Many TRS readers are strongly anti-PAP.
They have no fear and will love to bad-mouth PAP in many ways possible, and calling pro-PAP supporters stupid, dumb or assholes.
But have you ever wondered why people still choose to vote for PAP?
During my walkabouts, I have to do outreach and walk under the sun and be like a credit card salesman and talk to potential swing voters to cast a vote for the opposition.
It's not easy. Many residents may think you are a tissue paper seller or an insurance salesman and may run away/ walk away from you. Then, there are also people who don't even care about politics and are not interested to talk / hear from you.
Common objections and concerns I encountered include:
1) If I vote for opposition, I might not enjoy benefits.
This concern comes from the residents who may need estate upgrading programmes such as the Home Improvement Programme to renovate their toilets or kitchens.
Some residents may be on financial aid and are worried if their ward falls into opposition hands, CDC and PA may cut off their financial aid to punish them.
2) But the opposition aren't really that good.
Residents are used to seeing PAP fielding scholars after scholars so they may think that since they have done well in their academics, they must be better and can lead the country than opposition members.
Even if opposition parties are able to attract calibre such as Chen Show Mao, they have it much tougher as MSM and grassroots leaders will actively promote their own PAP scholars type than opposition members, which makes it much tougher for residents to know good calibre opposition members.
3)New citizens will definitely vote for PAP
Surprisingly, contrary to what we believe, new citizens may cast a vote against opposition if we try hard enough to sway them.
New citizens usually attend tea sessions with grassroot leaders so the political message to vote for PAP is already there.
But during my walkabouts, some new citizens are potential swing voters who may vote against PAP if they do believe it is better for them and their family as well.
4) Opposition parties such as WP are Wayang Party.
Residents may be dissatisfied with WP for being too slow and making only incremental changes. They may not know that PAP has the civil service behind them and can get the thing done easily when you have an army of troops behind you, so it is easy to just say WP is no substance party,
5) I see my MP every time at MPS and celebration events and it makes me harder to vote against her/ him.
Residents may think that just because your MP do MPS and attends functions means that he/she is a good MP. They may fail to realise that their MP may be sleeping during parliament or may not know if their MP has spoke up on their behalf during Parliament.
CJ
TRS Contributor