Another National Day Celebration

One day after National Day the people were greeted by the news that NSP had withdrawn from Marine Parade GRC and MacPherson SMC to pave the way for a straight fight between PAP and the WP. NSP would now concentrate its fire power in Tampines and Sembawang GRC and Pioneer SMC. The most dreaded 3 corner fights in MP and MacPherson have been avoided by this announcement. SingFirst had also announced that it would pull out of Ang Mo Kio to let Reform Party take on the PAP in a straight fight. Reform Party must put up a good and strong team to stand in Ang Mo Kio and not to disappoint the voters with this privilege. Any half past six team would be unforgiveable given that SingFirst is likely to put up a serious team.

The dark clouds have disappeared and the sky is brightening up in the political horizon. The battle ground has more or less defined and all parties are ready to go for D Day.

The most heart warming development in the pre GE tussle is the sense of urgency and purpose, unity and the generosity shown by all the opposition parties. There is now a higher level of maturity, sensibility and cooperation to give confidence to the people that they are not there to contest for the sake of contesting and to be spoilers in multi corner fights. There is reason to hope that they would cooperate more closely and improve their respective chances of making inroads into Parliament.

The flutter of a butterfly set in motion a series of event that could lead to a storm. SDP made the first move by withdrawing from Sembawang. This allowed NSP to secure a firm GRC to contest and made it easier to withdraw from Marine Parade without sacrificing too much ground. If SDP would to stand firm in Sembawang, NSP would have to wrestle with two uncertainties. It is now a case of one bird in hand better than two in the bush. SingFirst must have seen light in generosity to give way to Reform Party in Ang Mo Kio and the goodwill that follows NSP’s move.

With this latest development, all the opposition parties could now concentrate on how to fight their biggest opponent in the PAP instead of fighting among themselves. And it is good that their differences could be settled so quickly and early and with magnanimity. There is a sense of déjà vu in cyberspace with critics closing ranks to support all the opposition parties and praising them for their sensibilities. Kind words were spoken for Hazel’s leadership in NSP as well as Chee Soon Juan and Jee Say.

There is a discreet understanding and common mission to do battle in a way never seen or felt before. Opposition unity is found at last and most likely none will have to lose their deposits except for a few wild horses in the SMCs. Sylvia Lim has thanked NSP for its generosity. There is so much goodwill going around in the opposition camp and among opposition supporters.

This is indeed something to celebrate for in this National Day. The days of bungling and naïve opposition parties running in circus fighting a losing battle before the start of a GE is over. They are appearing more credible just by virtue of this ability to agree and to reach a consensus in a common united front that they were never able to do so before. And with several parties showing promises of rolling out good men and women to pose a serious contest, this is a GE worth watching and waiting for.

A confluence of factors is taking shape.