There are some voters out there who are swing voters and will only vote for the opposition if they are credible.
Many TRS readers label these swing voters as daft and say that even if opposition fields a dog, they will still vote for the dog and not PAP.
But then again, their logic is simple and reasonable. Everyone is entitled to one vote only and reasons, "If I don't even know the opposition candidates well, I will still vote for PAP."
My mother is a fence sitter as well. Being the Pioneer generation, she is used to the PAP brandname. Already, SPH and Mediacorp are PAP mouthpieces who showcases very little opposition candidates or cast them in a bad light. She only knows a few opposition candidates such as Chiam See Tong and a few WP candidates.
When asked what would change her mind, she replied that only when Chiam See Tong appears in front of her and introduces some new candidates to her, then she may consider switching her votes. No way was she going to vote for opposition if she is not familiar with the candidates.
To break the stranglehold of PAP and to convince these swing voters to come onboard, I sometimes use the "Spoil Your Vote" logic to reason with them.
The simple fact is that giving any one party a very high mandate means that they can pretty much do whatever they want without any accountability or worry.
Below are some reasons I can think of to spoil your vote and vote for any opposition, even if you don't even know them well.
1) In 2001, after Sep 11, PAP received a high mandate of over 70% as many voters were afraid of the unknown. After that, PAP increased GST to 5% and then ERP charges, utilities and transport fares were up despite being profitable. Spoiling your vote will ensure they won't take you for granted.
2) PAP has imported many new citizens to vote for them. Before they get their citizenship, ICA/ People's Association would have brainwashed them through compulsory national education lessons to tell them to vote for PAP. By spoiling your vote, it will counter the effects of these new citizens.
3) If you want to see change, get jealous over their PAP million dollar salaries and push for more transparent information, spoiling your vote will mean a possibility of having a coalition government being formed and more changes will be done to improve your life.
4) PAP will draw up new electoral boundaries to make sure that areas who voted for opposition will be diluted. Spoiling your vote becomes more important to counteract gerrymandering dirty tactics.
5) There will still be some Singaporeans who blindly support PAP because they are either civil servants, rich people with vested interests in Temasek Holdings investments or just afraid that their estate will not be upgraded. Spoiling your vote will offset these people's votes.
CJ
TRS Contributor