SCMP Editorial

Editorial | Singapore election a vote for stability

The city state’s ruling party has weathered a crisis poll, now it must work with the opposition to confront challenges, contribute to region’s growth and ensure balanced ties with China and the US

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Voters queue to cast their ballots at a polling station in Singapore’s general election where Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the result was “not as strong an endorsement as hoped”. Photo: EPA-EFE

SCMP Editorial

Published: 9:59pm, 13 Jul 2020Updated: 11:15pm, 13 Jul 2020

Singapore’s recent election was closely watched by Beijing and Washington, even though there was never any doubt the ruling People’s Action Party would be comfortably returned. The small country’s vast wealth, trade and investment enable it to punch far above its weight in regional and global affairs.

It has maintained a careful balancing act between China and the United States and its political stability is important to both nations. But the vote did not go as expected and the severe economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and gains by the opposition mean that the island’s leaders cannot take their apparent mandate to govern for granted.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the result was “not as strong an endorsement as hoped”, an understatement given that the PAP’s share of the popular vote fell by 8.7 percentage points to 61.24 per cent, its third-worst showing in 61 years of continuous rule. But Singapore’s first-past-the-post electoral system means that the ruling party has easily retained power with 83 of the 93 seats in parliament.

Elections are more about allowing voters to send a message to the government. It has been given important information, the backing of young voters in some wards enabling the opposition Workers’ Party to boost its number of seats by four to 10.

The trade war between China and the US had already battered the economy and the coronavirus has dealt a further blow to create the worst economic crisis since independence in 1959. Singaporeans are conditioned to expect their public officials to deliver highly competent administration and there has been criticism about an array of issues, including shortcomings in public transport, unpopular social welfare policies and handling of Covid-19.

It also seems likely the PAP’s plans for Lee to be succeeded by Heng Swee Keat, deputy prime minister and finance minister, will be delayed.

Despite the outcome, stability is assured for Singapore. But although the PAP has weathered what amounts to a crisis election, it has much work to do and the opposition has an important role to play. Working together, they have to confront the city state’s challenges and by doing so, contribute to the region’s growth and ensure balanced ties with China and the US.