Opposition wipeout possible if voters think NCMPs will suffice as alternative: WP

Singapore

THIS General Election will be more challenging for the Workers' Party and the risk of a wipeout of the opposition from Parliament remains if Singaporeans think the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) scheme is a solution for an alternative voice in Parliament, the Workers' Party's (WP) leadership said.

In a doorstop interview with the media at the party's stronghold of Hougang shortly after its teams were successfully nominated, party chief Pritam Singh said winning an election has always been an uphill battle for the opposition going by historical trends.

"It took us 16 years before one seat fell to the opposition in 1981 - 16 years after our independence. And it took 23 years after the enactment of the GRC system for the opposition to break through in one GRC," the party's secretary-general said.

The Covid-19 pandemic poses further challenges, he added, as more resources would have to be put into social media, on top of the ground campaign.

"The WP is always up against an opponent who is much more well-resourced and which always fights hard in every election, so obviously I want our candidates to do well and to fight equally hard," he said, noting the possible risk of a "wipeout" of opposition MPs in Parliament by the PAP.

Dennis Tan, WP's candidate for Hougang SMC, said Singaporeans must be very careful not to fall into the trap of thinking that the Non-Constituency MP (NCMP) scheme is a solution for an alternative opposition in Parliament.

Mr Tan's comments follow remarks by PAP leaders suggesting that the NCMP scheme guarantees at least 12 opposition MPs in Parliament even if the PAP took all the elected seats.

Mr Tan was appointed NCMP in 2015 after losing to PAP's Cheryl Chan in the former Fengshan SMC, with 42.5 per cent of the votes. While the experience in Parliament has given him confidence, the NCMP scheme will ultimately limit the reach of the opposition, he said.

"It will prevent us from sinking roots into the constituency because even as NCMP, not to mention normal opposition party members doing work on the ground, we are not allowed to hold events," Mr Tan said.

This could continue to increase the "super majority" of the PAP in Parliament, he pointed out.

"So one day, whether in the near or farther future, if PAP were to fail, if PAP were to do very badly, how is another party going to take over from zero to 51 (per cent)? Does Singapore want that kind of scenario? It will be disastrous," Mr Tan said.

Asked about Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's surprise move to East Coast GRC, Mr Singh said: "It's an important signal that the PAP are sending - that they take our challenge in East Coast very seriously.

"I would say we take their challenge equally seriously and that's why we put a strong slate of candidates in East Coast."

In an earlier media interview at Deyi Secondary School, where Mr Singh and his team for Aljunied GRC filed their nomination papers, party chairman Sylvia Lim said they are "quietly confident" that every slate they field is strong, diverse and able to represent the residents of that area.

WP is contesting two single-seat wards and four group representation constituencies of which it is seeking to defend its crown jewels Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC.

READ MORE: