As mentioned in a previous post, this year’s General Elections (GE) was the first time since turning 21 that I was eligible to vote, so naturally I was rather excited and more interested in keeping up with the news and events of the GE. I watched the news coverage on TV, I monitored the online broadcasts and debates, I read the opposition manifestos on their websites, I even attended an opposition rally to witness firsthand being in the thick of things, listening and seeing for myself the opposition team that was contesting my area, and observing the crowd reactions and public sentiments regarding our ruling party. Overall, it was a new and refreshing experience for me and my wife and here are some notes on what I learnt from the whole episode.
1. Politics and democracy
The political scene in my country is indeed evolving and shifting. More people are actually interested in politics, judging from the opposition rally attendances, online netizen reactions and debates, the biggest turnout of voters (2m plus, 90+%), the largest number of seats contested in parliament (82 out of 87), even my church youths, as young as 15-16 are tweeting on politicians and rallies. Forums, rallies, debates happening online, in media, both print and broadcasts, many were allowed for the first time in this GE as well. No longer are we only allowed coverage of politics and elections on TV and the newspapers.
2. Use of social media
This GE also saw the upsurge of new media and social networking sites such as Facebook (FB), YouTube and Twitter playing an unprecedented role in reaching young and tech-savvy generations of current and future voters. Gone are the days where the only opportunity to hear an opposition party speech was if I travelled to some obscure, ulu (out of the way), crowded, sweaty, muddy stadium, and battle throngs of disgruntled mobs and crazy traffic jams. All I have to do is turn on the TV and watch a political debate/forum between parties (in English and Mandarin), click on a official YouTube or FB link, watch an amateur video clip of real-time news events e.g. nomination day, be humoured by spoofs of Darth Vadar politics, techno mixes, impressions, or even surf to individual party websites to read, listen, and watch them share their manifestos and speeches.
3. A new generation
The government is a forerunner, along with some leading churches, in identifying and recognizing the need to groom and empower the 3rd and 4th generation of leaders to rise up and take on the challenge of political or organizational leadership. We saw a record number of stepping down politicians, as well as young 30+, 40+ potentials from all parties being fielded, as well as more women and minority representatives this time round as well. Both the ruling and opposition parties fielded younger candidates. The government even made provision for an increase number of opposition members and other-type members, in a sense symbolically relinquishing their stronghold representation, with about 20% coming from these camps in the new Parliament, versus the old days of 80+ versus 2 old birds.
4. Listening to the ground
One of the greatest gripes of citizens, which opposition parties relished and anchored on, as well as what the ruling party almost echoed verbatim even after their narrow-margin wins in their victory speeches, was the crying plea for the government and leaders to hear the voices of citizens on the ground. “We have heard you, we promise to listen more, your voice has been heard.” The ruling party initially brought out the usual KPIs and “carrots” e.g. estate upgrading, spinning the old record of “look what we’ve accomplished in the past 5 years” e.g. GDP, economic growth, surpluses, bonuses, rebates, credits, etc, comparing credentials, experience, track records with new, inexperienced, relatively unknown opposition candidates. Towards the last week of campaigning, we even saw threats (you will repent!), tears, and apologies from the top cabinet ministers! Of course, on the opposition side, we also have the usual sling of attacking every word and mistake of current ministers and ministries (the 3 biggest hits were housing, health and national security), along with party manifestos with candidates promising to represent, serve and be the alternative voices for the people. We had interesting new plotlines, an opposition team winning a constituency, and cabinet ministers ousted out, and senior ministers’ straight and hard-line comments.
5. Service and trust
At the end of the day, our choice as voters were dependent on not just the parties, but the respective individual and team candidates running for specific constituencies. It was a symbolic rather than personal victory for the opposition constituency win, meaning I don’t believe that voters actually wanted certain cabinet ministers out, but rather wanted more opposition representation in Parliament. The results where the ruling party lost almost 10% on every constituency, with an overall drop to 60+% (15% lower than the previous election) also decisively showed that not only were more citizens disgruntled, but also there has been an erosion of trust over many government decisions and policies affecting the average citizen. “Don’t forget that the government or ministers exist to serve the people,” as several opposition members echoed throughout the campaigning. I believe though there was a silent majority that still voted the ruling party back into power, many are voting with not just their minds, but with their hearts as well. Looking back at past elections, though upgrading and economic growth is important, elections can’t and should not be reduced to such KPIs as deciding factors, they are mere indicators (Key Performance Indicators) that we might be doing things right, but not necessary that we are moving in the right direction, or having the right processes in getting there. Of course, the opposition has an uphill task not just of being alternative voices, but also of building up credibility and proven track records, which many fall short of, except perhaps appearing or being active 1 or 2 years before a GE. Many also, as I would like to call it, “talk air only,” or NATO (no action, talk only). Slamming the government alone does not build trust and confidence for me to vote for an opposition candidate, but wise, decisive insights, alternative policies which are thought-through and best for the overall nation (not just certain sectors at the expense or neglect of others), as well as mature reasoning and sensible debate. It’s not just about eloquence, charisma, and how learned or successful you are in your career, it’s down to whether I can entrust you to represent and serve the nation and specific communities/estates well for the next 5 years.
What an exciting elections, I’m looking forward to the new Parliament, as well as to the next GE in 5 years’ time. It’s times like these that you feel proud to be a citizen, to have a stake and vested interest in shaping our country’s future, and galvanizes people to really search deep down into their hearts to ask, “What makes me a citizen of my country?”
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