2011 General Election: Difference between revisions

This election also marked the first and the only three-cornered fight since 2001 in Punggol East SMC before it increased to four-cornered fight on a by-election held two years later.

The election was described as a '''watershed''' in various forms by various parties. Some of the reasons why it was thus dubbed are:

: ''Main article: List of political parties in Singapore''

The Reform Party is the newest party and was created on 18 June 2008 and was then led by former Member of Parliament J.B. Jeyaretnam. He could have stood for election after he was discharged from bankruptcy and reinstated to the bar, however, Jeyaretnam died of heart failure on 30 September 2008 at the age of 82. His eldest son, Kenneth Jeyaretnam has since taken up leadership of the party and is now its secretary-general.

==General election campaign==

===Televised forum===

*[https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Singapore_Democratic_Party Singapore Democratic Party], represented by its Assistant Treasurer Dr [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Vincent_Wijeysingha Vincent Wijeysingha];

*[https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Singapore_People's_Party Singapore People's Party], represented by 2nd Vice Chairwoman [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Lina_Chiam Lina Chiam];

Vincent Wijeysingha rejected his comments stating, "We've been a very open party and we're very clear."<ref name="Faris1">{{cite news|last=Mokhtar|first=Faris|title=SDP, PAP clash over mystery videoe|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/sdp-hits-back-pap-criticisms-141142593.html|accessdate=9 August 2011|newspaper=[[Yahoo News]]|date=24 April 2011}}</ref>

Balakrishnan received widespread controversy and criticism online for his remark,.<ref name="drama">{{cite news|last=Paulo|first=Derrick|title=Drama over video, YOG and economic policies|url=http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110507-0000027/Drama-over-video,-YOG-and-economic-policies|accessdate=12 May 2011|newspaper=Today Online|date=7 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120609145108/http://www.todayonline.com/Singapore/EDC110507-0000027/Drama-over-video,-YOG-and-economic-policies|archive-date=9 June 2012|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> On 28 April, he told the press: "there is "no need" to further discuss [the] video". He said that his question was a "legitimate".<ref name="Faris2">{{cite news|last=Mokhtar|first=Faris|title=Vivian Balakrishnan: Let's not talk about the video anymore|url=http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/dr-vivian-let-not-talk-video-anymore-173058828.html|accessdate=16 May 2011|newspaper=[[Yahoo News]]|date=28 April 2011}}</ref>

|-

| {{SG/WP}}

|-

|rowspan="2" |[[Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency|Ang Mo Kio GRC]]

|rowspan="2" |6  

|rowspan="2" |179,071

|-

| {{SG/RP}} || [[Alex Tan|Alex Tan Zhixiang]]<br/>[[Arthero Lim Tung Hee]]<br/>[[Vignes Ramachandran]]<br/>[[Lim Zi Rui]]<br/>[[Mansor Rahman]]<br/>[[Osman Sulaiman]] ||49,851||{{composition bar|30.67|100|#FF0000}}

| {{SG/PAP}} || '''[[Wong Kan Seng]]<br />[[Ng Eng Hen]]<br />[[Josephine Teo|Josephine Teo Li Min]]<br />[[Hri Kumar]]<br />[[Zainudin Nordin]]''' ||'''62,385'''|| {{composition bar|56.93|100|#008FDB}}

|-

|-

|rowspan="2" |[[Chua Chu Kang Group Representation Constituency|Chua Chu Kang GRC]]

| {{SG/PAP}} || '''[[Vivian Balakrishnan]]<br />[[Christopher de Souza]]<br />[[Liang Eng Hwa]]<br />[[Sim Ann]]''' ||'''48,773'''|| {{composition bar|60.08|100|#008FDB}}

|-

|-

|rowspan="2" |[[Jurong Group Representation Constituency|Jurong GRC]]

|rowspan="2" |5  

|rowspan="2" |125,276

|-

| {{SG/PAP}} || '''[[Tharman Shanmugaratnam]]<br />[[Halimah Bte Yacob]]<br />[[Ang Wei Neng]]<br />[[Desmond Lee Ti-Seng|Desmond Lee Ti-Seng (Li Zhisheng)]]<br />[[David Ong]]''' ||'''76,595'''||{{composition bar|66.96|100|#008FDB}}

| {{SG/PAP}} || '''[[Teo Chee Hean]]<br />[[Teo Ser Luck]]<br />[[Penny Low]]<br />[[Janil Puthucheary]]<br />[[Gan Thiam Poh]]<br />[[Zainal Bin Sapari]]'''||'''100,493'''||{{composition bar|64.79|100|#008FDB}}

|-

|-

|rowspan="2" |[[Sembawang Group Representation Constituency|Sembawang GRC]]

|rowspan="3" |1

|rowspan="3" |33,281

|-

| {{SG/SDA}} || [[Desmond Lim]] <small>'''(Loses deposit)'''</small> ||1,387||{{composition bar|4.45|100|#FF0000}}

The [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/People's_Action_Party People's Action Party]'s secretary-general, Prime Minister [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Lee_Hsien_Loong Lee Hsien Loong], described the results as delivering his party a "clear mandate to form the next government".<ref>{{cite news|title=81-6: Workers' Party wins Aljunied GRC; PAP vote share dips to 60.1%|last=Ibrahim|first=Zuraidah|date=8 May 2011|work=Sunday Times|page=1}}</ref> In his post-election press conference, Lee said the polls had "heightened (voters') political consciousness and awareness", and admitted that "many of them desire to see more opposition voices in Parliament to check the PAP government".<ref>{{cite news|title=Pledge to serve responsibly and humbly|date=8 May 2011|work=Sunday Times}}</ref> He described the PAP's loss of Aljunied GRC, which resulted in George Yeo being voted out of Parliament and losing his position as foreign minister, as a "heavy loss to my Cabinet and my team of MPs", but said that the party would "accept and respect the voters' decision".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ge.sg/stories/elections2/view/1081842/1/GE-We-hear-all-your-voices-says-PM-Lee|title=GE "We hear all your voices", says PM Lee – General Election 2011|last=Rajaram|first=Chitra|date=8 May 2011|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|accessdate=9 May 2011}}</ref> The country's Senior Minister, [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Goh_Chok_Tong Goh Chok Tong], also admitted that "there is a sea change in the political landscape" after his team won [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Marine_Parade_Group_Representation_Constituency Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency] with just 56.6 percent of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=SM Goh: The tide was very strong|last=Chow|first=Jermyn|date=9 May 2011|work=Straits Times|page=A6}}</ref>

===Opposition parties' immediate reactions===

In a statement on its website, the [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Singapore_Democratic_Party Singapore Democratic Party] thanked its supporters for their support, saying that it was for them that the party "(continues) to labour on in this undemocratic system with all the odds stacked against us."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4821-thank-you|title=Thank you|date=8 May 2011|publisher=Singapore Democratic Party|accessdate=9 May 2011}}</ref> Its assistant treasurer [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Vincent_Wijeysingha Vincent Wijeysingha], who stood in [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Holland-Bukit_Timah_Group_Representation_Constituency Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency], said that the party's positive vote swing in its contested wards of almost 13 percent from the last elections was an "indicator that things are beginning to move up for our party."<ref name="opposition reaction cna">{{cite news|url=http://www.ge.sg/stories/elections2/view/1081847/1/GE-Opposition-parties-reflect-on-postelection-results|title=Opposition parties reflect on post-election results|last=Saad|first=Imelda|date=8 May 2011|publisher=Channel NewsAsia|accessdate=9 May 2011}}</ref> In a second statement on its website, the SDP described its results as "disappointing", but promised to "build on the foundation that we have laid" for the next elections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yoursdp.org/index.php/news/singapore/4822-democrats-start-preparation-for-next-ge|title=Democrats start preparation for next GE|date=9 May 2011|publisher=Singapore Democratic Party|accessdate=9 May 2011}}</ref> The party's secretary-general [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Chee_Soon_Juan Chee Soon Juan], barred from standing in the election, went on to write an opinion piece for [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/The_Guardian the Guardian], in which he said it "would have been a miracle" had the SDP won any seats, and accused the [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Media_in_Singapore media in Singapore] of suppressing news of the SDP's campaigning.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2011/may/10/singapore-election-democracy-new-media|title=Singapore is taking the first steps to true democracy|last=Chee|first=Soon Juan|date=10 May 2011|publisher=The Guardian|accessdate=13 May 2011}}</ref>

==Legacy==

===Use of social media===

===The first election in which a GRC was won by the Opposition===

Traditionally regarded as a PAP "fortress", a GRC fell to the opposition for the first time in Singapore's political history. In previous elections, the Opposition had never won a GRC, which ostensibly ensure minority representation in parliament but also shut out smaller opposition parties with less resources. GRCs comprise over 86% of the seats, but the Opposition in previous elections would contest "less than half the seats". The election saw the most extensive use of co-ordination to avoid "three-cornered fights" and was also notable for seeing "two veteran MPs" making immense risks by choosing to contest in GRCs rather than their historical SMC strongholds.<ref name="economist2" />

===Further retirements===

Both losing ministers in Aljunied GRC, [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/George_Yeo George Yeo] and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/Lim_Hwee_Hua Lim Hwee Hua], announced their retirements from politics in separate news conferences given in the days after the election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_666950.html|title=George Yeo exiting politics, will not run for Presidency|last=Li|first=Xueying|date=11 May 2011|work=Straits Times|accessdate=13 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513060832/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_666950.html|archive-date=13 May 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_667375.html|title=Lim Hwee Hua will not contest next election|date=11 May 2011|work=Straits Times|accessdate=13 May 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512191013/http://www.straitstimes.com/GeneralElection/News/Story/STIStory_667375.html|archive-date=12 May 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>  George Yeo, who remained popular online and continued to have "a flood of support" after the election and had been repeatedly urged to contest the next election, or even contest the [https://the-singapore-lgbt-encyclopaedia.fandom.com/wiki/2011_Singaporean_presidential_election 2011 Singaporean presidential election] turned his supporters down, declaring, "I'm a free spirit, and I don't think I'm temperamentally suited for such a job."