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Singapore general election, 2011

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87 seats (82 contested) to the Parliament of Singapore 3 NCMP seats offered to opposition 44 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   Leader Lee Hsien Loong Low Thia Khiang Chiam See Tong Party PAP WP SPP Leader since 2004 2001 1997 Leader's seat Ang Mo Kio GRC Aljunied GRC Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC (lost) Last election 82 seats, 66.6% 1 elected + 1 NCMP, 16.3% 1 seat, part of SDA Seats after 81 6 elected + 2 NCMP 1 NCMP Seat change 1 5 1 Popular vote 1,212,154 258,510 62,639 Percentage 60.1% 12.8% 3.1% Swing 6.5% 3.5% 9.9% (SDA result)
Results by constituency:   People's Action Party   Workers' Party of Singapore
Prime Minister before election Lee Hsien Loong PAP Elected Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong PAP

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v t e

Singapore's general election to form its 12th Parliament was held on 7 May 2011. The Parliament of Singapore's maximum term is five years, within which it must be dissolved by the President of Singapore and elections held within three months, as stated in the Constitution of Singapore.^[1] Voting is mandatory in Singapore and is based on the first-past-the-post system. Elections are conducted by the Elections Department, which is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister’s Office. On 19 April 2011, President S.R. Nathan dissolved parliament. Nomination day was held on 27 April 2011, and for the second election in a row, the PAP did not officially return to power on nomination day, but it did return to power on the polling day. This election also marked the first and the only three-cornered fight since 2001 in Punggol East SMC before it increased to four-cornered fight on a by-election held two years later.

The election was described as a "watershed election" in various forms by various parties. The ruling PAP reminded voters that the election will determine "Singapore's next generation of leaders".^[2] The Workers' Party called it a "watershed election" both for Singapore and the opposition, as it marked the first time in two decades that the only two incumbent opposition MPs moved out of their respective strongholds and contested in Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), risking a situation where there would be "no elected opposition MPs".^[3] This was despite the elections having the highest proportion of contested seats since independence, with 82 of 87 seats contested (or 94.3%).^[4] 2011 was the year that saw the highest number of seats contested since post-independence; with the second being in 1972 when 87.7% of seats were contested (or 57 out of 65 seats),^[5] It marked the first electoral contests in Bishan-Toa Payoh (since 1991) and Holland-Bukit Timah, and also marked Tanjong Pagar as the only constituency to remain uncontested since its formation in 1991.

The final results saw a 6.46% swing against the PAP from the 2006 elections to 60.14%, its lowest since independence.^[6] While the PAP met most expectations to sweep into power and claim over two-thirds of parliamentary seats, it won 81 out of 87 seats, and lost Aljunied Group Representation Constituency to the Workers' Party of Singapore, the first time a GRC was won by an opposition party. Including the Hougang Single Member Constituency, the Workers' Party ended up with six seats in Parliament, the best opposition parliamentary result since independence.^[7][8]

As six Members of Parliament from the opposition were elected, just three Non-Constituency Member of Parliament seats were offered, one to the Singapore People's Party's Lina Chiam; another to the WP's Yee Jenn Jong; and a third to Gerald Giam of the WP's East Coast Group Representation Constituency team. These offers were all accepted, resulting in a total of nine opposition MPs after the election.^[9][10]

Background

The 2011 General Election was the 16th General Election in Singapore and the 11th since independence. The governing People's Action Party (PAP) sought to secure their 13th consecutive term in office since 1959. This was the second election since Lee Hsien Loong became its Secretary-General.

Parliamentary reform

On 11 March 2010, the Government tabled three bills in the parliament to amend the Constitution, the Presidential Elections Act and the Parliamentary Elections Act.^[11] These amendments reduced the number of Group representation constituencies (GRC), increased the number of Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMPs) to a maximum of nine (inclusive of the number of elected opposition members of Parliament), and the number of Nominated Members of Parliament (NMPs) permanent also to nine.^[11] A one-day "cooling-off" day was implemented, during which campaigning was forbidden, with only party political broadcasts allowed. Internet campaigning was also formally legalised as a legitimate means of political campaigning.^[11] On 26 April 2010, the amendments to the Constitution were passed by a vote of 74–1 after a three-hour debate on the bill.^[12]

Political parties

The governing People's Action Party (PAP) has been in power since Singapore's independence in 1965, and is currently led by the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Besides the ruling PAP, the other major political parties that may contest the upcoming elections are the Workers' Party of Singapore (WP) led by Low Thia Khiang, the Singapore People's Party led by Chiam See Tong which left the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) in 2011, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) led by Chee Soon Juan,^{[note 1][13]} the National Solidarity Party (NSP) led by Goh Meng Seng which left the SDA in 2007, the Reform Party (Singapore) led by Kenneth Jeyaretnam, and the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) led by Desmond Lim, which is composed of the Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Melayu Singapura (Singapore Malay National Organization) (PKMS) and the Singapore Justice Party (SJP). The Reform Party is the newest party and was created on 18 June 2008 and was then led by former Member of Parliament J.B. Jeyaretnam. He could have stood for election after he was discharged from bankruptcy and reinstated to the bar,^[14] however, Jeyaretnam died of heart failure on 30 September 2008 at the age of 82.^[15] His eldest son, Kenneth Jeyaretnam has since taken up leadership of the party and is now its secretary-general.^[16]

Electoral divisions

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee normally publishes an updated list of electoral divisions just before elections are called. Prior to the latest amendments, there were fourteen GRCs, each with five or six seats, and nine Single Member Constituencies (SMC). There were a total of 84 seats being contested in the general election of 2006.

The new electoral map for 2011 was announced on 24 February 2011.^[17][18]

Singapore electoral boundaries, released in February 2011

The changes made in the electoral divisions are as follows:

Nomination

New candidates

Singapore Democratic Party

• 
  Dr Ang Yong Guan, 56-year-old Consultant Psychiatrist at Paragon Medical, President of the Singapore Psychiatric Association from 1997 to 1998 and Chairman of the Chapter of Psychiatrists, Academy of Medicine from 2001 to 2003.


• 
  Alec Tok, 46-year-old Artistic Director at One Kind Theatre LLC.


• 
  Mohd Isa Abdul Aziz, 53-year-old Business Development Manager for an Australian Oil and Gas company and a member of the Central Executive Committee of the Singapore Democratic Party.


• 
  Sadasivam Veriyah, 58-year-old ex-teacher and a unionist, former member of the People's Action Party.


• 
  Tan Jee Say, 57-year-old investment adviser and former Principal Private Secretary to then-DPM Goh Chok Tong.


• 
  Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha, 41-year-old Executive Director of Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), a non-government organisation advocating the rights of low-waged migrant workers.

People's Action Party

• 
  Alex Yam, 30-year-old NTUC activist


• 
  Ang Hin Kee, 46-year-old chief executive of NTUC e2i.


• 
  Ang Wei Neng, 44-year-old vice-president of SBS Transit West District.


• 
  Chan Chun Sing, 42-year-old former SAF Chief of Army


• 
  Chia Shi-Lu, 40-year-old orthopaedic surgeon at Singapore General Hospital
  


• 
  David Ong, 50-year-old businessman


• 
  Desmond Choo, 33-year-old deputy director of NTUC's youth development unit and the executive secretary of the Union of Security Employees.


• 
  Desmond Lee, 35-year-old legal and regulations department of Temasek Holdings.


• 
  Edwin Tong, 42-year-old lawyer


• 
  Foo Mee Har, 45-year-old Standard Chartered Bank banker


• 
  Gan Thiam Poh, 48-year-old DBS banker


• 
  Heng Swee Keat, 50-year-old former managing director of Monetary Authority of Singapore.


• 
  Intan Azura Mokhtar, 35-year-old NIE trainer


• 
  Janil Puthucheary, 39-year-old surgeon from KK Women's and Children's Hospital
  


• 
  Lawrence Wong, 39-year-old from Energy Market Authority and former civil servant


• 
  Low Yen Ling, 37-year-old former EDB director


• 
  Ong Teng Koon, 34-year-old commodities trader


• 
  Ong Ye Kung, 42-year-old assistant secretary-general from NTUC.


• 
  Patrick Tay, 40-year-old trade unionist.


• 
  Sim Ann, 36-year-old high-flying civil servant


• 
  Tan Chuan-Jin, 42-year-old former SAF.


• 
  Tin Pei Ling, 27-year-old in Ernst & Young.


• 
  Vikram Nair, 33-year-old lawyer


• 
  Zainal Sapari, 46-year-old educator, former Pasir Ris area schools' superintendent

Workers' Party

• 
  Angela Oon, 32-year-old researcher


• 
  Chen Show Mao, 50-year-old Taiwan-born corporate lawyer and former infantry commander


• 
  Chong Cham Weng, 51-year-old managing director


• 
  Frieda Chan, 35-year-old senior medical social worker


• 
  Gerald Giam, 33-year-old Senior IT consultant


• 
  Koh Choong Yong, 38-year-old technology consultant from Ruckus Wireless Singapore


• 
  L. Somasundram, 47-year-old lecturer from Temasek Polytechnic
  


• 
  Lee Li Lian, 32-year-old senior sales trainer from Great Eastern Life Assurance
  


• 
  Mohamed Fazli Talip, 29-year-old finance adviser


• 
  Muhamad Faisal Manap, 35-year-old freelance counselor


• 
  Png Eng Huat, 49-year-old company director


• 
  Pritam Singh, 34-year-old law postgraduate and former SAF officer


• 
  Sajeev Kunju Raman Kamalasanan, 41-year-old businessman


• 
  Toh Hong Boon, 30-year-old senior research officer


• 
  Yam Poh Nan, 49-year-old business consultant


• 
  Yee Jenn Jong, 46-year-old entrepreneur

Retiring politicians

All politicians who were retiring or stepping down from their seats were from the PAP.

• 
  Abdullah Tarmugi, Speaker of the Parliament, MP for East Coast GRC.^[20]
  


• 
  Ahmad Magad, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC.^[20]
  


• 
  Ang Mong Seng, MP for Hong Kah GRC.^[20]
  


• 
  Chan Soo Sen, MP for Joo Chiat SMC.^[21]
  


• 
  Ho Peng Kee, MP for Nee Soon East SMC.^[22]
  


• 
  Koo Tsai Kee, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC.^[23]
  


• 
  Lee Boon Yang, MP for Jalan Besar GRC.^[24]
  


• 
  Lim Boon Heng, MP for Jurong GRC.^[24]
  


• 
  Madeleine Ho, MP for West Coast GRC.^[25]
  


• 
  Matthias Yao, MP for MacPherson SMC.^[25]
  


• 
  Ong Ah Heng, MP for Nee Soon Central SMC.^[26]
  


• 
  Ong Kian Min, MP for Tampines GRC.^[26]
  


• 
  Ong Seh Hong, MP for Marine Parade GRC.^[26]
  


• 
  S Jayakumar, MP for East Coast GRC.^[27]
  


• 
  Sin Boon Ann, MP for Tampines GRC.^[27]
  


• 
  Wee Siew Kim, MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC.^[28]
  


• 
  Yeo Cheow Tong, MP for Hong Kah GRC.^[29]
  


• 
  Yu-Foo Yee Shoon, MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.^[29]
  

Staking claims

Soon after the announcement of the new electoral boundaries, various opposition parties indicated their intent to contest, subject to negotiations between political parties to avoid three-cornered fights. The parties declaring an interest to contest each constituency and their nomination status is reflected below.

Nominations by various opposition parties as on nomination day on 27 April 2011. Banded shading indicates constituencies with three-party contests. There was no contest in Tanjong Pagar after the opposition team intending to submit a nomination were disqualified.

General election campaign

Party manifestos

• National Solidarity Party


• PAP


• The Reform Party


• Singapore Democratic Party


• Singapore People's Party


• Workers' Party

Televised forum

In the first pre-election forum of this nature in Singapore since the 1988 General Election, Channel NewsAsia invited the main parties to record an hour-long programme. The programme, in English entitled, “A political forum on Singapore’s future” brought together the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and four opposition parties to discuss long and short-term challenges for the country.
^[30]
The forum included:

• 
  Singapore Democratic Party, represented by its Assistant Treasurer Dr Vincent Wijeysingha;


• 
  Singapore People's Party, represented by 2nd Vice Chairwoman Lina Chiam;


• 
  Workers' Party of Singapore, represented by Assistant Webmaster Gerald Giam;


• 
  Singapore Democratic Alliance, represented by Assistant Secretary-General Mohamed Nazem Suki;


• 
  People's Action Party, represented by:
  
  
  
  • 
    Finance Minister and Jurong GRC MP Tharman Shanmugaratnam
    
  
  
  • 
    Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP Josephine Teo
    
  
  
  
  

The new media

The Worker's Party utilised social media to circumvent obstacles placed in front of them by Singapore's government-controlled media.^[31]

Political rallies

The Singapore Police Force announced 41 political rally sites on 27 April which could be booked by political parties on a first-come-first-served basis. Rallies were allowed to be conducted from 28 April to 5 May, from 7am to 10pm. The 41st site is for lunch time rallies at Boat Quay near to the UOB Plaza.^[32]

National Solidarity Party Date Location Constituency 28 April Open field at Geylang East Central Marine Parade GRC 29 April Delta Hockey Pitch Radin Mas SMC 30 April Open field near Jalan Tenteram Whampoa SMC 1 May Jurong West Stadium Pioneer SMC 2 May Open field near Mountbatten Community Centre Mountbatten SMC 3 May Choa Chu Kang Stadium Choa Chu Kang GRC 4 May Tampines Stadium Tampines GRC 5 May Open field near Chinese Garden Jurong GRC People’s Action Party Date Location Constituency 28 April Open field near Buangkok MRT Station Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC 29 April Yio Chu Kang Stadium Ang Mo Kio GRC 29 April Open field near Kallang Avenue Moulmein-Kallang GRC 29 April Jurong West Stadium Pioneer SMC 30 April Serangoon Stadium Aljunied GRC 30 April Open field at Geylang East Central Marine Parade GRC 30 April Choa Chu Kang Stadium Choa Chu Kang GRC 30 April Open field near Hougang MRT Station Hougang SMC 1 May Bedok Stadium East Coast GRC 2 May Open field near Segar Road Bukit Panjang SMC 2 May Jurong East Stadium Yuhua SMC 2 May Open field near Jurong West Avenue 3 Hong Kah North SMC 3 May Boat Quay next to UOB Plaza (lunch time) Ang Mo Kio GRC 3 May Woodlands Stadium Sembawang GRC 4 May Open field near Mountbatten Community Centre Mountbatten SMC 4 May Open field in Sengkang East Punggol East SMC 4 May Yishun Stadium Nee Soon GRC 4 May Open field near Clementi Avenue 4 Holland-Bukit Timah GRC 4 May Delta Hockey Pitch Radin Mas SMC 5 May Open field near Ubi Road 3 Aljunied GRC 5 May Toa Payoh Stadium Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC 5 May Tampines Stadium Tampines GRC 5 May Open field near Potong Pasir Avenue 1 Potong Pasir SMC 5 May Open field near Jalan Tenteram Whampoa SMC 5 May Open field near Segar Road Bukit Panjang SMC 5 May Bedok Stadium East Coast GRC 5 May Open field near Pasir Ris Park Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC

Reform Party Date Location Constituency 28 April Clementi Stadium West Coast GRC 30 April Clementi Stadium West Coast GRC 1 May Yio Chu Kang Stadium Ang Mo Kio GRC 2 May Open field near West Coast Park West Coast GRC 4 May Clementi Stadium West Coast GRC 5 May Clementi Stadium West Coast GRC 5 May Yio Chu Kang Stadium (subsequently cancelled)[33] Ang Mo Kio GRC Singapore Democratic Alliance Date Location Constituency 29 April Open field in Sengkang East Punggol East SMC 1 May Open field near Pasir Ris Park Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC 4 May Open field near Buangkok MRT Station Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Singapore Democratic Party Date Location Constituency 28 April Open field near Commonwealth Avenue Holland-Bukit Timah GRC 29 April Jurong East Stadium Yuhua SMC 30 April Woodlands Stadium Sembawang GRC 1 May Open field near Clementi Avenue 4 Holland-Bukit Timah GRC 2 May Open field near Commonwealth Avenue Holland-Bukit Timah GRC 3 May Open field near Segar Road Bukit Panjang SMC 4 May Woodlands Stadium Sembawang GRC 5 May Boat Quay next to UOB Plaza (lunch time) Holland-Bukit Timah GRC 5 May Woodlands Stadium Sembawang GRC Singapore People’s Party Date Location Constituency 29 April Open field near Jurong West Avenue 3 Hong Kah North SMC 30 April Open field near Potong Pasir Avenue 1 Potong Pasir SMC 2 May Bishan Stadium Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC 4 May Open field near Potong Pasir Avenue 1 Potong Pasir SMC 5 May Bishan Stadium Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Workers’ Party Date Location Constituency 28 April Open field near Hougang MRT Station Hougang SMC 29 April Serangoon Stadium Aljunied GRC 30 April Bedok Stadium East Coast GRC 1 May Yishun Stadium Nee Soon GRC 2 May Open field near Kallang Avenue Moulmein-Kallang GRC 3 May Open field in Sengkang East Punggol East SMC 4 May Open field near Ubi Road 3 Aljunied GRC 5 May Serangoon Stadium Aljunied GRC

The National Solidarity Party's rally on 4 May at the Tampines Stadium Merchandise sold during the political rally by the Singapore Democratic Party in Bukit Panjang on 3 May

Controversies

Online video

During the 2011 elections campaigning, Vivian Balakrishnan said the SDP was "suppressing a certain YouTube video, which raises some very awkward questions about the agenda and motivations of the SDP and its candidates".^[34] He issued the following statement:

I am not sure what [the SDP] strategy is...I can’t help feeling that part of the reason for their reticence is they have elements of their agenda they are not prepared to disclose and subject to scrutiny. Eventually, they will have to come out of the closet. (The Straits Times, 20 April 2011)

Vincent Wijeysingha rejected his comments stating, "We've been a very open party and we're very clear."^[35]

This incident was cited in an article published in The Economist criticising the ruling party's election strategy^[36]The New Paper released a story next day, with the headline: Is Singapore ready for a GAY MP?"^[37]Kenneth Jeyaretnam of the Reform Party called Balakrishnan's campaign a "low attack." ^[34]

Balakrishnan received widespread controversy and criticism online for his remark,.^[38] On 28 April, he told the press: "there is "no need" to further discuss [the] video". He said that his question was a "legitimate".^[39]

Cooling-off day controversies

Nicole Seah, a team member contesting Marine Parade GRC under the NSP team, filed a complaint to the Elections Department on 6 May stating PAP-team member Tin Pei Ling had violated the state-mandated cooling-off period 24 hours before polls by posting a Facebook comment "in response to a video [in the state press] that showed Seah crying after being told about a Macpherson female resident who could not get a refund of her son's $80 tuition fees".^[40]

The NSP team was advised by the Elections Department to lodge a police report before the Elections Department could investigate.^[41]

The day after the election, Seah told reporters that her party had not received any response after making the complaint, and said no decision had been taken on whether or not to pursue the issue. She added that the NSP knew "it is an uphill battle to get any results out of this. I would rather devote my time and resources to the residents".^[42]

A similar complaint was lodged against Seah alleging that material had been published on her Facebook page during Cooling-Off Day. On 10 August, the Singapore Police Force announced that it had concluded its investigations into the two incidents, and that aside from a "stern warning" to Tin's friend, neither action was taken against either Tin or Seah.^[43]

Separately, the NSP also complained that the PAP had been distributing election material to residents in Tampines GRC in violation of cooling-off regulations.^[41]

Election results

After polls closed at 8pm, vote counting began. Results were announced by Yam Ah Mee, chief executive director of the People's Association, who acted as the Returning Officer for the election.^[44] The first result was declared at 11.58pm on 7 May 2011, where PAP candidate Lim Biow Chuan won the Mountbatten Single Member Constituency with a majority of 3,529.

At 1.31 am on 8 May 2011, the PAP team for Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency was declared to have won the division, putting the PAP's seat tally at 44 seats, and thus formed the government. The final result to be declared was for the Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency at 2.51am on 8 May, where the PAP gained the seat from the SPP on a razor-thin margin of 114 votes.

The political status quo was kept as the People's Action Party won a 13th consecutive term in office since 1959. However, the PAP saw its vote majorities reduced island-wide for a second election in a row. The PAP won 81 seats out of 87 despite losing Aljunied Group Representation Constituency to the WP, which also won in Hougang Single Member Constituency. None of the other five opposition parties won contests, including the SPP which lost Potong Pasir that it held prior to the election. WP marked the first opposition GRC victory since GRCs were introduced in 1988,^[45] which resulted in the electoral defeat of Foreign Minister George Yeo^[46][47] and a second Cabinet minister Lim Hwee Hua; both ministers were the first two highest-ranking PAP cabinet ministers to be unseated in the election in post-independence Singapore, with the last time being 1963 (minister Kenneth Michael Byrne lost his seat of Crawford)^[48] The PAP also set its lowest national vote share since independence (beating 1991's share of 61.0%), which was just little over 60 per cent, a vote swing of almost negative 7 per cent from 2006.^[8]

Excluding electorates from Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency, voter turnout for the election was 93.18%, with 2,060,373 votes cast.^[49]

Results summary

Results as announced on polling day on 7 May 2011.

e • d Summary of the 7 May 2011 Parliament of Singapore election results^[50]

Parties and alliances	Leader	Contested seats	Seats won	Popular vote	% of valid votes		+/-	% of valid votes in contested wards		+/-
People's Action Party	Lee Hsien Loong	87	81†	1,212,154	60.14		6.46	60.14		6.46
Workers' Party	Low Thia Khiang	23	6	258,510	12.82		3.51	46.58		8.15
National Solidarity Party	Goh Meng Seng	24	0	242,682	12.04		0.95*	39.25		6.37*
Singapore Democratic Party	Chee Soon Juan	11	0	97,369	4.83		0.76	36.76		13.53
Reform Party	Kenneth Jeyaretnam	11	0	86,294	4.28		New party	31.78		New party
Singapore People's Party	Chiam See Tong	7	0	62,639	3.11		9.88*	41.42		8.90*
Singapore Democratic Alliance	Desmond Lim	7	0	55,988	2.78		10.21	30.06		2.46
Valid votes			87	2,015,636	97.83% of total votes cast
Invalid (e.g. blank or spoilt) votes				44,737	2.17% of total votes cast
Total votes cast				2,060,373	Voter turnout: 93.18% of eligible voters
Did not vote				150,729
Eligible voters (excluding walkover voters)				2,211,102
Walkover voters (all from Tanjong Pagar GRC)				139,771
Electorate				2,350,873
† Includes uncontested victories. * Formerly a constituent party of Singapore Democratic Alliance. Swings reflected are from the SDA's 2006 vote share.

Full results

Results of Singapore general election, 2011 v t e [51]
Division	Seats	Voters	Party	Candidate(s)	Votes	Votes %
Aljunied GRC	5	143,148	People's Action Party	George Yeo Lim Hwee Hua Zainul Abidin bin Mohamed Rasheed Cynthia Phua Ong Ye Kung	59,829	45.28 / 100
			Workers' Party	Low Thia Khiang Sylvia Lim Chen Show Mao Pritam Singh Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap	72,289	54.72 / 100
Ang Mo Kio GRC	6	179,071	People's Action Party	Lee Hsien Loong Yeo Guat Kwang Inderjit Singh Seng Han Thong Ang Hin Kee Intan Azura Mokhtar	112,677	69.33 / 100
			Reform Party	Alex Tan Zhixiang Arthero Lim Tung Hee Vignes Ramachandran Lim Zi Rui Mansor Rahman Osman Sulaiman	49,851	30.67 / 100
Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC	5	122,492	People's Action Party	Wong Kan Seng Ng Eng Hen Josephine Teo Li Min Hri Kumar Zainudin Nordin	62,385	56.93 / 100
			Singapore People's Party	Chiam See Tong Benjamin Pwee Wilfred Leung Jimmy Lee Mohamad Hamim Aliyas	47,205	43.07 / 100
Chua Chu Kang GRC	5	158,648	National Solidarity Party	Teo Kway Huang Sebastian Tan Lay Thiam Tony Poa Koon Koon Hazel Nor Lella Mardiiiah Mohamed Jeisilan Sivalingam	56,885	38.80 / 100
			People's Action Party	Gan Kim Yong Alvin Yeo Zaqy Mohamad Alex Yam Low Yen Ling	89,710	61.20 / 100
East Coast GRC	5	120,324	People's Action Party	Lim Swee Say Maliki Osman Lee Yi Shyan Jessica Tan Raymond Lim	59,992	54.83 / 100
			Workers' Party	Eric Tan Heng Chong Png Eng Huat Glenda Han Gerald Giam Mohamed Fazli Bin Talip	49,429	45.17 / 100
Holland-Bukit Timah GRC	4	91,607	People's Action Party	Vivian Balakrishnan Christopher de Souza Liang Eng Hwa Sim Ann	48,773	60.08 / 100
			Singapore Democratic Party	Tan Jee Say Ang Yong Guan Vincent Wijeysingha Michelle Lee	32,406	39.92 / 100
Jurong GRC	5	125,276	National Solidarity Party	Neo Ting Wei Christopher Abdul Rasheed Ong Beng Soon Elvin Ong Hock Siong Noraini Yunus	37,786	33.04 / 100
			People's Action Party	Tharman Shanmugaratnam Halimah Bte Yacob Ang Wei Neng Desmond Lee Ti-Seng (Li Zhisheng) David Ong	76,595	66.96 / 100
Marine Parade GRC	5	154,451	National Solidarity Party	Cheo Chai Chen Ivan Yeo Tiong Boon Abdul Salim Harun Spencer Ng Chung Hon Seah Xue Ling, Nicole Rebecca	59,926	43.36 / 100
			People's Action Party	Goh Chok Tong Tan Chuan Jin Fatimah Lateef Seah Kian Peng Tin Pei Ling	78,286	56.64 / 100
Moulmein-Kallang GRC	4	87,595	People's Action Party	Lui Tuck Yew Yaacob Ibrahim Denise Phua Lay Peng Edwin Tong	44,886	58.55 / 100
			Workers' Party	Mohd Rahizan Toh Hong Boon L Somasundram Frieda Chan	31,773	41.45 / 100
Nee Soon GRC	5	148,290	People's Action Party	K. Shanmugam Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim Lee Bee Wah Lim Wee Kiak Patrick Tay Teck Guan	80,740	58.40 / 100
			Workers' Party	John Yam Poh Nam Angela Faye Oon Sajeev K. R. Kamalasanan Chong Cham Weng, Winston Poh Lee Guan	57,523	41.60 / 100
Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	6	168,971	People's Action Party	Teo Chee Hean Teo Ser Luck Penny Low Janil Puthucheary Gan Thiam Poh Zainal Bin Sapari	100,493	64.79 / 100
			Singapore Democratic Alliance	Harminder Pal Singh Sidney Soon Jeffrey Lim Noraine Anabi Tony Tan Mohammad Shafni Ahmad	54,601	35.21 / 100
Sembawang GRC	5	142,459	People's Action Party	Khaw Boon Wan Ellen Lee Hawazi Daipi Ong Teng Koon Vikram Nair	84,252	63.9 / 100
			Singapore Democratic Party	James Gomez John Tan Jarrod Luo Jie Mohd Isa Abdul Aziz Sadasivam Veriyah	47,605	36.1 / 100
Tampines GRC	5	137,532	National Solidarity Party	Goh Meng Seng Reno Fong Chin Leong Syafarin Sarif Raymond Lim Peng Ann Gilbert Goh Keow Wah	54,381	42.78 / 100
			People's Action Party	Mah Bow Tan Ng Phek Hoong Irene Masagos Zulkifli Bin Masagos Mohamad Baey Yam Keng Heng Swee Keat	72,728	57.22 / 100
Tanjong Pagar GRC	5	139,771	People's Action Party	Lee Kuan Yew Lily Neo Indranee Thurai Rajah Chan Chun Sing Chia Shi-Lu	Walkover
West Coast GRC	5	121,045	People's Action Party	Lim Hng Kiang Fong Jen Arthur S Iswaran Foo Mee Har Lawrence Wong Shyun Tsai	72,563	66.57 / 100
			Reform Party	Kenneth Jeyaretnam Frankie Low Andy Zhu Kumar Appavoo Haren Hu	36,443	33.43 / 100
Bukit Panjang SMC	1	33,053	People's Action Party	Teo Ho Pin	20,375	66.27 / 100
			Singapore Democratic Party	Alec Tok	10,372	33.73 / 100
Hong Kah North SMC	1	27,701	People's Action Party	Amy Khor Lean Suan	18,156	70.61 / 100
			Singapore People's Party	Sin Kek Tong	7,556	29.39 / 100
Hougang SMC	1	24,560	People's Action Party	Choo Pey Ching Desmond	8065	35.2 / 100
			Workers' Party	Yaw Shin Leong	14,850	64.8 / 100
Joo Chiat SMC	1	22,069	People's Action Party	Chong You Fook Charles	9,666	51.02 / 100
			Workers' Party	Yee Jenn Jong	9,278	48.98 / 100
Mountbatten SMC	1	23,731	National Solidarity Party	Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss	8,461	41.38 / 100
			People's Action Party	Lim Biow Chuan	11,985	58.62 / 100
Pioneer SMC	1	25,745	National Solidarity Party	Steve Chia Kiah Hong	9,437	39.27 / 100
			People's Action Party	Cedric Foo	14,593	60.73 / 100
Potong Pasir SMC	1	17,327	People's Action Party	Sitoh Yih Pin	7,992	50.36 / 100
			Singapore People's Party	Lina Chiam	7,878	49.64 / 100
Punggol East SMC	1	33,281	People's Action Party	Michael Palmer	16,994	54.54 / 100
			Singapore Democratic Alliance	Desmond Lim (Loses deposit)	1,387	4.45 / 100
			Workers' Party	Lee Li Lian	12,777	41.01 / 100
Radin Mas SMC	1	31,014	National Solidarity Party	Yip Yew Weng	9,123	32.90 / 100
			People's Action Party	Sam Tan Chin Siong	18,609	67.10 / 100
Sengkang West SMC	1	26,882	People's Action Party	Lam Pin Min	14,689	58.11 / 100
			Workers' Party	Koh Choong Yong	10,591	41.89 / 100
Whampoa SMC	1	21,622	People's Action Party	Heng Chee How	13,028	66.10 / 100
			National Solidarity Party	Ken Sun	6,680	33.90 / 100
Yuhua SMC	1	23,195	People's Action Party	Grace Fu	14,093	66.86 / 100
			Singapore Democratic Party	Teo Soh Lung	6,986	33.14 / 100

Analysis

Top 10 best PAP performers

• Constituencies with no comparison to 2006 were either due to them being new constituencies or the constituencies experiencing walkovers in the last election.

#	Constituency	PAP			Opposition
		Votes	%	Swing		Votes	%	Swing
1	Hong Kah North SMC	18,156	70.61	New		7,556	29.39	New
2	Ang Mo Kio GRC	112,677	69.33	3.19		49,851	30.67	3.19
3	Radin Mas SMC	18,609	67.10	New		9,123	32.90	New
4	Jurong GRC	76,595	66.96	Walkover		37,786	33.04	Walkover
5	Yuhua SMC	14,093	66.86	New		6,986	33.14	New
6	West Coast GRC	72,563	66.57	Walkover		36,443	33.43	Walkover
7	Bukit Panjang SMC	20,375	66.27	10.91		10,372	33.73	10.91
8	Whampoa SMC	13,028	66.10	New		6,683	33.90	New
9	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	100,493	64.79	3.91		54,601	35.21	3.91
10	Sembawang GRC	84,252	63.9	12.8		47,605	36.1	12.8

Top 16 best opposition performers

• Constituencies with no comparison to 2006 were either due to them being new constituencies or the constituencies experiencing walkovers in the last election.


• Punggol East SMC is excluded from the table as there were two opposition parties which competed against the incumbent. If the WP's 12,765 votes (41.02%) and the SDA's 1,386 votes (4.45%) were summed up, the opposition won 14,151 votes (45.47%), which would place it fifth in the table below.

#	Constituency	Opposition				PAP
			Votes	%	Swing	Votes	%	Swing
1	Hougang SMC		14,850	64.8	2.1	8,065	35.2	2.1
2	Aljunied GRC		72,289	54.72	10.81	59,829	45.28	10.81
3	Potong Pasir SMC		7,878	49.64	6.18	7,992	50.36	6.18
4	Joo Chiat SMC		9,278	48.98	13.99	9,666	51.02	13.99
5	East Coast GRC		49,429	45.17	9.03	59,992	54.83	9.03
6	Marine Parade GRC		59,926	43.36	Walkover	78,286	56.64	Walkover
7	Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC		47,205	43.07	Walkover	62,385	56.93	Walkover
8	Tampines GRC		54,381	42.78	11.29	72,728	57.22	11.29
9	Sengkang West SMC		10,591	41.89	New	14,689	58.11	New
10	Nee Soon GRC		57,523	41.60	New	80,740	58.40	New
11	Moulmein-Kallang GRC		31,773	41.45	New	44,886	58.55	New
12	Mountbatten SMC		8,461	41.38	New	11,985	58.62	New
13	Punggol East SMC		12,777	41.01	New	16,994	54.54	New
			1,387	4.45
14	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC		32,406	39.92	Walkover	48,773	60.08	Walkover
15	Pioneer SMC		9,437	39.27	New	14,593	60.73	New
16	Chua Chu Kang GRC		56,885	38.80	New	89,710	61.20	New

Vote Swings

• Only the following constituencies may be compared with 2006 results as they existed in both elections, although most had changes in their electoral boundaries.

#	Constituency	PAP			Opposition
		Votes	%	Swing		Votes	%	Swing
1	Joo Chiat SMC	9,278	48.98	13.99		9,666	51.02	13.99
2	Sembawang GRC	84,252	63.9	12.8		47,605	36.1	12.8
3	Tampines GRC	72,728	57.22	11.29		54,381	42.78	11.29
4	Bukit Panjang SMC	20,375	66.27	10.91		10,372	33.73	10.91
5	Aljunied GRC	59,829	45.28	10.81		72,289	54.72	10.81
6	East Coast GRC	59,992	54.83	9.03		49,429	45.17	9.03
7	Potong Pasir SMC	7,992	50.36	6.18		7,878	49.64	6.18
8	Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC	100,493	64.79	3.91		54,601	35.21	3.91
9	Ang Mo Kio GRC	112,677	69.33	3.19		49,851	30.67	3.19
10	Hougang SMC	8,065	35.2	2.1		14,850	64.8	2.1

Interpretive maps

Vote share won by the ruling People's Action Party by constituency. There was no contest in Tanjong Pagar Group Representation Constituency as there was a walkover.

Post-election events

Ruling party's immediate reactions

The People's Action Party's secretary-general, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, described the results as delivering his party a "clear mandate to form the next government".^[52] In his post-election press conference, Lee said the polls had "heightened (voters') political consciousness and awareness", and admitted that "many of them desire to see more opposition voices in Parliament to check the PAP government".^[53] He described the PAP's loss of Aljunied GRC, which resulted in George Yeo being voted out of Parliament and losing his position as foreign minister, as a "heavy loss to my Cabinet and my team of MPs", but said that the party would "accept and respect the voters' decision".^[54] The country's Senior Minister, Goh Chok Tong, also admitted that "there is a sea change in the political landscape" after his team won Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency with just 56.6 percent of the vote.^[55]

Opposition parties' immediate reactions

The Workers Party's secretary-general Low Thia Khiang said his team's win in Aljunied meant that voters had "accepted the WP as a rational, responsible and respected party".^[56] In his victory speech, Low declared his win as a "political landmark in modern Singapore".^[57][58] He added that it meant the electorate wanted to tell the PAP to be "a more responsive, inclusive, transparent and accountable government”.^[6]

In a statement on its website, the Singapore Democratic Party thanked its supporters for their support, saying that it was for them that the party "(continues) to labour on in this undemocratic system with all the odds stacked against us."^[59] Its assistant treasurer Vincent Wijeysingha, who stood in Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency, said that the party's positive vote swing in its contested wards of almost 13 percent from the last elections was an "indicator that things are beginning to move up for our party."^[60] In a second statement on its website, the SDP described its results as "disappointing", but promised to "build on the foundation that we have laid" for the next elections.^[61] The party's secretary-general Chee Soon Juan, barred from standing in the election, went on to write an opinion piece for the Guardian, in which he said it "would have been a miracle" had the SDP won any seats, and accused the media in Singapore of suppressing news of the SDP's campaigning.^[62]

Other than the PAP and WP, the only other opposition seat pre-election had been held by the Singapore People's Party, which lost it in the polls by just 114 votes. Chiam See Tong, the SPP's secretary-general, said his party would fight to win back Potong Pasir Single Member Constituency, and said that despite being defeated in Bishan-Toa Payoh Group Representation Constituency, he would continue in politics, health permitting.^[63] He also questioned the margin of votes in Potong Pasir, contested by his wife, saying there was "funny business" happening. A petition calling for a by-election in the constituency was started by SPP supporters and Potong Pasir residents.^[64]

The National Solidarity Party, which contested the most seats of all opposition parties, admitted it may have taken on too much, with its leader Goh Meng Seng telling reporters that he would be "personally responsible" for the party's failure to win a single seat.^[60] Its star candidate, Nicole Seah, said Singaporeans now had to unite as a country.^[65] Seah, who contested in Marine Parade, also said there was "so much that needs to be done", and that she would continue her work in the area despite her team's defeat.^[66]

The leader of the newest opposition party contesting the elections, the Reform Party's Kenneth Jeyaretnam, described his party as having "learnt a lot" and said they had "done very well", as the first new party in over 20 years. He added that the party was "very happy" at its result in West Coast Group Representation Constituency,^[60] and that its second team had done "creditably" in Ang Mo Kio Group Representation Constituency. Jeyaretnam also said the team being able to win the votes it did despite being a new party meant that its "core values resonate with the voters".^[67]

The worst-performing party at the polls was the Singapore Democratic Alliance, whose secretary-general Desmond Lim polled under 5 percent of votes in Punggol East Single Member Constituency—the only three-way contest of the election—and lost a S$16,000 election deposit. He said voters had voted based on brand name, as the other opposition candidate in the ward was from the WP. The SDA also contested Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representation Constituency, and Lim said the party was "very happy" at its positive vote swing from 2006 of over 4 percent. However, the SDA's anchorman in the constituency Harminder Pal Singh described the loss as a "time for painful reflection" and said the party would work harder to win more votes.^[68]

Foreign reactions

At an ASEAN heads-of-state meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia, leaders of ASEAN nations reportedly told S Jayakumar, Singapore's representative at the event, that they were "saddened, disappointed and surprised" at the news that foreign minister Yeo had been defeated, according to the state-run Straits Times,^[69] while at the same meeting the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Tun Razak, said the PAP's win would mean a continuity in understanding between the Malaysian and Singaporean governments on bilateral issues.^[70]

Non-Constituency Member of Parliament offers

Three Non-Constituency Members of Parliament (NCMP) seats were offered after the election to the top three losing opposition candidates. The Singapore People's Party accepted the seat for Lina Chiam, ensuring that the Chiam family retained representation in Parliament. While Chiam See Tong has said he is opposed to the scheme, the SPP reasoned that it was "critical" to ensure an "alternative voice in Parliament", to allow the party to "remain engaged in national issues", and to be publicly visible until the next election due by 2016. Mrs Chiam also pointed out that she was "influenced by the wishes of Potong Pasir residents" and she accepted the post as her losing margin was too small.^[71]

The Workers' Party was offered the final two NCMP seats for having the second and third best performing losing candidates, which it accepted despite Mr Low also disputing the scheme. Yee Jenn Jong was thus appointed for his performance in Joo Chiat SMC, but as it had to choose one member from the East Coast GRC team, the younger Gerald Giam was chosen over team leader and party treasurer Eric Tan as part of its leadership renewal process. Eric Tan resigned from the party, citing his disagreement with the appointment.^[72]

On 16 May 2011, the three proposed NCMPs were formally appointed.^[73]

Legacy

Use of social media

The election saw a heavier use of social and online media compared to Singapore general election, 2006, especially to evade censorship in Singapore. It is widely perceived by the populace that the major state-run newspapers and broadcasters "align[ed] itself with the party's ideals and decisions" and that the electoral system was tilted against the Opposition.^[36] It had been difficult to create alternative media until the rise of sites such as The Online Citizen and such internet tools such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs, which saw increased significance in the 2006 elections but became especially prominent in the 2011 elections.
^[74] According to The Economist, the PAP's aggressive modernisation of Singapore created "one of the world's most wired societies," leading to new media that "transformed" the electoral scene in Singapore. Characterising the state-run mainstream press as "docile", the Economist also argued that this also forced significantly more news coverage of the Opposition than in previous elections, since the mainstream media feared their readership deserting them.^[36] One blogger from CNN wrote, "Thanks to social media, it doesn’t matter that the country’s largely state-run media leans towards reporting the actions of the PAP, no one’s reading anyway.".^[74] The Economist however was more cynical in its analysis of the election: "in Singapore, winning 7% of parliamentary seats is tantamount to an opposition triumph".^[36]

The first election in which a GRC was won by the Opposition

Traditionally regarded as a PAP "fortress", a GRC fell to the opposition for the first time in Singapore's political history.
In previous elections, the Opposition had never won a GRC, which ostensibly ensure minority representation in parliament but also shut out smaller opposition parties with less resources. GRCs comprise over 86% of the seats, but the Opposition in previous elections would contest "less than half the seats". The election saw the most extensive use of co-ordination to avoid "three-cornered fights" and was also notable for seeing "two veteran MPs" making immense risks by choosing to contest in GRCs rather than their historical SMC strongholds.^[36]

Signals to the ruling party

The election results were widely used in national and international discussions that the population
was trying to send a message to a ruling party that "can also come across as smug, arrogant and high-handed" despite a win margin of over 20%, which usually counts as a landslide victory for most democratic nations but has been one of the narrowest margins since 1965.^[36] The last election with a similarly narrow victory occurred in the Singapore general election, 1963, when the PAP's major opponent was the Barisan Sosialis—which in itself was a splinter group formed from the leftist wing of the PAP, where it had comprised 80% of the PAP grassroots membership, 35 out of the PAP's 51 branch committees and 19 of its 23 organising secretaries. According to the Economist, Singaporeans would prefer not to have an alternative government but a humbler one, as well as a "stronger opposition".

On 14 May, exactly a week after the election, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew announced in a joint statement that they would be quitting the country's Cabinet, saying it was time for a "team of younger ministers" to "engage with this young generation in shaping the future of Singapore."^[75] In a similar analysis by Bloomberg, the resignations and the ensuing cabinet reshuffle were the actions of a ruling party "seeking to overhaul its image with voters" whose "narrowest election victory on record signaled a shortfall in support among younger voters".^[76] Lee Kuan Yew was also quoted as saying that a younger generation was required to "carry Singapore forward in a more difficult and complex situation" while Lee Hsien Loong declared the party "would change the way it governs" and do some "soul-searching". A Singapore Management University professor said "[The PAP] will have to demonstrate that it remains a mass movement, and not [Lee Kuan Yew]’s alter ego," noting that younger Singaporeans do not see Lee Kuan Yew with the same godlike perception as older Singaporeans born before 1980.

Further retirements

Both losing ministers in Aljunied GRC, George Yeo and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua, announced their retirements from politics in separate news conferences given in the days after the election.^[77][78] George Yeo, who remained popular online and continued to have "a flood of support" after the election and had been repeatedly urged to contest the next election, or even contest the Singaporean presidential election, 2011 turned his supporters down, declaring, "I'm a free spirit, and I don't think I'm temperamentally suited for such a job." ^[79]

See also

• Elections in Singapore


• Constituencies of Singapore


• List of Singaporean electoral divisions


• List of political parties in Singapore

Notes

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Singaporean general election, 2011.

• 
  Official elections webpage – Elections Department Singapore


• News about the General Election by MediaCorp

Other official information

• 
  Parliamentary Elections Act Singapore Statutes Online, Chapter 218