SINGAPORE, Sept 12 — The large swing in votes in favour to the People’s Action Party (PAP) — with the ruling party garnering its best popular vote share since the 2001 General Election — was partly due to its policies over the past four years, the fact that this is an SG50 year, and strong support from all ages, in particularly, younger voters, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong today.
In a press conference held in the wee hours of the morning at The Treasury, Lee, who is the party’s secretary-general, said the results had “exceeded their expectations”, pointing specifically to the support of the young as one of the reasons for its resounding victory.
“It could not have been done without strong support from the young, and that is a particularly important conclusion from this election because it shows that the young people understand what is at stake, support what we are doing — really to secure a bright future for Singapore and for the young and in due time (they) will be able to take up this responsibility and take the country further forward,” he noted.
The results, he added, are also “an endorsement” of the PAP Government’s policies and performance, pointing out that the party has worked hard to engage Singaporeans “to partner you, to solve problems, to open new opportunities, and to work out policies which suit our needs”.
Citing improvements to the public transport system, housing and healthcare, Lee said these are policies the Government has been working on for a long period of time, “some which have come into fruition over the last four years.”
“People have seen that we are working on their behalf, and these policies are benefiting them,” he added.
This being Singapore’s Golden Jubilee also means it is a time for reflection, and for people to realise what is at stake for the country beyond 50 years, he noted. “It’s time for introspection, time for commitment, and time for resolution.”
The passing of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew — who died in March this year — had reminded people of the values that had helped the country come this far, and which “are relevant to us as we go forward into a changed world,” he said.
PM Lee added that the PAP will work hard to maintain the unique strengths of the country’s system; that is, the ability to maintain a national consensus over the long term, to keep politics clean and non-corrupt, and to “contain populist pressures while being responsive to popular needs”.
Other strengths include Singapore’s ability to solve short-term issues while also being focused on long-term opportunities and challenges in advancing the shared interest of Singaporeans, he said.
Lee was joined at the press conference by numerous Ministers as well as newcomers Ng Chee Meng, Ong Ye Kung and Cheryl Chan, among others.
Asked whether the strong mandate would enable the party to feel it has more space to carry out unpopular or difficult policies, Mr Lee said “we carry out the policies which we feel (are) necessary.”
“And we’ll do that, whether the majority is one or 50 or 70,” he said, adding that they will continue to work hard to account to people for their decisions so they would understand their motives and support their decisions.
The election’s outcome will be noted by the outside world, whether it is by investors, other powers or the country’s neighbours, said Mr Lee, adding that he believes the results will boost confidence in Singapore’s future.
He added that he was particularly satisfied with the party winning back Punggol-East Single Member Constituency (SMC) after losing it in the 2013 by-election, and noted that although PAP did not manage to wrest back Aljunied Group Representation Constituency and Hougang SMC, it had improved on its vote shares in these Opposition-held wards.
Asked if he felt he should have fielded a stronger team on hindsight, Lee would only say: “Tonight is not the time for hindsight, I’m just summarising the results, and there’s time enough for us to play what-if games later on.
“I’m deeply humbled by the confidence which Singaporeans have shown to me and my team, and by the heavy responsibility which the voters have entrusted to us.
“I’d like to remind all my newly elected MPs that you’re elected to serve the people, that this mandate means you have to work extra hard to serve, because we are trustees and stewards. We’re elected to take care of Singapore to the best of our ability, and we will have to account for our performance at the next General Election.” — TODAY
