Altered electoral boundaries for GRCs and SMCs released
February 18th, 2010 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
The Government Gazette has published the boundaries of altered polling districts for the 14 group representation constituencies (GRCs) and nine single-member constituencies (SMCs) here.
However, with the announcement by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last year that the number of SMCs will be increased, the boundaries will be subjected to further changes after the amendment of Singapore’s Constitution and Parliamentary Elections Act.
The registry of voters was updated a day earlier, leading to speculations that election may be held soon.
The electoral boundaries were often released only in the last minute before nomination day to throw the preparation of the opposition off guard.
The opposition can be doing grassroots work at a particular constituency only to find it suddenly “vanish” into thin air just on the eve of the general election.
For example, Singapore People Party’s Chairman Sin Kek Tong had been active in the SMC of Braddell Hill for six years after garnering a respectable 47 per cent of the votes in the 1991 general election only to find it being “absorbed” into Marine Parade GRC subsequently.
With public anger against the ruling party at an all-time high, the next election may become a watershed in the history of modern Singapore.
Singaporeans should expect the usual rampant gerry-mandering again when the time comes and should not be surprised if they find themselves voting in a different constituency compared to the last election, assuming they get the chance to vote at all.
Posted in Editorial
I do not think opposition working the ground hard pre-election to focus a certain area is an effective and working smart strategy.
A better strategy is to aim to win 20-30% seats to make PAP lose 2/3 majority. This will have a better chance to succeed if they contest all seats by uniting as one single party and with quality candidates.
Right now there are too many Indian chiefs but not enough Indians (hence 50% walkovers for PAP) and make worse by party hopping among the Indians.
Learn from the PAP. Do you see disunity or party hopping among the MPs? They are all united as one under a old but very strong leader Mentor. The opposition need to find their equivalent Mentor to be united and also get quality candidates.
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Am i right to say they can alter without Resistance or Veto because the opposition is near inexistent?
Or can i say whatever it is, singaporeans BoChap also?
injoy everyone.
long life and good good to you.
sayonara.
hasta las vista babe!
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Not bochap, we have no power to chap
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One thing FOR SURE, if there is any alteration, the 9 Single will be areas where there are the LARGEST NUMBER of OLD CITIZENS and NEW CITIZENS.
This is something SURELY the opposition can take note of.
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My consitituency no change.
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The Opposition Parties must field all consituencies…..the People of Singapore must decide if they wish to continue to suffer under the PAP or not.
The Opposition has to secure another 17% of the Popular Votes to form the next Government.
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It doesn’t matter what they do anymore. Singaporeans want change.
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never mind where the boundaries is, i will vote for the opposition. papaya is always kiasu and no balls.
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Sinkapore,
do you believe that where the new citizens reside is controllable eg. the enclaves thingie?
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If the election is not around the corner , this electoral boundaries thing might be for papaya to dig those wards that oppositions interested . The papaya might change it again and again so be careful .
Frankly ,its not the right time for papaya to have an election where so so so many local citizens are angry with them. unless of course something bad happened and they need to announce soon ( e.g investment BIG looses or IR not working as planned or recession coming again ) .
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By Julia Ng, Channel NewsAsia
Opposition MP Chiam See Tong notes that there aren’t many changes in this year’s Electoral Boundaries Review Committee Report.
That, he says, is good news for the opposition.
“This review is a bit thin compared to other election years. I think the…. 1991 election was most significant – there were many changes. But this time round, not much changes. It doesn’t really affect us,” said Mr Chiam, who is the Chairman of the Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA) and the Secretary-General of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP).
So is this good news for the opposition?
“Well, I suppose so! I think it’s good news for the opposition. As for myself, I’m not disappointed, we remain in the boundary, as well as the voters. So in a way, for myself, I don’t have to make any adjustments,” said Mr Chiam.
The SDA is made up of a coalition of 4 opposition parties – the Singapore People’s Party, the National Solidarity Party and the Singapore Malay National Organisation – which came together just before the 2001 General Election.
Before the release of the electoral boundaries report, the SDA had indicated it planned to contest Pasir Ris-Punggol Group Representative Constituency (GRC).
But the SDA was tight-lipped about its plans now that the GRC has grown from a 5-member to a 6-member GRC.
When asked about this on Friday, Mr Chiam said: “Well, I haven’t met the team members yet, but I suppose we’ll have to make some adjustments. Because as you know, the number of members in the GRC has been increased from 5 to 6. For the opposition….. it is quite significant. We have to make some adjustments.” – CNA/ir
http://singaporeelection.blogspot.com/2006/03/few-changes-in-electoral-boundaries.html
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honestly, any opposition in parliament would be a big boast to keep the current incumbents in check. PAP has lost its way and in my opinion, zero credibility to move Singapore forward.
the question is, are we willing to bring about change and stand up to be counted for?
i don’t want to go back to reservist knowing i’m protecting a big bunch of foreign “talent”.
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how long can this game be kept up? better to be working for the will of the populace then to resort to these unsustainable tactics…
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This is more oppo should contest ALL the seats
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Hello,
let jump start the Tea Party Movement
From the Republican experience, we should “stop all discussion on social issues” this causes division and tension from within
Focus on Policy, Polciy and still Policy
Tea Party Motto?
to better protect the interest of the People of this Country we call Home
What we changes we would like to see ?
Singapore DNA 30% our own boys
We need to reach out the Independence Voters
Who are the Independence Voters?
Qoute: Foxnews Megan Kelly on Jane Fonda greatest mistake. The very people on the right that we are trying so hard to reach out to, we end up alienate them and the whole things collaspe
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Hello,
What are the changes “on the ground, we all like to see” that we all can agreed on, Fcous on share experience, common gorunds and common goals. What voters really want !!!
Reform in CPF ?
Reform in recuritment of national service ?
Reform in high cost of living ?
Reform in tax incentives to attract FDI ?
Reform in housing flats ?
Reform in foriegn workers work permit ?
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Hello,
Singapre DNA made up 30% are our boys
The remaining belong to the Giant Party, Men In White
And the rest are the Independence Voters
Who are the Independence Voters?
LGBT community
Blue collar community
White collar comminity
Human Rights community
Online community
For example Blue collar community, their concern are high cost of living, transportation, eating out, kids education stress and fees, job security, contract works…
Good luck, thats its folks, no more comment, goodbye
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if my ward has more than one opposition party contesting, i will vote for pap. If the opposition is smart enough to communicate and distribute evenly as though playing a game of chess, I will consider voting for opposition.
the key,….dun be dumb and try to play hero.
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//john
yeah keep kidding yourself.
I hope LHL start the elections now.
Then he will learn.
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//Weil
yeah, vote for the pap and let the pigs milk you somemore…
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if the PAP is still confident, why alter the electoral boundaries ???
its because they know that public anger against the ruling party at an all-time high.
all these will only fuel the public anger to an even higher level.
PAPs are not implementing the right policies ( like finding solutions to help those who cannot keep up the pace of Singapore)to win more votes but instead they are playing chest to gather more votes.
also,I am getting old and I am been poor all these while. I never get to hold or spend large sum of money. through blood, sweat and tears….i have some savings in my CPF. but all these will be lockup under the retirement fund as its below the minimum sum. no chance to smell it.
i used to feel grateful to the PAP for building up Singapore to what it is today but that feeling had somehow changed into resentful feeling.
anyway, i am glad that the Opposition camp has quite a few proffesionals, high calibre candidates compared to the olden days when taxi drivers and fishmongers stood for election.
i am glad to learn that one of them now is as qualified as LHL.
Maybe, should give him a chance
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This time no matter how they adjust the boundaries, PAP is going to lose big !!! LHL will have no place to hide his face !!!
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disgusting..
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Can’t the damned Elections Department afford a frigging MAP????
Who tries to described boundaries in text only? Cavemen?
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why allow those MIW to play their dirty games again in the first place? sngaporeans?
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it will be funny if ALMOST ALL the new citizens vote against the PAP because they know that under them, they as citizens will suffer.
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No way oppositions can gain much ground in next GE..
You guys must understand, the vocal bunch of netizens are already here in TR or TOC or maybe a hand full of other political blogs. As I can roughly count, a population of not more than 20k, to be very generous.
Nevermind how the boundaries are drawn or redrawn, there are those SILENT MAJORITY, only read the ST, never know of any new media, when polling day come, they will just automatically vote for PAP with no questions ask.
Say whatever you want, the result will be the same.
Long live PAP!
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Ah Goh promised us Swiss standard of living, in the end we get Swiss Cost of living. When i walk in NTUC, i felt that i was in China, when i walk in parks, i felt i was in india… where is SINGAPORE ?
My suggestion to the Opposition is to ensure AMK GRC is contested. This is to keep LHL busy so that he dont go around other Constituency to throw spannar.
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Have any of you living in Tanjong Pagar GRC actually SEEN LKY walking the ground?
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The chain of command is as strong as the weakest link, which is LHL. Once LHL (AMK) is down, The Leegacy is gone.
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the propaganda machine is out in full force – notice reports like more thn 90% HDB dwellers happy with their flats, environs? in response to poor score on environs in world most liveable cities? now increasing tuition fees and pretending to differentiate more sharply between citizens and PRs?
don’t be hood winked by this brainwashing.
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Guys, PAP may resort to unleash ISA against their opponents if necessary cos they cannot afford to let opps get 20-30% seats in parliament. It is as good as revealing of their many bad deeds publicly and causes their downfall. A Chinese poet “You do not just cut the grass but abstract the roots too” before its too late to contain.
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I believe the Opposition parties must come together, sit down and talk – only then you have a chance to provide a strong alternative for Singaporeans to choose from.
But I’ve not heard of that?? So long as Opposition parties are fragmented, its hard for the voting citizens to spend time to understand their different manifestos and agendas.
So to be credible, you all must come together.
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28814.1
Every 4 years comes a dreadful chore to the papee. Whereby their million dollar salaries and exclusive privileges comes into risk. Election to them is only to get by and continue leeching on the nation. Definately not a choice to the citizens to choose the party they wanted to continue leading the nation.
Sinkees must really stop being a coward and start doing something right for yourself and your families. You wouldn’t want your offsprings to blame you for their bad karma 50 years from now on why u voted for a heartless govt who made their life so unbearable in sinkapore..
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Fellow Singaporean votes not important to PAP now as they have so many FT new citizenship to vote for them..that the reason why they give away citisenship so easily lah!! Wake up!!! The goverment do not depend on you.
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i doubt it will be a watershed election. more likely a status quo.
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Hello,
One last comment, 22 FEB Budget Day
Brits call this “Sweetening Day” Govt sweeten the ground
Bugdet Day, if you are a businessman you read the “Reports” where the money will be concentrated you sell what the country need, you get a joy ride and supply on what they required
Most all of, in our local terms we call Govt to “Give Away Free Goodies”
In the past, they throw in balcony upgrading, lift upgrading, rain shelter from flat to flat, rain shelter from flat to bus stop, multiple car parks, soon people grew bored about it, they started to offer cash instead like the The Singapore Shares, currently what is on offer is 50th storey flats with a beautiful garden & jogging park in the air (so far they had lukewarm response)
USA call these “Pork Barrel Politics” upgrading especially targeted in certain states designed to win votes. Recent years the trend had backfires, since those Republican started complaining its “wasting taxpayers money” and projects that nobody cares about. In Britian David Cameron and his pals complain about MPs wasting taxpayers money…
That’s it, pretty normal stuff after the Goodies is given out election day should fall on school holidays. You should had noticed by now, you normally cast your vote in the school
By the way, something is changing in Singapore, our youth no longer think its cool to pay 3 million for a Mentor which most consider “Excessive Salaries” for someone that had retired from office. Infact our Mentor is fast becoming like Labor Gordon Brown a liability rather than a asset
My instinct is, this time they will all rally behind a Leader like our PM. Which in the past known for relying on Mentor popularity and reputation
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Of all the postings posted in this thread, this one really made sense!
———————————————————btan on Fri, 19th Feb 2010 1:17 am
Can’t the damned Elections Department afford a frigging MAP????
Who tries to described boundaries in text only? Cavemen?
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A united oppposition is the way to go. Look at the democrats and the republicans.
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Get rid of PAP once and for all to save majority native singaporean.
or
You will witness more foreign trash and PR and new citizens
population increase to majority and native singaporean become minority.
Your salary is not able to buy a decent flat.
Your job security at risk.
Your CPF is tightly lock to prevent easy access.
Your life becoming miserable.
Your witness of the multi-millionaire ministers and elites enjoying life with their family are guarantee.
Be brave to VOTE PAP OUT
Be smart to VOTE PAP OUT
Be humane to VOTE PAP OUT
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It’s Armageddon at the doorsteps of the pappies. Time for payback, you arrogant, irresponsible, miserable miws!
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I will never forgive PAP for changing the CPF rules governing funds withdrawal at age 55 which is something we did not bargain for when we first joined the CPF scheme. They did not even bother to ask us whether we agree to the CPF life scheme.
And how I decide to spend my hard earned CPF savings irrespective of whether I live up to more than 80 years old is NONE of the Govt’s business !
My vote will definitely go to the opposition even if LKY is to beg me on his knees.
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I sincerely hope the Real Singaporeans wake up this election and vote the right opposition party in. The PAP used to need our votes and still do for the upcoming election, but might not be needing it after this election. Frankly they have been having free reign for far too long and will continue to do so if we do nothing.
Singapore is beginning to look like The Peoples Republic of China cum Singapore, just look around us now (look what happened to Geylang is paku Geylang). The PAP, thanks to our M&M w has screwed an entire generation of Chinese Singaporeans of their actual mother tongue and now aggressively increased the number of PRCs to be Sporeans for the next election. We are a Republic of Singapore and let’s stay that way not just for name sake.
What have we got to loose this next election, our CPF?, HDB flat?, Casino? Singapore Flyer?,…..
Look forward to GST Increase, Pay Increase and promotions for PAP Ministers and Cronies. Perhaps more bodyguards for M&m & PAP. Increases of basic essentials from our utilities to the very food we have to put on our table. Have a look at how much a bag of rice cost now, does the PAP care.
Vote wisely, please. The choice is ours and our vote still count. I don’t think it’s a difficult choice to make this next election. Vote for the right opposition party not because we want to but we need to before it’s too late as a True Blue Singaporean.
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dam.. & in that article.. u can see words like ‘imaginary boundary” what the heck? a boundary is a boundary… what imaginary!! & pls.. can i imagine that part of teck Ghee is under Potong Pasir SMC?
& for last GE, how on earth Serangoon is under MP GRC? & edoj Reservoir under Aljunied GRC!!!
pls!!! if we can afford SGD$40mil for cabinet minister!!!!!!!!!
the more we can afford to come out with a MAP!!! isn’t visual better thn just written in text!! better still…harness the NEW MEDIA..come up with video effects!
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Someone mentioned the online netizens who are supporting vote opposition only 20,000 – all already on TR and TOC.
This number is good enough if all of us email to all our friends and introduce them to join the TR and TOC, this will help other S’poreans to expose to more balanced view, not just condition by our lcoal mainstream media. May I call for a campaign to all online Netizen who read TR and TOC. Forward the weblinks to all your Singaporeans friends. Like that more fair to PAP and Opposition. After reading both mainstream media and TR/TOC, let Singapore decide who to vote. Fair enough? Best man wins
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I agreed with I Love Singapore suggestion with a campaign: “forward weblinks of TR and TOC to all Singapore friedns!”Someone mentioned the online netizens who are supporting vote opposition only 20,000 – all already on TR and TOC.
This number is good enough if all of us email to all our friends and introduce them to join the TR and TOC, this will help other S’poreans to expose to more balanced view, not just condition by our lcoal mainstream media. May I call for a campaign to all online Netizen who read TR and TOC. Forward the weblinks to all your Singaporeans friends. Like that more fair to PAP and Opposition. After reading both mainstream media and TR/TOC, let Singapore decide who to vote. Fair enough? Best man wins
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I love Singapore
I love election.
I get to choose.
This is all that matters.
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Don’t believe this will be the final electoral boundary. They can still change it. I don’t think we will have Aljunied GRC again. Usually the most dangerous GRC where opposition were able to get more that 40% of the vote will disappear, just like Eunos GRC and Cheng San GRC.
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Hope the oppositions will press the relevant authorities to come out with a well defined map showing the actual boundaries as stated in the electoral report just released.
This is important, because it will clear all doubts if the
adjacent parties of either PAP or oppositions win or lose by a small margin. Otherwise PAP can always come out with an excuse that the boundaries are not well defined in words, and should be clarified etc etc should they lose by a small margin in a certain ward.
Mind you they are capable to come out with all sorts of tricks when winning and losing is concerned!
Better plug all the loose ends and loop holes before the election to be on the safe and winning side!!
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Can the garmen give justifications for & provide a visualisation of the altered papaya boundaries?
Why is there a need to keep changing the boundaries of polling districts with every election? Is this common practice in other developed countries ?
With each change, it always seem that the “walk over” or strong papaya wards will be grouped with the threatened ones to form super GRCs, to the extent that some boundaries becomes ridiculous.
Having enough credible opposition candidates to contest a GRC is already quite a task but to increase GRC members from 5 to 6 ?
As matured thinking Sporeans we know how to vote for whatever is good for ourselves. If papayas are really that good, don’t be so scared. You’ll win more votes, not lose them.
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Singapore is a small island, there shouldn’t be any segregation in the first place.
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Singapore People Party’s Chairman Sin Kek Tong had been active in the SMC of Braddell Hill for six years after garnering a respectable 47 per cent of the votes in the 1991 general election only to find it being “absorbed” into Marine Parade GRC subsequently.
THIS IS 100% UNACCEPTABLE.
i will never vote for pap because of this.
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Toad on Fri, 19th Feb 2010 5:21 pm
Can the garmen give justifications for & provide a visualisation of the altered boundaries?
Justification #1: Continental shift
Justification #2: Risng sea level
Justification #3: Cataclysmic pole shift
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■Toad on Fri, 19th Feb 2010 5:21 pm “Can the garmen give justifications for & provide a visualisation of the altered papaya boundaries?
Why is there a need to keep changing the boundaries of polling districts with every election? Is this common practice in other developed countries ?”
Yes, it’s common, that’s why there’s a term for it, called “gerrymandering”. Politicians have used this dirty trick for donkey years to manipulate votes to their advantage.
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GRCs are unconstitutional.
They rob independent citizens to stand for elections in them!
Individual independent citizens can only present themselves for election in SMCs only which is utterly unconstitutional.
So, GRCs should be abolished and the constituencies should revert to SMCs.
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This will be the LAST time S’poreans can vote in more opposition parties. Why? Because our votes will be heavily diluted by the new citizens who are likely for vote for PAP.
Using the words of LKY……S’poreans are DAFT is they think they can always vote in opposition parties should PAP cock up. Well, the truth is there will be NO opposition parties if all of them get dishearted by the lack of votes. That would be the day when PAP will flood S’pore with even more foreigners WITHOUT worrying about being voted out!!!!!!!!!
Be afraid….be very afraid.
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If GRCs were to be abolished, PAP will be dead by now.
This is a tactic that only coward will use.
With only SMCs, do you think Mah have a chance to sit in parliament?
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Please use Twitter hashtag #sgreform to network all like minded individuals who stand for real democracy.
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Singapore is just a little dot and the PIGS need to revamp their breathing space every so often before an election???. The pigs are wasting too much oxygen and polluting with too much carbon print from intemperate frequent openings of their rear ends.
Could the hypocrisy of democracy do a bit better than this shameful political masturbation of predictable gerrymandering?
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In the US, they also gerrymander.. especially for their presidential elections. I know someone who even did software to collect and display data for the purpose of gerrymandering. but i’m not sure if the impact is as big as we see here in SG.
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STOP ALL YOUR NONSENSE NOW MR MM, YOU CANNOT GO ON FULFILLING YOUR DREAMS AND HUNGER FOR POWER AND MONEY AT THE EXPENSE OF YOUR OWN CITIZENS WHO MANY ARE ALREADY SUFFERING NOW.
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maybe one day, there will only be 1 super duper big GRC… hahahaha
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Altered electoral boundries. Who approved that?
Is our President of Singapore still around?
Altered boundaries into senseless GRCs is a sign of cowardice.
Afraid to face consequences or judiciary if they were to lose in the next election. Die Die Must Win.
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Give us back our single wards! Let we, the PEOPLE of Singapore, have a say of who we want to represent us in the parliament. This is the only way to make sure that MPs truly represent the voice of the PEOPLE, after all, PAP MPs are only good as grassroots advisors. They do nothing for the general good of the PEOPLE whom they represent. Perhaps, it was because most of the PAP MPs won without any competition at all!
Singapore is probably the only country that changes its electoral boundaries according to the whim and fancy of the ruling party and they still have the cheeks to claim we are a democratic country! Shame on WIM!
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Some of PAP MPs cannot survive on their own… It is a shame when the self-professed ‘world-class government’ resorts to such tactics. They won the seats but they definitely do not win the respect of the people.
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Once again, every five years the good ol’ gerrymandering exercise is in full swing. Your area could be part of Telok Blangah GRC five years ago, now it goes to Ayer Rajah territory, another five years it goes to Jurong. Other oddities include your town getting split into two or more parts.
Ever wonder why many Singaporeans don’t have a particularly sense of belonging? THIS is exactly one of the main reasons. With hometown borders constantly in flux, and even entire consituencies absorbed, who really gives a shit anymore?
Yes, gerrymandering is legal. But it is unethical, and only serves to boost the winning chances of the incumbent party. Politics should never be a zero sum game, this kiasu ‘win at all costs’ mentality will come back to haunt the PAP in time to come.
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LKY is right. Singaporeans are dafts cos we have been voting for them even though PAP screw us all the time hahaha… That old fart is darn right man! We are the suckers after all.
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朝令暮改，小人所爲！
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Sham democracy…
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GRCs are complete shams designed to ensure that the PAP dominate elections.
One would think that “competent”, highly paid ministers would not need so many people to manage a small constituency.
The GRCs simple allow PAP to dominate because it would require as many opposition members to even be able to contest for the constituency.
Additionally, it allows even more talentless PAP crap to hide under the coat of more famous ministers and get elected.
Even if oppositions win all the SMCs, 9 oppositions will not even be able to get much influence in the parliment.
Complete sham. PAP is really insecure.
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Here we are talking about election and I think all of us Singaporeans should be very clear about our democratic parliamentary system and its roles and functions in relation to the civil service.
Let it be very clear that all civil servants are at the service of our country and not the ruling political party! Singaporeans, especially the lesser informed, generally have a misguided tendency of regarding the civil service to be PAP! The civil service is there to serve our country REGARDLESS of which political party has been elected. And this is the good parliamentary system Great Britain has bestowed our country. Anybody, including the well known and the so-called well respected, who argue or insinuate otherwise about this very foundation of our nation building, is not telling us the truth!
There is no such thing as the “government will stop functioning” if the opposition wins the next election! Public transport (MRT, Buses), Public utilities (electricity, water), Sea Port, Airport, HDB town councils, HDB, General hospitals, police department, tax department, finance department, defence department and last but not least the judiciary (sub-courts and high courts) will have to continue their functions by the country’s Constitutions, they all have to be non-partisan civil service departments established to diligently serve the people.
Elected political party appoints ministers to direct operations, set department policies and supervise its implementations. Now, different political parties will have some differences in setting their various policies, BUT, any policy change in the operation will not cause the civil service to grind to a halt. On the contrary, in the Singapore context, a younger and freshly elected, well educated, honest and sincere opposition party minister is more likely to streamline, optimise and improve its standard of service to the public, without demanding multi-million dollars salary.
We, the electorate, owes it to ourselves and the future of our country, to better understand and help other fellow countrymen to better understand, the principle underpinning our political system when we cast that very significant VOTE!
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