In the January 2013 Punggol East by-election, the PAP candidate, Dr Koh Poh Koon was defeated by a less qualified candidate, the WP's Lee Li Lian. Since then, Dr Koh has left for greener pastures and is now serving in Ang Mo Kio GRC, which is helmed by none other than Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong himself.
This ensures that Dr Koh will definitely get elected at the next election as the PAP is counting on Ang Mo Kio GRC voters to feel worried about losing the nation's Prime Minister. Therefore, Ang Mo Kio GRC voters are faced with a Hobson's choice. They have to vote for the PAP even if they don't like Dr Koh Poh Koon. He comes with the package and there's no way to get just one of the goodies inside that package. If they don't vote for PAP, they will lose the whole package. This is the strength of the GRC system. It is a valuable co-option tool for the PAP because technocrats who are unelectable on their own will have no need to worry about winning votes.
While the Ang Mo Kio GRC 'backdoor' route is probably the safest path Dr Koh can take, it is not 100% safe. The controversy surrounding MP, Dr Intan Azura for writing a letter recommending PR status for the PRC cheat Yang Yin (who is currently facing over 300 charges in court) has yet to subside. Nevertheless, people are likely to vote the whole team in for the sake of having Lee Hsien Loong as Prime Minister. Hence, in the worst scenario, even if there is a strong opposition team, PAP will retain between 55-60% of the vote share in Ang Mo Kio GRC due to the people feeling conflicted. Losing a Foreign Minister is not the same as losing a Prime Minister in the eyes of many middle ground voters and this is a reality that we opposition supporters have to accept. Until the opposition gains a sizable number of seats, the middle ground will not want to vote out the Prime Minister. Thus, Dr Koh will get elected and will subsequently get a ministerial appointment.
The same cannot be said for Dr Koh's successor in Punggol East who is rather unimpressive compared to Dr Koh. The PAP's new man in Punggol East, Mr Yee Chia Hsiang is not a doctor or a phD holder. He does not look young. (Refer to photo attached). At best, he can be imagined as the "Uncle of Punggol" and not the "Son".
The PAP probably views him as someone who is expendable. The PAP continues its practice of not fielding high calibre candidates in the opposition wards. All PAP candidates in the opposition wards are noticeably less impressive based on qualifications and image as compared to their predecessors who had previously lost there. The PAP is playing safe and not putting too much hope on winning the opposition constituencies. The priority is still on parachuting as many rich and successful candidates into parliament via the remaining GRCs. The focus is still on technocrats and not the common man. Do not be deceived.
Mr Yee will start his meet-the-people sessions in January and it is expected that he will be more active in the opposition ward, trying to challenge the incumbent WP MP, Ms Lee Li Lian. As shown by several events that concerned the Aljunied Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC), the appointed PAP man has powers that the elected MP lacks. And thus, we can expect to see the political leaning of parapolitical organizations like the PA grassroots and CCC that should in theory be apolitical and at the disposal of the elected MP.
It remains to be seen whether residents in the opposition wards will tolerate this arrangement any further. It is now more obvious that the elected MP is placed at a disadvantage wherever the PAP places an appointed 'MP'. As shown by the recent rat infestation in Bukit Batok which cost $120,000 of taxpayers' money to resolve, PAP wards are not necessarily better managed especially if their ministers are busy pointing out the flaws of WP's town council management.
Adam
TRS Contributor