If I could vote...

I only voted once, and that was even before I really knew what voting means. The 2000s was a different environment, and I was a different person then.

Back then I had only just started working. Back then opposition sounded credible. We had Mr. Chiam and Mr. Low. Back then Hougang SMC and Potong Pasir SMC were always considered the opposition wards. Back then social media wasn't that active.

A decade later, I change and everything change too. But that's why I always believe change is the only constant. We have to progress. Much as we all love the old Singapore, we know that the new Singapore has to continue evolving for us to progress.

So every time I come back to Singapore, I see changes. Some for better, some not really. And I compare. Compare against Melbourne, against Tokyo. Many say we don't appreciate our country till we see the world and realized we took a lot of things for granted while we were in Singapore. I say I seen positive points in Melbourne and Tokyo which I'm sure Singapore can learn from. At least the transport in Tokyo is of substantial standard despite the highly dense population. But I could say the same that in terms of efficiency, how much I hate the efficiency rate in Melbourne when comparing it with Singapore. The response rate from the (particular) property agent was driving me nuts just a few weeks ago. Though I'm did encounter more efficient property agent but unfortunately I couldn't find any suitable apartment under their listings. In the end, I feel is not that we don't appreciate the new Singapore, we are just at the stage where we reminisce old Singapore and wish to hold on the good parts about it. Is probably like our parents would miss the kampung days but not the 'partially clean' living condition or the 'water from well' days. Those are the stuff that we progress for the better at the expense of the friendly neighbourhood spirit.

Thus I had been so looking forward to vote in this election. That I even read up about the parliament because I wanted to know exactly what happens when a parliament is dissolved. Is the President in-charge then? Never really got a definite answer on that though. But I had a brief understanding of the history of Parliament.

Source: www.parliament.gov.sg

I realized in 1984, we have already started making efforts to ensure a minimum number of members from the opposition parties. And the existence of GRC is to ensure minority interest.

And then I researched purely on my own constituency. The percentage of votes for the last 2 elections and current election
68+% vs 31+%
57+% vs 42+%
72+% vs 27+%

I guess anyone can see the opposition support is the worst in this election. And many has blog/interview/analyse the reason for the swing towards PAP. In my opinion, none said it better than organising secretary Mr. Ng.

First, he said, Singaporeans had been reminded of the country's progress since Independence, by events such as the SG50 celebrations, the death of founding prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in March and the National Day celebrations in August. 

Their realisation of Singapore's progress was all the more stark in light of its neighbours' current troubles, he said.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

To say it is a biased election is unfair but some will call it that. Obviously if you have the upper hand, wouldn't you set a stage to be more favourable for yourself. Nobody likes going into a battle with the odds against oneself.

But even if the election date had not been strategically chosen. If it will be a year later (which was why I had thoughts that I could vote), the result will still be the same.

Because the petty Opposition quarrels among themselves about 3 corner fights and the disunity among themselves even though they all belong to the Other voice is getting too ridiculous for me. I once thought that voting opposition can do them the favour of getting back their deposit. But this year, if I could vote, I refuse to do that. In fact I want them to lose their deposit and wake up their idea that they are not gaining our support if they cannot clean up their acts and be a stronger party.

Which is why I totally concur with Mr. Ng last paragraph.

When asked if the ballot box result meant that Singaporeans were not in favour of a two-party system, Dr Ng replied that Singaporeans were in favour of high standards.

He said: "What voters are saying is that if you have good candidates then whether it's two, three or four parties, first of all, they must prove themselves to be credible, honest, have integrity. 

Source: www.straitstimes.com

And thus it was amusing to read that people feel that we have given PAP the true mandate as they no longer can say PAP win by walkovers. I agree on that we have indeed voted, but we have all voted because of our love of Singapore, old and new. But I'm still skeptical if we have truly supported PAP or because the oppositions have not proved their mettle. In any case, I still feel our parliament system have much to improve on.