Lu - CNA 30 July 2015
SINGAPORE: Only one constituency - Tanjong Pagar - went uncontested in the 2011 General Election. The lack of a contest there is "a very big disadvantage" for the incumbent Members of Parliament there, says Dr Chia Shi-Lu.
The consultant orthopaedic surgeon was assured of a seat in Parliament on Nomination Day four years ago when a Singapore Democratic Alliance team intending to contest the Group Representation Constituency filed their nomination papers after the deadline.
The People's Action Party went on to win 60.1 per cent of the votes in the 26 other constituencies islandwide, following an intensive campaign period which ultimately saw it lose a GRC for the first time in history.
This is a very big challenge, a very big disadvantage for us," said Dr Chia, speaking to Channel NewsAsia on the sidelines of the Global Youth Leaders' Summit, held at Bishan Park Secondary School on Thursday (Jul 30). "Because of this we actually have to work harder."
"We started working in Apr 2011. Even though we didn't have an election at that time, we did our campaigning," he said.
Part of the reason was to keep themselves on their toes, to ensure the PAP team remained relevant to the electorate.
"If the incumbent has been there for many years, sometimes it may not always work to their advantage because people are used to them and they keep on doing the same thing. It may have worked in the past but it may not work in the future," he said.
In 2011, the Tanjong Pagar PAP team only had two candidates remaining from their 2006 campaign (also a walkover): Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a stalwart there since the pre-Independence 1955 Legislative Assembly General Elections, and Ms Indranee Rajah.
This time round, a rumoured possibility is that Dr Lily Neo will move over from Tanjong Pagar to neighbouring Jalan Besar GRC, where she served as MP from 2001 to 2011.
One man’s shadow looms large in Tanjong Pagar – that of founding Prime Minister Lee, who passed away in March this year.
"We still go according to the principles of Mr Lee - we will do what we have always been doing.
"He has always maintained that his greatest legacy is what continues after he's gone, not when he's around. Now that he's not around, things should just go on; we should work as we have worked before. But when you look at what he has achieved with his team - everything should not be just maintained, but should be better than when he was here.""
Indeed it will be one of the most interesting contests, if any, in the coming GE given that with late Mr Lee in the picture, PAP cannot lose, ever! He was such a powerful figure that had a lot of respect if not fondness with all who know him and were ruled under him.
Lessons for me are:
1. be careful with the Lee Kuan Yew's effect. It can be a double-edged sword as some young voters while became a lot more aware of what he, his 1st generation colleagues and Singaporeans had done to provide the foundation of peace, stability and prosperity of today's Singapore, some are simple too young to feel beholden;
2. if this GRC is being contested, it will be interesting to see who will be the opposition parties and members that the PAP team will face. If there are so-called 'heavy weight opposition figures that are nationally known and with some credibility', it will be very interesting to learn of the final votes count!;
3. it is good to learn that the incumbent MPs are acutely aware of the passing of a giant means they truly have to fend for themselves and win the voters' votes on their own merits. It was unfair on them as surely they are men and women of great capabilities and credibility. Yet, when the late Mr Lee was around, whatever victories, even if the GRC were contested, would have been credited him. I guess it is a bit of the 'MacPherson SMC' for MP Ting where she too is out to prove that her last election as MP in GE2011 under the Marine Parade GRC helmed by then MM/ex-PM Goh was not a 'back-door' entry into Parliament.
It is all to win for the incumbent PAP MPs. Good luck to the contestants whoever they may be.
SINGAPORE: Only one constituency - Tanjong Pagar - went uncontested in the 2011 General Election. The lack of a contest there is "a very big disadvantage" for the incumbent Members of Parliament there, says Dr Chia Shi-Lu.
The consultant orthopaedic surgeon was assured of a seat in Parliament on Nomination Day four years ago when a Singapore Democratic Alliance team intending to contest the Group Representation Constituency filed their nomination papers after the deadline.
The People's Action Party went on to win 60.1 per cent of the votes in the 26 other constituencies islandwide, following an intensive campaign period which ultimately saw it lose a GRC for the first time in history.
This is a very big challenge, a very big disadvantage for us," said Dr Chia, speaking to Channel NewsAsia on the sidelines of the Global Youth Leaders' Summit, held at Bishan Park Secondary School on Thursday (Jul 30). "Because of this we actually have to work harder."
"We started working in Apr 2011. Even though we didn't have an election at that time, we did our campaigning," he said.
Part of the reason was to keep themselves on their toes, to ensure the PAP team remained relevant to the electorate.
"If the incumbent has been there for many years, sometimes it may not always work to their advantage because people are used to them and they keep on doing the same thing. It may have worked in the past but it may not work in the future," he said.
In 2011, the Tanjong Pagar PAP team only had two candidates remaining from their 2006 campaign (also a walkover): Mr Lee Kuan Yew, a stalwart there since the pre-Independence 1955 Legislative Assembly General Elections, and Ms Indranee Rajah.
This time round, a rumoured possibility is that Dr Lily Neo will move over from Tanjong Pagar to neighbouring Jalan Besar GRC, where she served as MP from 2001 to 2011.
One man’s shadow looms large in Tanjong Pagar – that of founding Prime Minister Lee, who passed away in March this year.
"We still go according to the principles of Mr Lee - we will do what we have always been doing.
"He has always maintained that his greatest legacy is what continues after he's gone, not when he's around. Now that he's not around, things should just go on; we should work as we have worked before. But when you look at what he has achieved with his team - everything should not be just maintained, but should be better than when he was here.""
Indeed it will be one of the most interesting contests, if any, in the coming GE given that with late Mr Lee in the picture, PAP cannot lose, ever! He was such a powerful figure that had a lot of respect if not fondness with all who know him and were ruled under him.
Lessons for me are:
1. be careful with the Lee Kuan Yew's effect. It can be a double-edged sword as some young voters while became a lot more aware of what he, his 1st generation colleagues and Singaporeans had done to provide the foundation of peace, stability and prosperity of today's Singapore, some are simple too young to feel beholden;
2. if this GRC is being contested, it will be interesting to see who will be the opposition parties and members that the PAP team will face. If there are so-called 'heavy weight opposition figures that are nationally known and with some credibility', it will be very interesting to learn of the final votes count!;
3. it is good to learn that the incumbent MPs are acutely aware of the passing of a giant means they truly have to fend for themselves and win the voters' votes on their own merits. It was unfair on them as surely they are men and women of great capabilities and credibility. Yet, when the late Mr Lee was around, whatever victories, even if the GRC were contested, would have been credited him. I guess it is a bit of the 'MacPherson SMC' for MP Ting where she too is out to prove that her last election as MP in GE2011 under the Marine Parade GRC helmed by then MM/ex-PM Goh was not a 'back-door' entry into Parliament.
It is all to win for the incumbent PAP MPs. Good luck to the contestants whoever they may be.
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