Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong met with activists from his party (the People's Action Party) on July 18 to answer questions on the party's performance during the recently-concluded General Election.

Wong is a member of the PAP Central Executive Committee.

The PAP saw its vote share drop from 69.9 per cent to 61.2 per cent in GE2020.

Wong affirmed his party that the PAP received a clear mandate during this election. 61.2 per cent is a solid majority, he said, even though it was lower than what the party hoped for.

Here's what transpired during the meeting.

PAP is opposition in Aljunied, Hougang

The PAP is naturally disappointed that it lost another GRC, said Wong:

"The Sengkang team gave their all but the desire for more opposition was too strong. Our hearts also go out to our teams in Aljunied and Hougang.....but these are hard grounds where we are the opposition and it takes real commitment, courage, and resilience to fight them."

Did young voters vote against the PAP?

"Much of the commentary that we read nowadays is focused on the young, and there have been suggestions that they have abandoned the PAP...But let's again see this in perspective.

In many constituencies across Singapore with young voters we received good support. For example in Punggol West, we won 61 per cent of the votes.

Bear in mind that first-time voters from the age of 21 to 24 are less than 10 per cent of the electorate. In total, the 20s and 30s....constitute roughly one third of the electorate. But those who are 40 and above are close to 70 per cent of the electorate. So the swing against the PAP was not concentrated solely among the young.

Wong added that there was a fall in support among voters in their 40s, 50s and early 60s primarily due to economic hardship. Economic woes could have also led to a drop in support from private property dwellers, Wong added.

"Although we have made great efforts to lessen the pain and impact, there has been severe disruption to jobs and families," he said.

PAP's base kept support above 60 per cent

"Why did the PAP managed to retain 61 per cent? In fact, the PAP has never gone below 60 per cent all these years. And that's because the base kept faith with the PAP knowing that the PAP kept faith with its base. What is this base? They are the working class, the middle class, the heartlands of Singapore. And the PAP must continue to keep faith with our base. Our policies must always tilt in favour of the less fortunate and the vulnerable."

Difficult to get 70 per cent again

"It would be difficult to get near 70 per cent as we did in 2015. This is because the desire for opposition is strong. And even those who prefer the PAP government would vote tactically for the opposition where it is credible. But we can aim to get at least the upper end of the 60 per cent to 65 per cent range. So the question is, what must we do to get back another 4 per cent in the next general election?"

One of Wong's directions to party activists was to understand and connect with young voters, to build trust and a new social compact with young Singaporeans.

"They have different aspirations hopes and expectations, the issues they care about are different from the older generation and the older Singaporeans," said Wong.

The second direction was to address the economic pain of those in their 40s and 50s.

"This is the sandwich group who are looking after elderly parents and also have young children to care for," said Wong.

WP needs to start putting forward "serious policy alternatives"

"Subsequent general elections will be much tougher than this one. And as I said, we are unlikely to exceed 65 per cent of the vote in future.....the desire for diversity in Parliament, for checks and balances is permanent. It is here to stay and we must be prepared for this new reality.

For now, Singaporeans want to see the PAP in power, but they also want a credible opposition to check on the PAP."

Now that the WP has more MPs in Parliament, Wong said that the party cannot keep asking the government questions, but has a duty to put forward "serious policy alternatives to be scrutinised and debated".

"The WP says that their long term aim is to deny the PAP two-thirds of the seats in Parliament. But I have no doubt that they wish to displace the PAP and form the government one day, except that they find it inconvenient to acknowledge this now."

"It is what parties in parliamentary democracies exist for," Wong added.

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Top image via PAP.