Electoral Boundaries Review – PAP 1 : Singapore 0
February 28th, 2011 | 
Author: The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) released its report last Thursday, and the committee’s recommendations were immediately accepted by the PAP government. The EBRC report has not been made available to the public.
It is not known when EBRC started its work, though the Prime Minister revealed on 30 Oct that he had convened the committee. The EBRC is reported to be chaired by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Tan Kee Yong, but it is not known who the other members of this important committee are.
As per the EBRC’s recommendations, in the next General Elections, there will be 12 Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) and 15 Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs), a change from the current 9 SMCs and 14 GRCs.
Some of the major changes are
1) There are 8 new SMCs, while 5 existing ones have been merged into GRCs. The affected constituencies are those whereby the PAP MPs are said to be stepping down, e.g. Nee Soon Central (Ong Ah Heng), Nee Soon East (Ho Peng Kee) and Yio Chu Kang (Seng Han Thong).
2) As for Aljunied GRC, where the fiercest GRC battle was fought in 2006, the GRC loses 24,000 of its voters living in a strip adjacent to the WP-controlled Hougang SMC, to Ang Mo Kio GRC. In exchange, it gets 20,000 voters from Marine Parade GRC.
3) Hong Kah GRC, with the retirement of ex-minister Yeo Cheow Tong, is reincarnated as Chua Chu Kang GRC. It takes in Manpower Minister Gan Kim Yong’s Chua Chu Kang SMC, while hiving off Hong Kah North.
4) Jalan Besar GRC headed by the underperforming Environment minister Yaacob Irabhim is scraped. The redrawn Tanjong Pagar GRC and new the Moulmein-Kallang GRC each consists part of the current Jalan Besar GRC and Tanjong Pagar GRC.
5) There are 2 mega six-member GRCs left – Ang Mo Kio GRC and Pasir-Ris Punggol GRCs – which are to be anchored by PM Lee Hsien Loong and DPM Teo Chee Hean for the PAP teams.
Given the many boundary changes which seem to favour the PAP, Singaporeans cannot help but to agree with the opposition parties that these unsubstantiated changes are mere gerrymandering in the ruling party’s favour, to the detriment of one’s sense of belonging to his constituency.
The many odd-shaped electoral boundaries that have affected the voter sense of identity to his constituency remains. For example, Braddell Heights in central Singapore remains part of Marine Parade GRC . The new Moulmein-Kallang GRC stretches from the MacRitchie Reservoir to the Marina Bay.
It is puzzling why the EBRC has not used the URA urban planning area map (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urban_planning_areas_in_Singapore) as the blueprint for its constituency delimitation work. The map is now adopted by most governmental ministries and departments for their administrative purposes, e.g. the Statistics Department, and the Police Force, as opposed to the odd-shaped electoral divisions.
Because of the powerful effects the electoral boundaries redrawing process can have on the electoral outcome, legal framework for boundary delimitation is specified in the constitution of most countries. The Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) recommends the following pieces of information be included in this legal framework:
- The frequency of such determination;
- The criteria for such determination;
- The degree of public participation in the process;
- The respective roles of the legislature, judiciary and executive in the process;and
- The ultimate authority for the final determination of the electoral units.
However, the EBRC has no constitutional standing in Singapore and there is no law that mandates its creation.
In UK, where Singapore inherits the Westminster system of government, the Boundary Commissions is established under the Parliamentary Constituencies Act and it conducts a complete review of all constituencies only once every 8-12 years. There is a period for representations to be made on the recommendation reports. The completed review will have to be approved by the Parliament.
In Malaysia, the Election Commission is charged with recommending changes to constituency boundaries, in addition to conducting elections. The proposals will have to be approved in parliament or state assemblies. If there are objections from 100 or more registered electors of the reviewed constituency, the Commission must hold a local enquiry.
It is very disappointing that the EBRC has failed to detail the reasoning and justifications for their various recommendations. Singaporeans are entitled to know why boundaries are drawn, and how they are done. To this end, the EBRC headed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, Tan Kee Yong, has let Singaporeans down. The electoral boundaries redrawing process has undermined Singaporeans’ confidence and legitimacy in the electoral process.
Fundamental electoral reforms are needed for the long-term political stability of Singapore. What Singapore needs is an independent electoral commission with constitutional standing to run the electoral process, and not an Elections Department under the Prime Minister’s Office that reports to the PM (himself a candidate during the General Elections).
The government should serve the people. Singaporeans should not serve PAP.
Let’s put the PAP back in its place for the good of Singapore!
.
Edmund Khor
Posted in 
These three paragraphs clearly show the ‘Third World Politics of ‘DUPLICITY’ that is being indulged by the self-acclaimed pseudo-elitist talents that claimed to be part of the First World Community of Nations !
If the Electoral Boundary Review Committee is not even formed through Parliamentary Legislation – can its recommendation be considered legitimate, and as such – can the redrawn boundaries be accepted by the Constitutents who are treated as marbles being knocked around from one constituency to another at different elections ?
The last statement of this thread should be the rallying call to all Singaporeans:-
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Some of this boundary changes are outright ridiculous and smells deeply fishy. You dont need to be an Einstein to note that these changes will only be beneficial for the PAP in the GE. With the Elections Dept under the Govt’s payroll, fairplay is obviously not in the vocabulary of the regime. But Expect the Unexpected. With Sporeans showing signs of frustrations towards the Govt, the electoral boundaries changes might just backfires big time on the PAP’s faces in the GE.
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It was reported thatthe PM “accepted the recommendations” of the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee.I am puzzled! Wasn’t he who told the committee what to do? or am I so daft to believe that the committee is so accurate and “brilliant” to put up a recommendation that is well liked and suitable ?
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What a big joke. It was reported that the PM on behlaf of his gang has IMMEDIATELY accepted the recommendations of the Electoral Boundaries Wayang Review Committee. No need to spend some time or cracking of blady heads to go thru thoroughly this so very impt issue which could very likely affecting the continuation of pap rule. They think we are daft to believe that. Looks more like they (PM, MM, SM and tops guns) have spent months and months of preparations b4 they sent the final ‘noble’ redrawing list to the Electoral Boundaries Wayang Review Committee JUST for the Committee head, Mr Tan Lan Yong’s signature. This is the hard truth.
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Great analyses Edmund, thank you for the insight. I am also working on an article analysing the re-working of the electoral boundaries and the potential impact to all parties.
In my research, I found this article written by a S.Ramesh buried in the CNA website, although dated 24th Feb, 2011 – it sure did take some intense Goggling to find it.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/specialreport/news/1112777_158/1/.html
The EBRC’s justification for re-jigging of the boundaries appears to be their ratio of MPs to voters, in this case 1: 20,000-30,000 voters.
Simple calculations for 2006 and 2011 (# of seats up for grabs vs. overall size of electorate) would appear to back this claim.
Using the example of Aljunied GRC for example:
The “new” Aljunied GRC voter size is about the same as 2006, this justification kinda seems a little weak because it would appear the rationale might be to (at least on the surface) shift ~24,000 “potential opposition voting” voters and replacing these by ~20,000 “placid” voters used to “walkover” in their days in Marine Parade GRC to help dilute potential opposition votes – this is just a layman’s theory though.
More analyses are needed…thank you for your enlightening article, food for thought.
P.S. In the same article, some of the key members of the EBRC are also named.
Here’s to a great GE.
Kevin Wong
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How long has the elections department been a part of the prime minister’s office? Since LKY?
Since it exercises functions under the Parliamentary Elections Act, why is it not answerable to Parliament as in any other Westminster system??
I think we know the answer and what to do about it.
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I should have included that the Economic Commission in Malaysia can conduct a boundaries delineation exercise only after more than 8 years from the completion of the last review.
This compares well with the UK’s frequency of only once every 8-12 years.
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The pappies think they can get away with it because they treat us as dafts. Time and time, they played the same trick to win the elections. Changing boundaries as and when it suits them.
I am going to teach them a lesson for abusing the rights I have given them.
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This Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC) is NOT independent. As such, they simply listened to PM and rubber stamp to make it seems legitimate – this is a HARD TRUTH and fallacy !
The redrawing has benefited the incumbent much more than anybody. Even a child can see some of the boundry are so intertwined to the GRCs.
In fact, we should rally to abolish GRCs altogether as it is NOT a democratic process and make a joke of our multi-racial lines !
Nevetheless, the incumbents will receive a very strong mandate of ground unhappiness to reduce their majority. Just watch !!!
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5 man grc?
why?
1 for 4 races.
the remaining one for ft?
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All,
The Singapore Elections Dept comes under the Prime Minister’s Office however, it should be objectively noted that a similar organisational structure is also practised by the Australian Electoral Commission(AEC).
The AEC reports to the Special Minister of State who also sits in the Australian Prime Minister’s Office. Therefore this arrangement is not unique to Singapore.
KW
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The root cause is the Westminster System of Government. Such a system encourages power mongers to contest for the right to rule( justly or unjustly) over the people and this, often than not, create discontent, division and even corrupt the course of justice, equity and peaceful coexistence.
What this political system has proven is that anyone charismatic and clever enough can remain as the sole power almost indefinitely.
Such a government resembles monarchy/aristocratic rule but without advert royalty treatment because of democratic restrain.
This,however, do not augur well for the nation in the long term because any man who takes the hot seat through political contest will always invite or open itself to revolt/contest, which can lead to violence and even annihilation of a nation.
We see this being played out all around us.
History has shown that no man who has to fight/seek power or to remain in power will ever be fit to preside over the rest.
Such a man,often devious, is a man of war, not of peace.
Maybe it is time we put the sacred/golden cow to the…cross?
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Since the PAPIES had accepted immediately the EBRC’s new drawn boundaries, I personally feel that the 2 Opposition MPs should voiced out their protest immediately too. The Opposition MPs should questions the reasons, details and constructions of the boundaries. Especially that is there a need to reconstruct the boundaries and why if so ?
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Please help Nee Soon residents. Come and contest. My families, relatives, friends and maybe some of my colleagues’ votes are meant for you. Passby coffeeshops, provision shops, market places, hawker centers, bus interchange, shopping mall, neighbourhood void decks are talking about voting Opposition Parties. Don’t let us down. We can’t wait for another 4 years. Enough of the ruling pigs’ shits.
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My eyes almost popped out in dis-belief when I read this -
GE: Electoral boundary changes should help contesting parties: PM Lee.
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While it is not right that electoral boundaries are redrawn every election, I’m not convinced it’s a significant factor in other parties not being able to make headway against PAP.
There are many reasons, incl $$$, lack of publicity, etc. But until the other parties are overrun with quality candidates, I don’t see this as a significant why they can’t be elected.
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The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee is not legislated by Parliament and answers to the PM, who is a candidate himself – can this be a fair and independent Committee – (as was stated in the article).
A historical note of the EBRC is skimmed off Wikipedia, and show that neither the Constitution nor any Law require the EBRC work to be done before each and every election.
The ‘DUPLICITY’ in the work of the EBRC is that its terms of reference is being directed by the PM and not by any legislation.
Furthermore, the EBRC is headed by members of the Government, who are Civil Servants, whose positions are dependent on the goodwill generated with the incumbents – can they be depended on for any degree of neutrality or transparency ?
EBRC is not even shown in the organisation structure of the Elections Department [*3] – and was only created in 1954, before the 1955 General Election.
.
.
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[*1] EBRC formation and duties
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_Representation_Constituency
[*2] Thanks to Kevin Wong for bringing this CNA article into this thread
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/specialreport/news/1112777_158/1/.html
[*3] Election Department Organisation Structure
http://www.elections.gov.sg/about_structure.html
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I want to work under PAP.
1) Draw high salary.
2) Enjoy high salary life.
3) Sitting behind the camera snoring at the parliment session.
4) No need responsible for my words.
Last but not least,
5) ONLY NEED TO WORK DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD.
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New 20,000 voters from Marine Parade GRC to Aljunied GRC, Must be very exciting now..We will Salute you all when WP victory lead by Mr. Low.
If WP to contest again AMK GRC, the old 24,000 voters from AlJunied surely will bring down PAP votes. It will be disgraceful to lost more votes, especially lead by PM. The PM should be strongestly supported.
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Existing SMC disappear because they are pro-Opp, and there will be a vote swing…..to play safe, absorb into GRC….
On the other hand, the new SMC is pro-FAP because they counted the votes by precinct…..they have the past result, and know in event of any swing of votes to the Opp, they have the safety margin to at least 50%…..
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http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/28/world/middleeast/28oman.html?hp
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/02/11/sifry.egypt.technology/index.html?iref=obinsite
locals need to REVIEW the PAST MONTH’S list of countries that wants CHANGE, and they have the GUTS to GET IT !!!
from tunisia, egypt, now libya, and why, did these countries despots, dictators did to them what your gov did to you ???
libya has THOUSANDS of FOREIGNERS, JOBS taken away from the LOCALS.
egypt has income inequality for its people and tunisia, same things are happening, any different here.
locals MUST KNOW, that mubarak, ben ali’s wife and now gaddafi have STOLEN THE PEOPLE’S MONEY AND EVEN THE CENTRAL BANK’S GOLD BARS !!!
MIW HAS OVER PAID THEMSELVES MILLIONS, AND YOU, PEANUTS WHEN ELECTION IS COMING, ASK YOURSELF, IS THAT NOT THE SAME.
the day when this gov is KICK OUT, only then, we’ll all KNOW, if our GOLD BARS are SAFE !!!!
ASK YOURSELF, DO WE NEED CHANGE ????
DO WE NEED THOUSANDS OF FOREIGNERS AND CHEAP SLAVES ???
DO WE NEED HIGH HDB FLAT PRICES ???
DOES THE FUTURE LOOK, “ROSY” FOR YOUR CHILDREN ????
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EBRC, come out and explain to us how you all arrived at the boundaries. We, citizens accept the boundaries then there will be elections (shouldn’t it work this way? we have the right to choose to be governed by who). Not hide behind PAPigs and agree to what you are been told to draw. We have the rights to know how you guys work as we pay taxes which is your salary (millions)
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Some people finds themselves changing electoral constituencies during every election even though they stay in the home house.
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Nothing is fair in this world.
No way, so don’t expect the ruling party to help the oppo to win.
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This was exactly what I mention several months ago. There is no way we are able to vote PAP out with the way they continue to re-draw boundaries at every election.
Anon, how exactly are you going to do that? They are almost untouchable in their barricaded titanium claded Ivory Fortress.
If Sgers can’t vote them via normal ‘legal’ means what else can we do? Take it to the streets?
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Redraw here redraw there for a more cunning purpose.vote out the pap!
HELP ME FELLOW SINGAPOREANS. YOU’RE MY ONLY ONLY HOPE.
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Sense of belonging to a particular constituency is not important, what is important is to be able to vote in each and every GE!
If I am EBRC, I will not bite the hands that feed me, that explains why redrawing of electoral boundaries are common and happening in every GE.
I will not blame EBRC, we should blame the hands that feed them, what we the voters can and should do is to vote wisely in the coming GE!!
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I don’t expect anything of the PAP, but you seem to have forgotten what the PAP is there for. They are there to help govern Singapore for Singaporeans!
They do not own Singapore. We are not here to be squeezed dry for their personal glory and wealth.
Part and parcel of doing what’s right for Singapore and Singaporeans is squashing group think; If opposition is what it takes to do that, then that’s what’s needed.
By killing any opposing voices the way they do, they are only serving their own purpose at the EXPENSE of Singapore and Singaporeans.
LKY himself said that opposition is needed before he came into power then of course after he assumed the reigns, his true ugly colors show.
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Don’t worry their tactic is not bullet prove. they can change here and there. but when election it the people will but the paper on the ballot box. So singapore have to pass all the wrong doing of them around to educate people not to be fool by them anymore. We should stop all this and bring them to justice as freeze all his money. Singapore shoild wake from the sleep.
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The reshuffling of the Electoral Boundaries is just only 1 issue, who can be certain that there are no bins of ready votes on standby to dilute oppositions vote counts on polling day? who can be sure since the entire process and control is no one other than the PMO run by LHL, no one would know, right?
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that is balant cheating and fraud by the pappies!
The colluders should be charged for treason.
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PAP has single handedly set rules for its own benefit and sideline the parliament that should be representing the people of Singapore. Why is EBRC not under the election committee is bewilderment to everyone? Why is EBRC reporting to the Prime Minister Office? Why are changes made that has no valid reason to buck it up? Why are matters concerning the voters living in the new redrawn boundaries not important and feedback not seek from residents? What is the role of EBRC which only appeared every five years and made changes without any research and works to validate the changes and what are they doing all these 5 years? Where on EARTH can you be paid SUPER-SCALED SALARIES to do work only for a few months EVERY 5 YEARS…can the PM Lee please explained to the people and stopped beating around the bush? Faced the people and tell us the TRUTH!
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PAP IS NEXT TO GO, Out with MDA
PAP IS NEXT TO GO, Out with ISD
PAP IS NEXT TO GO, Out with the Dictator Lees !!!!
And many many more – we have suffered enough under the draconian PAP parliament.
We have suffered in Silence for too long PAP dominance that perpetutates their power which REWARD themselves $millions and millions for Many many years.
That is why ONLY $600,000 is peanuts to One idiotic Minister’s wife because the Husband is getting Millions $$$$.
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Is this what you call ‘FREE AND FAIR ELECTION!”
PAP bunch of cowards is determine to win so, to continue to bullying
and enriching themselves with our blood money!
Please, we do not want Singapore to emulate Tunisia or Egpyt.
Worst still Libya!
Remember, we are humans made of flesh and blood….We havc feelings too!
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Fundamental electoral reforms are needed for the long-term political stability of Singapore. What Singapore needs is an independent electoral commission with constitutional standing to run the electoral process, and not an Elections Department under the Prime Minister’s Office that reports to the PM (himself a candidate during the General Elections).
The government should serve the people. Singaporeans should not serve PAP.
Let’s put the PAP back in its place for the good of Singapore!
.
Edmund Khor
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very very sound advice BUT,
will silly singaporeans bite?
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to me,it doesn’t matter how they cut out the election boundaries.
if true blue singaporeans have truly woken up,they have woken up.
no matter what the PAPies and their doggies try to do to ‘OUTWIT’ the OPPO,SINGAPOREANS will hvae the FINAL SAY.
ARE WE GOING FOR REAL CHANGE or are we merely being complaintive?
is enough,enough or we singaporeans still want more of the same shit from the PAPies like bringing in more Indie FTs and higher GST?
Honestly,the ball is now in our court,singaporeans.
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The GRC can be divisive, controversial and unfair.
Return the fundamental rights to vote to Singaporeans.
No more GRC.
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The objective of redrawing the electoral boundaries cannot be as clear as daylight:
To dilute the chances of opposition in certain wards by merging the weaker areas to a stronger hold of the PAP GRC.
It is so obvious. The Media and PAP will be in full gear to justify it in the powerful media and all over.
The GRC needs to be abolished to restore basic right of an individual Singaporean who has been deprived of its voting rights all these decades with walkovers, big GRCs and SMC which are carved out bec they have a history of over 75% voters for PAP. It is so obvious.
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It’s amazing everyone say vote opposition here without knowing who they are. They rhino opposition is perfect, hey think opposition will never do any wrong…vote them in and 5 years later the same if not worse shit happens again,.. Then what they start calling for the return of PAP! WTF! Stupid man
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What Charles brought up earlier is a real issue – vote-rigging.
Looking forward at the election, what has been done to prepare for a transparent and fair vote counting process? There is no independent electoral commission to oversee the vote counting, any fraud can happen.
The ruling party looks confident for this election despite them knowing that the tides have turned, so I suspect they could have something up their sleeves.
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Why so complicated & difficult? North, South, East, West & Central,
why not ? Small country, democratic, easy to mend but now take a good
look at the map, looks more like USA. What a stupid joke…….
Also If Electoral boundary changes are to help opposition, then this
PM must be a damn fool. The actual fact of the matter is, if anything
was fair as it was mention, people will know. You wouldn’t need
someone to step out and say, “The new boundaries are fair.” The
reason that he has to step out and make a statement like this really
shows that it is truly unfair.
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The mess that we are in today can only be cleaned-up by us.
If we put them on the pedestal in the first place, then it is up to us to pull them down. No one else can help us, it is only US!
This election presents a GOLDEN opportunity to right all the wrongs that has been subjected unto us.
VOTE for Change! VOTE for Oppositions! If PAP wins then Singaporeans lose!!
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To all SINKaporens,
Don’t keep complaining like a SISSY(almost all SINKaporens are). YOU are the one who voted PAP in the last election.
You want a better life and future for yourself and your kids then do what you need to do on this coming election.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU AND YOUR KIDS IN THE FUTURE IS THE DECISION THAT YOU MADE NOW.
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I heard the GST is going to rise to 10% after the election. If it’s true, looks like all the paperworks are already done, waiting to announce after the election.
Looks like the PAP is confident to win again.
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