GE2015 – Order in disorder

This GE is going to be a very different GE from the past. Many things have changed, many variables have been taken out from the equation. There used to be disorder in the opposition camp and they would end up fight among themselves to see who would keep the deposit and who would claim to have done well for keeping their deposits. Winning was not in their minds other than participating in a general election for the sake of participation. Losing was a certainty and they kept going at losing by indulging in multi corner fights.

The fear of the same thing happening seems to be over after the second meeting of the opposition camp. They have more or less carved out the electoral map and decided who would contest in which GRC and single wards. Other than a three, 1 single ward and two GRCs, the rest of the field have been settled. Even then, the likelihood of an amicable solution is quite likely as can be seen by SPP and DPP closing rank to take Bishan Toa Payoh together. SingFirst and Reform Party may adopt the same formula to field a combined team in Ang Mo Kio. Such an option would see the two parties putting up their strongest candidates for the contest instead of the nothing to lose suicide squad in the past.

Yes, the opposition parties would be fielding their best candidates in this GE without over stretching themselves and putting up weak candidates for the sake of standing for an election. Without going for broke or trying to prove how many candidates they could field like the in past, they are saving their best ammunition for a real crack at the seats available. Every party will be choosing their candidates very carefully to make every man counts.

One positive outcome is that Ang Mo Kio will have a real contest if the Reform Party and SingFirst were to join forces and put up their best candidates for the job. This time Hsien Loong is not going to have it easy as before when only the unknowns were put up more like sacrificial lamb. In this GE, the sacrificial lambs or suicide squads, the no hoppers or nothing to lose candidates, would likely come from the PAP in WP held wards.

Every opposition party would put up their best for this election as they consolidated their strength to avoid 3 corner fights. This has turned out to be a good thing, with the opposition parties finally wised up to the challenge. They would still be a handful of wild cards who would think they can win in a 3 corner fights in single wards. What is their real motivation is anyone’s guesses but they will be seen as the spoilers to the party. Thankfully this will not be the norm and the main contest to be in Parliament will be as serious as it can be.

Let’s hope there will not be any nasty surprises during Nomination Day and no kelongs. It would be very painful to see parties given a GRC to contest but put up a dud team to compete, as good as giving a walkover to the ruling party.