Over at Pulau Kiasu, predictably the People's Action Party (PAP) won Singapore's general election 82 seats to two, but its support of 66.6% was down from the 75% it enjoyed in 2001.
As pundits put it, for the first time in 18 years a legitimate opposition forced the Government to win the election.
This was Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's first election as a leader. He put on a brave spin and called the 66.6% of votes a very strong mandate.
Typical of the arrogance the PAP had scornfully shown to others, last week prior to the election, Lee had commented on not wanting a ‘pesky’ opposition getting in the way. He said:
"Suppose you had 10, 15, 20 opposition members in Parliament. Instead of spending my time thinking what is the right policy for Singapore, I'm going to spend all my time thinking what's the right way to fix them, to buy my supporters' votes."
‘… buy supporters’ votes …?’ That’s how he treats his Singaporean people. No wonder his party’s supporter has shrunk.
He later apologised, saying he had meant he would have to spend time countering the opposition rather than addressing issues of state.
The PAP even has the undemocratic gall to tell the opposition to change its political-election manifetso because the PAP considered it was politically not acceptable. Not acceptable to whom?
The Workers' Party ignored the Government's demand. Now, what was it that sh*t the hellout of the PAP? The Workers’ Party’s slogan had been "You have a choice". A lesson for us.
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