So far, from all the news and reports generated, the GE is likely to be contested like before, with the same strategies, the same contesting parties and the same tactics and a few new faces. This would lead to about the same results as in the past. With a little luck, the opposition may wrestle another GRC or a couple of SMCs from the ruling party, or nothing at all, or may even lose whatever they have won in the last election. If there are no dramatic changes in how the opposition approaches the GE, do not expect any shattering changes.
Perhaps the opposition parties may want to consider adopting new strategies and tactics to ensure better results in their favour. An understanding of the overall political situation in Singapore, the main issues troubling the people, how serious are they, the strength of the PAP candidates vis a vis the opposition candidates may be a useful guide as to how the candidates are to be fielded and where.
Based on previous GEs, the opposition camps are like placing bets in a roulette table. Each party with a limited number of chips but trying to spread their bets as wide as possible and hoping that one or two would strike. Unless there is a dramatic change in ground sentiments that have turned against the ruling party, spreading wide and thin is unlikely to reap any big wins.
If the reading is that the ground is fairly stable, the opposition may want to rethink their strategies. They may want to concentrate their strength and bundle the good candidates in one or two GRCs to take on the weaker PAP teams. The PAP may still be strong overall, but some ministers anchoring GRCs are no longer the unbeatable ministers of the past. Some have been affected by controversies, some are not well received by the people, some have not been performing to expectation, some are like they have gone AWOL. By pitting their best teams against the weakest teams in the ruling party, the opposition could improve the odds and have a better chance of winning. If they continue to do as in the past, spreading their good candidates to compete in all GRCs, every team will be diluted and turn out to be average, meaning no contest, no fight against the better ruling party teams.
PSP seems to be moving along this line, fielding their strongest candidates in a team to contest in West Coast Jurong. Would the other opposition parties do the same? When their best candidates in a team are still having a tough time trying to win, it is quite unthinkable to think that diluted teams with only one or two strong candidates would stand a chance against the stronger PAP teams.
The same strategy can also be applied to SMCs, by fielding a strong candidate against a weaker PAP candidate. This would require a bit more thinking unlike simply fielding candidates anywhere, against anyone, like tikam tikam. Like the saying, it is better to have a bird in hand than two in the bush. Unfortunately, this strategy may be difficult to apply in SMCs as the seats are limited and opposition candidates are aplenty from the various parties, with some ending in multi corner fights.
2 comments:
At least Harban Singh did provide the element of entertainment in the past, which many were entertained by his rhetoric, some even saying he was the PAP installed jester to make fun of the opposition.
What are all these opposition springing up for today when there is so much division among them and some talking practically nonsense.
I am an opposition voter in Hougang for well over 40 years or since 1991. Just promising this and that without looking at the reality is not going to win votes. It is making the opposition the laughingstock of Singapore.
Are the people ready to bundle the PAP out of power? Or the people just want to send in a few more opposition candidates into Parliament to check the PAP? If the latter, it would be wise for the opposition to put in a few good candidates in a few GRC teams to stand a better chance to be elected, and put them against weak PAP teams.
Simply anyhow hantam may not have the desired results.
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