Sometimes looking back at the General Election of 1988, I feel that Singapore had lost a great opportunity to execute democratic reforms and change.The 1980s will be best remembered as the decade when democratic movements were blossoming in many parts of the world-from Argentina to Yugoslavia. And communism,especially in Eastern Europe,was teetering on collapse.
Church social movements and activism were also very vibrant and active in countries like South Korea,Brazil,Chile and the Philippines. They were thought to have played an important part in the democratization process and the overthrow of the Ferdinad Marcos Regime and the withdrawal of the military from politics in South Korea, Brazil and Chile.
The strength and influence of Church movements and activism were not ignored by the PAP Regime. PAP was fearful its hold on power could be threatened by the activities of the local Roman Catholic church if it were influenced by events in the Philippines. Hence the arrest and detention of the 20 Roman Catholic social workers, including Teo Soh Lung and Vincent Cheng, by the ISD on 21st May 1987 under the operation code-named Spectrum. Ironically, these happened a year after Pope John Paul II had made a visit to Singapore.
What is similar with the arrests made under Operation Coldstore in 1963 was that both arrests took place shortly before a General Election is due to be held. Today there is belief that had Lim Chin Siong and his associates been allowed to take part in the 1963 General Election, the Barisan Socialis could have won and taken power. Hence the real motive for the 1987 arrests was also to decimate support for the Workers’ Party, the party which many of the arrested had supported.
Former Solicitor Francis Seow was also arrested by the ISD but he was released in time to take part in the GE 1988. Together with long time Barisan stalwart Lee Siew Choh and comedian Khaild Baboo, they formed the Workers’ Party team for Eunos GRC. (Bear in mind, GRC size back then was just 3). They faced off the PAP team led by the late Dr Tay Eng Soon (who died in 1993).
Eunos GRC, also comprising of part of Bedok and part of Tampines, very soon became the focal point and the most hotly contested area in GE 1988. Despite PAP’s skull duggery and character assassination attempts, the WP team lost to Tay Eng Soon’s PAP side by less than 600 votes. The percentage was, PAP 50.9% vs WP 49.1%.
Nationwide the PAP won all contested seats except one (Chiam See Tong in Potong Pasir), with a popular vote percentage of 63%. Out of 81 parliamentary seats, 70 were contested.The rest were walkovers.
“…had the Internet come sooner, maybe these constituencies would probably have gone to the alternative parties.”
On the surface, it may have looked like a landslide victory for the ruling PAP but just scratch the surface and one could see that apart from Eunos GRC, the PAP had also won narrowly in Bedok GRC (PAP 54% vs WP 46%), Paya Lebar SMC (PAP 52% vs SDP’s David Chew 48%) and Aljunied GRC (PAP 56% vs SDP 44%). If given more days of campaigning, instead of the minimum of just 9, AND the increased political consciousness and courage among the electorate of Singapore AND had the Internet come sooner, maybe these constituencies would probably have gone to the alternative parties.
Maybe the alternative parties (WP and SDP together) would have formed a sizable presence of 11 seats in parliament, enough to provide effective checks and balances on the absolute power of the PAP, MIW and LKY back then.
Maybe the PAP would not become so “kuai lan”, proud, arrogant and self-righteous as they are today. They definitely would not have such a “I-think-I-know-best” kind of attitude and mentality. And they definitely would not dare to wayang in broad daylight.
Today, increasing numbers of people and netizens in Singapore are clamouring for an increased opposition presence in parliament. Many are also clamouring for the voting out of the PAP Regime in GE 2016. All these come after the Opposition and WP won a GRC for the first time in the 2011 GE. The Punggol East by-election victory has given the Opposition and WP an unprecedented 7 seats (not including 2 NCMPs) in parliament since 1965.
It did not stop the PAP from dropping the bombshell of the Population White Paper shortly after the by-election.
Somehow, I fear, I really fear maybe this political awakening might have come too late. There is a high probability the PAP might have been way, way ahead of us in the game. They probably have made sufficient preparations before GE 2016. All the building of new flats and condominiums and shopping malls, the
continued mass importation of FTs from aboard, the naturalization of new citizens at great speed could all be to shore up support for themselves.
Even as Singapore becomes increasingly crowded, congested, overpopulated and polluted. Even as more and more local citizens become unemployed, depressed and suicidal. Even as locals have to bear with the uncouth habits (spiting, peeing, littering) and the rude behaviour of some FTs and new citizens in public places, MRTs and buses. Even as there is increased social friction between locals and FTs/new citizens.
So even if the PAP does get voted out of power one day, Singapore would probably have been sunk by half, if not totally by PAP. PAP leaders, members and their families probably would have scurried to countries like Australia, UK, US, Canada and New Zealand and left such a huge pile of garbage and excrement for the new Singapore governing coalition of opposition parties to handle. PAP and their allies will be living the Swiss life in their new country.
And chances are that when the new coalition parties start to unpick and rebuild Singapore, Singaporeans will become impatient at the progress and once again, the PAP would turn from being shameless villains to becoming the new angels, saints and heroes. Then PAP can plot a return back to power once more, much like what the KMT in Taiwan did in 2008, the PRI in Mexico did in 2012 and the LDP in Japan did on December 16,2012.
History will then repeat itself.
Liew Chin Fu