Post-elections reactions
Tuesday, 10 May 2011
In response to the nation-wide affair as large as the general elections 2011, said to be the most competitive election in Singaporean history and the social media elections, i would like to reflect now, as the elections end. In this post, I would like to address the flaws with the GRC system, the huge publicity received regarding Nicole Seah and Tin Pei Ling and lastly, Mr George Yeo.Firstly, i would think that the GRC system is a huge flaw which groups a number of people together. One for all, all for one. This would mean that the public does not have full power of their vote. Assuming they wanted to vote for one GRC member, they had to vote for all. Assuming they hated one GRC member, they had to give their vote awy to all the opposition members. This does not allow for a one-on-one duel between these politicians, allowing for lousier party members to be a minister of parliament while dragging down the better politicians. If one was truly good enough to be elected, such a GRC system should be demolished. Even if the government wanted to bond the members of parliaments with the community in which they are in charged with, is it not possible that members of parliament get voted in irregardless of party. That is to say, a voter can vote for 4 PAP members and one opposition member?
he GRC system is then largely relevant to the Nicole Seah vs Tin Peh Ling issue. Despite Tin Peh Ling being a hwa chong student, quite obviously Nicole Seah seems more fitted to be a politician, solely based on the fact that she knows what to say at the right time. The problem here is that while Nicole Seah single-handedly gained a significant amount if not half or more of the Singapore Democratic Party's vote in Marina Parade, the PAP team led by Goh Chok Tong, is obviously the more capable team.
Then, the question arises? Is the system then at fault for this?
Another side opinion is the loss of Mr George Yeo today. In my honest opinion, i find that he has fulfilled his duties as a foreign minister and till today, i fail to comprehend why people want him out. Perhaps, he was just unlucky. It was not so much
about him not doing a good job, but Singaporeans felt a need for an opposition. As he announced his retirement from politics these few days, i cannot help but feel that Singapore has lost one of its brightest talents who could potentially get promoted as he is only in his fifties.