The resounding victory of the People’s Action Party is not just another milestone in the long-running democratic record of a single party winning all elections in Singapore since its founding in 1965 as an independent nation. In an era in which social media can whip up opposition, if not quite outright dissent, the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong-led party’s sweep of 83 out of 89 seats represents an endorsement by youthful new voters of a system of state paternalism and benevolence that has worked well.
Coming on top of an impressive “SG 50”, the celebration of 50 years of freedom in August, and a nostalgic adherence to the principles of state governance established by the late founding father Lee Kuan Yew, who died last March, PAP’s landslide win, with close to 70 per cent of the popular vote, becomes a case study for the forsaking of a few personal freedoms for common good.
It can be assumed that the large Indian-origin segment of the population, mostly Tamils, also voted for the PAP despite the objection of locals to blue-collar as well as well paying jobs being taken away by expatriates, and to the rising cost of living. This was the first really open election in which the Opposition took part in all seats. As recently as 2006, only 47 of 84 seats were contested. Decreasing growth, income disparities and immigration are some of the problems the younger Lee’s government would be facing. What is guaranteed is the stability of policies in changing times.
