Will it be Beneficial for PAP to Call a By-Election in Tanjong Pagar?

<Pic Credit: Wikipedia>

Now that the official mourning period for our late founding father is over and we have all paid our respects to the great leader, let us discuss another issue of concern. 

From a strategic point of view, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong now has the upper hand over the opposition parties because of the massive sympathy wave that followed the passing of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew. However, this sympathy wave will dissipate as the weeks pass. People respect Lee Kuan Yew's governance a lot and even the incumbent leadership has yet to earn that much respect. Lee Kuan Yew was able to unite Singaporeans in life and in death, and that is a testament to his leadership, sincerity and concern for the well-being of Singapore and Singaporeans. 

Many in 40% who voted for the opposition at the last general elections also attended Lee Kuan Yew's lying in State, my friends included. We did it to say goodbye to a leader we respected. That does not mean we will vote for the new PAP. We won't. Nevertheless, there are many middle-ground voters who may feel moved to vote for the PAP because of the passing of Mr LKY.

PM Lee cannot call a snap general election now because if he does so, it will go against his words that this year, the nation has to focus on SG50. Furthermore, people may accuse him of politicizing the late Mr LKY's death if the election is too early. But the longer he drags the general election, the more the sympathy wave fades.

That's why he has to call a by-election for Tanjong Pagar GRC. This by-election, if timed correctly, can revive or strengthen the sympathy wave and keep it sustained until the next election which will be after SG50 or even next year. The Tanjong Pagar by-election will be sentimental because it is the historic stronghold of the PAP, one of the three seats in which the party was first elected in 1955. The nation will watch the by-election closely. 

Expect the news to be all about what Mr LKY did for Tanjong Pagar and Singapore. The PAP will focus their campaign on thanking the voters of Tanjong Pagar for giving PAP the mandate in 1955 which paved the way for them to govern Singapore. The PAP will also thank Tanjong Pagar voters for supporting the PAP through the dark days of merger, through the uncertain days of post-independent Singapore and in all the subsequent general elections. Remember, the PAP of 1955 was a fledgling opposition party with no proven track record and yet the people of Tanjong Pagar took a leap of faith and put their trust in the PAP and Mr Lee. 

The PAP candidates, especially the new ones will talk about Mr LKY, try to identify with him, and say that they will try to achieve his vision. Some people say that a by-election in a GRC is unlikely. That is not true. All the current PAP MPs for Tanjong Pagar need to do is resign and re-contest the GRC with a new candidate who is a heavyweight. It happened before in Marine Parade GRC in 1992. A GRC by-election can happen again. 

If SDP with Dr Chee Soon Juan in the team contests the by-election in Tanjong Pagar GRC, any unflattering remark by Dr Chee about the late Mr LKY will eliminate SDP as a threat for the general election the next year because the majority of Singaporeans feel emotional right now and will not forgive any remark which puts the late LKY down. Remember that Dr Chee is now eligible to contest elections. It is quite possible that he may be in the slate of candidates that SDP fields, if they decide to contest in Tanjong Pagar GRC. The Tanjong Pagar GRC by-election will provide the much needed closure to the passing of our founding father.