Post-election view:
End the personal attacks
Be positive, either join PAP or an opposition party to work for a better future. By Seah Chiang Nee.
May 12, 2006

Almost a week after the general election, quarrelling supporters are still flinging invectives like “parasites” or “running dogs” or worse at each other.

Protected by anonymity, some are indulging in an orgy of insults that contributes nothing to their cause. Verbal abuses have emanated from fans of both sides.

Opposition hotheads have called on their PAP rivals to ‘eat (manure)’ or heap personal insults at its leaders or winning candidates.

Singaporeans who voted for the PAP in Aljunied GRC are labelled ‘idiots’, ‘greedy’ or ‘cowards’; some even talk rather ridiculously of election rigging.

PAP supporters are, of course, just as rude. Oppositionists are attacked as ‘crap’, ‘opportunists’ and ‘traitors’. One describes them as ‘parasites, termites, pests and vermins’ - all in one sentence.

Marked for personal insults are figures like Mr. Chiam See Tong and Miss Sylvia Lim, the same that have been meted out to the PAP leaders.

I can go on, but I think you get the picture. Party leaders of course, frown upon this type of electioneering that every party wants to end.

It’s not easy to stop it, thanks to the worldwide web. Nine days of emotional campaigning have evidently left behind deep disappointment and anger, particularly on any losing side that had expected to win.

The worst comes from Aljunied GRC, in which PAP won by 74,810 votes to Workers Party’s 58,585 votes.

For disappointed supporters there – and everywhere else - I make this appeal, “The election is over! End the vitriolic!”

The PAP has been elected, though not everything has gone its way; the defeated side, after winning a surprisingly strong 33.4 per cent of the votes, has offered its congratulations and promised to ‘come back.’

This is as should be in a democracy. This is what political maturity means. Whatever our personal feelings about the outcome, it is the verdict of the majority and we should respect it.

Singaporeans should leave behind their disappointment and stop attacking people who had voted for ‘the other side’. Simply put, voters have the right to their choice without being ridiculed.

Like it or not, the PAP will be the government for the next five years and we have to work with it for Singapore’s interests. The same should apply if the Workers Party or the Singapore Democratic Alliance had won.

Harbouring resentment for five years is neither helpful nor profitable.

Before any one gets heated up, I must hasten that this is neither a call to stop criticising the government or end political involvement until the next election.

My personal wish, in fact, is the opposite. Informed citizens with Singapore’s interests at heart should remain interested in current affairs and play a bigger – not a lesser – role in politics.

If I were asked to put my thoughts in brief forms, I’d do it as follows: -

1. Singaporeans who believe their future lies in a strong PAP should, of course, continue to support it.

2. Those supporters who believe that certain policies need to be got rid off or changed for a better future should strive to persuade it to change from inside.
Bombard its feedback outfits with ideas or work through its MPs. My feeling is that in the next five years, PAP will act on feedback more than before.

3. People who dislike the present system, should work to change it either through the ruling party or by joining an opposition and strive for reforms within the law.

4. Those believe that Singapore’s interests are best served by having a good opposition party (or parties, hopefully not too many) and its credible presence in Parliament should join one, stand for election and work towards this objective – again within the constitution.

5. Politics is fine, but remember that it is subservient to the interests of the nation.

The worst action is for Singaporeans is to simply whine from the sidelines or just condemn serious politicians – either from PAP, WP or SDA - who are trying to build a better tomorrow.

(This is an expanded version of article “Polls over, let’s move on” published in The New Paper on May 12, 2006