Voters, jump into the fray

April 21, 2006
The Straits Times

THE People's Action Party's unbidden burden in parliamentary elections has been one of keeping voters' interest up, or have them thinking about issues that will touch their lives. The House majority is frequently decided by the close of nominations. Opposition parties, scattered as always, spice the ennui by putting up only token resistance. This election, called yesterday for May 6, would not look any different in its probable outcome. But there has been a change of prime minister since the 2001 election, and Singapore by choice is rather more exposed to external stimuli in socio-economic and values trends. This newspaper thinks this makes it urgent for voters to bestir themselves - for once - by getting involved in the constitutional process, even if they do not get to cast their ballots on account of walkovers. Issues facing the nation might seem trite but deserve close attention: achieving the prosperity consensus, softening rich-poor extremes, race relations, external uncertainties, how the nation can avoid leadership exhaustion.

Voters should make the effort to think through the issues that will be raised during the campaign, not as passive recipients of party rhetoric but as participants. On house visits by candidates, PAP or opposition, they ought to ask for policy details and alternatives, beyond what are stated in party manifestos. They would seldom get one-on-one with MPs in constituency and Feedback Unit sessions. They should attend campaign rallies to get a measure of the candidates and assess the public mood. They should educate themselves on newspaper and television reports. PAP candidates declared elected on nomination day usually campaign for their colleagues in contested wards. Change is called for: They should also make house calls as if canvassing for votes, so constituents can engage them on issues. This ought to be a requisite entree for the PAP's new candidates. Just making ritual post-election thank-you rounds can only accentuate the aloofness of walk-in victors.

This election is not only about Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong seeking his own mandate. More important from the standpoint of keeping governing ranks vigorous is the endorsement he is seeking for his slate of 24 new aspirants. Rejuvenation has been shown as the one factor that has warded off the societal decline common in static nations. But the new must be made to earn their spurs.