Winds of change blow in Singapore as WP wins Punggol

Workers Party supporters celebrate after Lee is declared winner of the the Punggol East by-election, in Singapore January 26, 2013. — Reuters pic

SINGAPORE, Jan 27 ― The winds of change continue to blow through Singapore as the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) was trounced in the Punggol East by-election yesterday, with the Worker’s Party (WP) winning by more than 10 per cent in a four-cornered fight for the parliamentary seat.

WP’s Lee Li Lian received 54.2 per cent of the votes, beating PAP’s Koh Poh Koon who got 43.7 per cent out of 29,415 valid votes cast.

Sources had told Singapore’s The Straits Times that WP led by 1,500 votes, which was more than the two per cent margin required for a recount.

There were six polling stations with about 31,469 registered voters in the ward.

The Singapore Democratic Alliance party and Reform Party candidates, Desmond Lim and K. Jeyaretnam respectively, lost their deposits after falling well shy of the 1,492 votes needed.

Lee, 34, will be replacing MP Michael Palmer ― the former Speaker of the House and PAP member who resigned after admitting to an extramarital affair.

The WP’s win, with a bigger-than-expected margin of 10 per cent, makes it a hat-trick of big electoral wins for the party, following its historic capture of the Aljunied GRC at the 2011 general election and its successful defence of the Hougang stronghold in a by-election last May.

Aware of the possible heightened expectations, WP chief Low Thia Khiang told reporters that the party was prepared to assist the PAP-led government in working harder to improve life for Singaporeans.

The counting for the by-election wrapped up within three hours, but the impact of the polling outcome will be felt and analysed for years to come.

“The results show the people want the government to work harder. People still feel the high cost of living,” Low was quoted as saying by ST.

“The by-election effect was probably at work. The vote was a vote both against the ruling party and for the WP. National issues were important to some voters,” said WP’s Sylvia Lim.

“I hope this will encourage women to enter politics,” she added.

ST’s Opinion Editor Chua Mui Hoong said the results showed the voters preferred loyalty or candidates who stuck by them.

Lee, who got 41 per cent in the general election in 2011, improved her showing by about 13 percentage points, winning over nearly 4,000 voters more.

The editor also said the WP was now firmly entrenched as a serious challenger to the PAP in the battle for votes.

In 2011, it went beyond its stronghold Hougang to win neighbouring Aljunied GRC. In 2012, it retained Hougang in a by-election, despite the scandal over the sacking its own MP in relation to alleged extramarital affairs. On Saturday, it showed it can wrest a secure PAP seat despite PAP bigwigs campaigning for Dr Koh.

The editor also said the result suggested the desire for an opposition nestles wide and deep among Singapore’s voters of the future.