PAP switches to local govt strategy

By David Chew

SINGAPORE (JP): Two days before Singaporeans go the polls, the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) is cranking up an aggressive campaign strategy aimed at wiping out their opposition.

The PAP is campaigning along local government election lines, focusing on issues like public housing rather than personalities espousing abstract national issues like democracy.

The PAP, in power since 1959, sees their opposition's inability to deliver on important domestic issues as a weakness they will be able to exploit.

But the Workers Party (WP), the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP), the Singapore People's Party, the National Solidarity Party and the Democratic Progressive Party are sticking to their guns on wider-view issues, and argue that these issues are as, if not more, important.

They have criticized PAP policies as elitist and likely to widen the gap between rich and the poor. Highlighting the dangers of a one-party parliament, they have called for the election of more opposition MPs to check PAP excesses.

Nominations for the election, the eighth since Singapore left Malaysia in 1965, closed on Dec. 23. The stakes are high for the PAP, and particularly Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong who took over from elder statesman Lee Kuan Yew in 1990.

Nothing less than an overwhelming mandate will satisfy Goh and the PAP, which has been instrumental in transforming Singapore from a congested island riddled with serious socioeconomic problems to the commercial and technological hub of Southeast Asia.

Singapore is balanced precariously in a dynamic region, surrounded by neighbors in various stages of economic development. The PAP feels it must strengthen its mandate if it is to lead the country effectively into the 21st century.

The party learned a bitter lesson on the hustings at the 1991 polls when it employed a western-style, personality-based campaign. The opposition, acknowledging its inability to form an alternative government, conceded sufficient seats in walkovers to enable the PAP to form the government on nomination day.

With the ruling party ensconced in power, opposition parties argued that a contrasting presence in parliament was essential, insisting that it would not compromise the PAP's right to rule, but would go a long way in checking the excesses of a headstrong government.

The opposition parties were successful in increasing their representation in parliament from two seats in the 1988 polls. The PAP dejectedly saw its tally of seats decline from 79 to 77 three years later.

While the opposition's strategy may be acceptable in many democracies, Goh feels that tiny Singapore, facing severe internal constraints and formidable external challenges, cannot afford such a luxury.

In his view there is nothing to stop irresponsible politicians being elected to parliament by mouthing impractical, populist slogans that will ultimately obstruct the implementation of the government's pragmatic policies.

He has argued that if this strategy is carried to its logical conclusion, the long-term prospects for Singapore could be a hung parliament. The PAP fears such a scenario would deprive Singapore of the massive mandate needed to meet the crucial challenges of the future.

But when the opposition repeated their 1991 strategy, this time conceding 47 of the 83 contested seats in walkovers to return the PAP for another five years in office on nomination day, Goh felt compelled to run them down at all costs to ensure the success of the PAP's local government election strategy.

The premier had in fact earlier changed the format of the elections, placing more emphasis on teams rather than individual candidates. Goh has argued that candidates working in teams are better placed than individuals to work effectively.

Thus a breakdown of the 83 parliamentary constituencies reveal that only nine remain as single-MP wards as against 74 which have been regrouped as 15 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs). A GRC is an amalgamation of four to six constituencies into one where its MPs contest the election together as a team.

As polling day approaches, the PAP continues its scathing attacks on opposition leaders like SDP Secretary-General Dr. Chee Soon Juan who had been heavily fined for falsifying statistics to mislead the people. The PAP has said repeatedly that their opposition lacks credibility and were thus unfit to serve the people.

In the process, Goh has issued an ultimatum to voters. He has made it clear they may either vote for the ruling party or the opposition and not both. If they heed the populist appeal of the opposition, he would take this as a rejection of the PAP's economic development plans, like the upgrade of homes and subsidies for health care and education.

Goh has said he would respect their choice but added, "...you will be left behind. Then in 20, 30 years' time, the whole of Singapore will be bustling away, and your estate -- through your own choice -- will be left behind. They (will) become slums".

The opposition have cried foul, accusing the PAP of political blackmail. Controversial WP Secretary-General J.B. Jeyaratnam said it was unethical for the ruling party to use taxes collected from all citizens to buy votes by offering upgrading programs for PAP supporters, while threatening or intimidating those who support the opposition.

The opposition have also called on Singaporeans to reject the PAP's contention that the coming election would be a local one, saying it should in fact highlight national issues such as the rising cost of living, ministerial salaries and the goods and services tax.

Persuading voters to elect more opposition MPs, Dr. Chee asked, "Do you want parliament again to be overwhelmingly and utterly dominated by the PAP or be one where there is an alternative voice, the people's voice? We will try to be that voice".

The ruling party appears to be under greater pressure than the opposition to perform well in the coming polls, say analysts.

"Many Singapore voters, especially young, educated people are likely to take more kindly to an opposition that has conceded power to the PAP and want to play the role of a watchdog rather than a ruling party seeking to completely exclude the opposition," says a National University of Singapore lecturer who declined to be named.

All Singapore awaits the result of this prediction.

The writer is a freelance journalist based in Singapore.