GE 2025 - What it is gonna like?

 The drum of a GE is getting louder by the day. Polling Day is set on 3 May. Not much time left for campaigning and walkabouts. Both the ruling party and the oppositions are gearing up for the contest as always. So far it is looking like business as usual, the same text, the same slate of candidates from both sides, and the same narratives to be played over and over again. Nothing new except for a few new faces. Other than the trade war affecting all countries, domestically there are not real clutching issues, maybe rising cost of living and the unstoppable influx of foreigners.

From the opposition side, what I hope to see is more serious contest in terms of candidates and no 3 corner or multi corner fights. The opposition camp has the disadvantage of fielding good candidates that are hard to come by. No doubt they have some very good candidates that are on par with the best in the ruling party. Often the strength of good candidates is compromised by the addition of weak candidates and undermine the competitiveness of the team in a GRC. Every candidate counts and weak candidates included under the DEI formula is an Achilles Heel to the opposition camp.

The second point is to be serious in wanting to win a seat or GRC. When a one on one contest is still a big hurdle to cross, it is ridiculous and a joke to contest in a 3 corner or multi corner fight. What are the intent and purpose of such a fight when losing is nearly a 99.9% reality. A general election is not masak masak, just to contest for the sake of contesting when the chance of winning is practically nil in a multi corner fight. What is going on in the minds of the opposition camp? Fielding a candidate or team for fun, for publicity, for ego in multi corner fights?

On the side, the ruling party, the changing of the guards is expected with the overstayers and less effective MPs and ministers being retired. One of LKY's core belief is that every candidate fielded must be as good as flawless. The ruling party has ample choices, as they could tap on a bigger pool of good candidates. LKY made it very clear that he did not want to bother about the private lives of his candidates. But once a candidate's private life becomes a public scandal, he/she should not be fielded. Such candidates are a liability to the party and his team. No amount of washing with flower water can remove the doubts about such candidates in the minds of the public. Clever explanations are not easily accepted in the courts of public opinions. It is also a reflection of the party's integrity and what it stands for.

The ruling party also have the same DEI problems in fielding candidates and often weak candidates too are being fielded. Both sides are affected by this legal requirement to be politically correct. Given the privilege of numbers, the problem is more exaggerated in the opposition camp than in the ruling party camp.

GE2025 is going to look like any GE in the past except that Lawrence Wong would be put to test as a new PM. He would be faced with the problem of consolidating his power and support base for his next term. This could be tricky as there are many personalities and ageing problems that he has to deal with. He would have to call upon the support of Hsien Loong to ensure a smooth changing of the guards. No minister or MP would want to give up their lucrative positions voluntarily, especially those that have sunk in their roots and think they are indispensable, cannot be dislodged, they are the best in the island.

Lawrence would want a strong team that he can trust and rely upon without having to watch his back. Trust and loyalty are extremely critical during this phase of his premiership when his support base is still in the making.