Nomination Day Wrap

By Ahmad Osman
April 27, 2006
AsiaOne Special Political Correspondent

Singaporeans casting their votes in the general election on May 6 have to decide - for the first time since 1988 - who will form the next government running Singapore.

"I think this is an important issue," Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today after the closure of nominations for the polls. As expected, his ruling People's Action Party (PAP) was not returned to power.

It had walkovers in only 37 of the 84 parliamentary seats in 14 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) and nine single-member seats.

There are no contests in seven GRCs - Tanjong Pagar, Marine Parade, Jurong, Bishan-Toa Payoh, Hong Kah, Holland-Bukit Timah and West Coast.

The battle is on between the PAP and the Workers' Party (WP), the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). There were no independent candidates.

They will fight to win the hearts and minds of the electorate in the other 47 seats in seven GRCs and all the nine single-member wards.

The GRCs: Ang Mo Kio, Aljunied, East Coast, Jalan Besar, Pasir Ris-Punggol, Sembawang and Tampines.

The single-member seats: Hougang, Potong Pasir, Nee Soon Central, Nee Soon East, Bukit Panjang, Chua Chu Kang, Joo Chiat, MacPherson and Yio Chu Kang.

Mr Lee who is facing his first electoral battle as Prime Minister will respond to a challenge from a WP team led by Yaw Shin Leong, a 30-year-old business analyst.

"We are eager to fight them," he said, adding: "We know what we stand for and we will get our message across to the people."

As expected, WP chairman Sylvia Lim, a law lecturer and the opposition's poster girl, is challenging a PAP team led by Foreign Minister, George Yeo in Aljunied GRC.

Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar and his PAP team in East Coast GRC are taking on five candidates from the WP.

WP chief Low Thia Khiang who is aiming to stay in his Hougang ward where he has been the MP for 15 years is facing PAP opponent, Eric Low.

SDA leader Chiam See Tong who is gunning for his sixth term as the MP of Potong Pasir is facing Sitoh Yih Pin of the PAP.

Speaking after the walkover at Tanjong Pagar GRC, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, urged voters in contested constituencies to give the PAP a strong mandate to continue to govern Singapore.

He said: "Who can look after you? Is it an opposition that promises many things, but will not form the government and therefore cannot deliver.

"Or is it the government that has made promises and will deliver and has delivered before. That is your choice."