The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) won big in terms of seats and vote share in General Election 2015.

In terms of parliamentary representation, it will have 83 seats in parliament, three more seats that it had before the GE.

In terms of vote share, it experienced an increase of 9.72%.

PAP leaders usually do not like to speculate on things or issues, but the day after polling day is a strange one for the leaders.

The leaders have to go on victory parades to thank their residents and the media will be present. And it's just not nice to reject media queries.

So here are eight quotes that the media manage to squeeze out from the leaders as they play political pundits for a day.

1. PM Lee, dismissing the notion that his popularity and/or his posters across the island had any bearing on PAP's result

“It's flattering but I think it cannot just be based on a person because it has to be based in substance, on whether people's lives are getting better, and whether they have the trust not just in one person but in the whole team...And I'd like to think on all these other counts, we've made good progress. We've had posters before with my image on them even for previous elections. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t."

2. DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam 

DPM Tharman told Channel NewsAsia during a walkabout in Jurong West on Saturday (Sept. 12) that Singaporeans do not want to see a sudden lurch forward, but steady progress as well as genuine determination to make life better.

"People nationwide have decided to give their confidence to the PAP, both in its leadership and its plans for the way forward".

3. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen

"Especially when surrounding countries were having a lot of troubles, you saw the contrast helped bring home the message that Singapore is special."

This made Singaporeans "understand and appreciate and ask themselves also: Why is it we've done so well and what is it that has enabled us?" The Straits Times (Sept. 12).

4. Manpower Minister Lim Swee Say

"That is why on the fifth or sixth day (of the campaign), we decided to ignore the bookies, because we think it is better that we focus on what we do best, what we do right...So, (we will) chase after residents, rather than chase after votes." The Straits Times (Sept. 12)

5. Labour Chief and Minister Chan Chun Sing

"Singaporeans are very aware of the challenges that we have going forward, not just internal, but also external challenges. Because of that, Singaporeans know that the secret ingredient of our success over the last 50 years and for many years to come is our ability to maintain that unity."

6. Social and Family Development Minister Tan Chuan-Jin on the online sentiment

“We were a bit perplexed also, because our ground sense was that it’s very warm and supportive and whether that translates into votes (was) difficult to say. So there was that uncertainty there...We need to figure out how to rally round, figure out how to converse as best as we can...We are very deeply appreciative of the residents who supported us, but there are also residents who didn’t support us. And our responsibility is also to look out for them". Channel NewsAsia (Sept. 13)

7. Education Minister Heng Swee Keat

PAP will engage Singaporeans "even more extensively and deeply". "Having come so far in 50 years, there is a sense of excitement that we are poised to take Singapore forward in the next 50 years...What we must do is to make sure we harness the ideas and the creativity of our people, so that we can work together for a better future." The Straits Times (Sept. 13)

8. Foreign and Law Minister K Shanmugam

"The voteslide across the board in all the constituencies they (Workers' Party) contested, hitting 30-odd per cent when they used to hit 40 odd, is a significant reversal, and I think there are clear reasons for that...The Singapore public, they are very discerning. You can't hoodwink them. You can't leave a lot of questions unanswered on the table and go to rallies and say, I have answered all the questions." The Straits Times (Sept. 12).

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