If one stays online for too long, it is not difficult to perceive that most Singaporeans are ready for a change in government. The bottlenecks in transport, hospitals and housing as well as the foreign influx and discrimination against locals are more than what we can bear.
However, in the offline world, PAP voters are still everywhere, rubbing shoulders with us daily. Who are they?
First, the PAP supporters and I'm not talking about those with vested interests whom you can find them on the ministers' facebooks, heaping praises on a daily basis! These PAP supporters are genuine, who perceive that the good works of this party outweigh the bad. Hence, their continued support.
Second, the politically indifferent. They are too engrossed in their own world and politics is only on election day. I've friends in the PMEs category who don't even know the names of almost every minister. Many politically indifferent Singaporeans may not be earning enough but they are unable to make the connection between their lives and government policies.
Third, and this is a significant group, those who dislike the way our society has turned out and still harbour nostalgia of our less complicated past. Remember, the era of one people, one nation, one Singapore.
However, their entire political world has been only PAP and, thus, find it difficult to make a leap of faith into the opposition camp.
This is the reason for setting up the Old PAP.
Comprising ex-PAP and grassroots activists, the Old PAP will campaign on Singaporeans First values and nostalgia of a less foreign past. The party should contest in the western constituencies, considered to be PAP strongholds. Detractors will label this party 'Team B' and this should be encouraged. A credible party should be able to spilt the PAP vote in the same way as Tony Tan and Tan Cheng Bock.
Hence, a 'Tony Tan' effect will have transformed a solid western PAP stronghold into roughly equal opportunities for the incumbent, Old PAP and the opposition party contesting there.
In the final analysis, this development reflects the growing plurality of Singapore politics.
David Ching
TRS Contributor