GE2011 Conclusion

I spent most of Polling Day alone at home. 'Good Fren' had to go to work.

Like a jealous child, I sat by my laptop with my mug of tea, reading the Tweetfall #sgelections and updates from Facebook friends. No voting for people of Tanjong Pagar GRC.

How does one make sense of GE2011? What does it all mean for Singapore 50 or 100 or 1000 years from now?

At least 30% of all Singaporean voters didn't get what they had wanted in GE2011. It's like watching a movie with an ending you already know very well, but you irrationally hope that perhaps Romeo and Juliet wouldn't die in the end.

I think the winning or losing of Parliament seats is not the most significant outcome of GE2011.

The most significant outcome of GE2011 is that we, the Singaporeans, and the world, have witnessed that there are many Singaporeans who are willing to stand up for what they believe in. We, as a people, are growing out of that clueless child who chews on his nails in the corner, steeped in insecurity yet yearning for affirmation.

Let's not kid ourselves. It's not an easy decision to stand as an Opposition party candidate in Singapore. It is highly unlikely that you will get into Parliament, not to mention whether there is a pot of gold at the end of the GE rainbow, waiting for you as an Opposition candidate.

Yet, 87 such Singaporeans from all walks of life have stepped up in GE2011 as Opposition candidates. Some have been doing it continuously for decades.

Sylvia Lim of Workers' Party has made weekly house-visits for the past 8 years, and she is not even an MP. She has been doing this in her own time and based on her own resources.

Yaw Shin Leong of Workers' Party has been supporting his leader Low Thia Kiang and contesting for the past TEN (10) years. Again, at his own cost.

Mr and Mrs Chiam... I cannot begin to describe how strong these two Singaporeans are. I find it very endearing for a couple to be pursuing a common goal together.

Gay candidates, such as Vincent Wijeysingha, must have known that their sexual orientation would have been played up as a contentious issue. Mr Wijeysingha looked it in the eye and soldiered on. He delivered the best speeches of GE2011 again and again.

Former civil servants, such as Tan Jee Say, Hazel Poa, Tony Tan etc, putting their glossy CVs, name, and public service experience to good use, drafting alternative national policies for your consideration. Opening up the possibilities in the minds of Singaporeans. Perhaps such efforts are pre-mature as many Singaporeans are only starting to wake up from their political slumber and do not fully appreciate the value of their contribution yet.

Nicole Seah... The feisty little Nonya who carries herself very well for a 24 year old and first time candidate. She has definitely helped to draw positive attention and energy from many young Singaporeans onto local politics. Her contribution to this scene cannot be ignored.

Apart from the candidates, there are also supporters of this GE2011 process. People who have contributed to this 2-week discourse in big and small ways. Like those people who made the 'Your Vote is Secret' video. Those who help their respective parties quietly in the background. Those who have voluntarily lent their public faces to seek help on behalf of lesser known candidates. Those who were not election candidates but came forward to deliver guest speeches to buttress the credibility of the opposition parties. Those who tried to show their loved ones that there is more than 1 credible political party in Singapore. Those who made their way to the polling booth after 10-hour bus-rides across different national geographical boundaries.

The moral of the GE2011 story must not be constrained by the definition of the brand of politics or government system it fits into, i.e. democracy, socialism, communism etc

Instead, it's about you. It's about every single Singaporean.
It's about your belief that you can make a difference, in your own way. Change does not occur overnight, and every Singaporean counts.

In the bigger scheme of the universe and time, Singapore will disappear some day and no one would even notice it. Just like the way it had come into existence.

But you would have participated in its most glorious days.
(Now you just need to channel a little of that enthusiasm into learning about public policies and national issues.)

Majulah Singapore!