How the PAP can win Potong Pasir

The PAP has been going about it all wrong from the start.

First they denigrated Chiam’s achievement.
Then they threw in their big guns.
Then they offered upgrading.
And Chiam still won 6 elections.

You'd think the PAP would have learnt? The people want to see a fair fight. They want to see Sitoh vs Chiam. Not Sitoh, PM, MM, SM vs Chiam. The people know how much Chiam has done with what little he has. For the PAP to highlight shortcomings, or less than sterling performance by Chiam just seems unfair to the people when the constraints are seen to be of PAP’s making.

So can PAP win Potong Pasir next time? All along, PAP has taken the rather passive “wait for the people to come to their senses and realise what goodies they are missing.” They’ve waited for 6 elections and 22 years.

What’s their plan for the next election? More of the same?

This is a thought experiment. A “what-if” situation.

In 3 - 5 years, if Chiam again contest the Potong Pasir ward, what should the PAP do?

Firstly, if Chiam runs again, the goodwill he has built up over the years will be an advantage that will be hard to overcome. Secondly, the recent election and past elections have shown that the people of Potong Pasir are not bought over by the PAP’s offer of upgrading and other goodies. The connection they have with Chiam is more personal, more emotional. Thirdly, Sitoh has also made a connection with the people and has built up quite a capital of goodwill. What the PAP should do is let him be himself and fight the battle on his own. Throwing heavyweights to bolster his campaign only makes him seem weak and dependant. The PAP may be tempted to shift him over to another GRC to reward him for his hard work over 2 terms there, but they should resist that temptation. Fourthly, the people of Potong Pasir seem to feel that they have the best of both worlds with two MPs looking after their interests.

Here’s a scenario for the next election. The assumptions are
1) Chiam runs for yet another term.
2) Sitoh challenges again.
3) All other things (no terrorism, bird flu, political scandals and issues) remains equal (in other words, this is what PAP should have done in the last election)

Sitoh should be allowed to fight the campaign on his own. Of course the PAP heavyweights can lend support from afar, but not ‘mother’ him.
His campaign/platform should cover these points:
a) Chiam has done a fantastic job with limited resources over the last 6 terms.
b) He had earned his MP’s pension many times over (an MP is entitled to pension if he is elected in parliament for 2 terms or more).
c) But age is catching up with him and he should be allowed to enjoy his retirement instead of working so hard with meagre resources.
d) But if he wants to work for the people, then he should be allowed to, and the people should make it easier for him to do so. How? Vote in Sitoh.
e) Sitoh should promise that if he is elected, he can offer Chiam a seat on his management committee (or whatever committee or town council) as advisor or consultant, so Chiam would still have a hand in the service of the people. At the same time, Potong Pasir would enjoy all the benefits of being a PAP ward (more funds, upgrading, etc).
f) Sitoh can also promise that in recognition of the quarter of a century or so that Chiam has dedicated to Potong Pasir, a park in Potong Pasir would be named in Chiam’s honour.
g) Therefore the people of Potong Pasir is not being asked to vote against Chiam, but to vote to recognise Chiam’s efforts and contribution, vote to make things easier for Chiam, and vote to honour him. (In other words, give the people of Potong Pasir a way to vote PAP without voting against Chiam).

How might Chiam respond to these offers and acknowledgements?
The usual and initial response anticipated (and suggested counters) are
a) denounce it all as a PAP trick, and hypocrisy. (Sitoh’s response should be that PAP always carry out what it promises and Chiam should know that.)
b) declare that he would not take up Sitoh’s offer as it is against his principles. (Response: It is also not PAP’s practice to offer opposition members representation in their committee, but for the good of the people of Potong Pasir, the PAP is willing to bend the rules in this case. PAP hopes that if Sitoh is elected, and when they offer the seat on the committee to Chiam, he would also accept for the good of Potong Pasir.)
c) he is still fit and healthy enough to serve one more term. (Response: Of course he can, otherwise there would be no question of offering him a seat on the committee. And of course it is for the people to decide if he should continue to serve with limited resources, trying hard to make ends meet, or whether to vote to give Chiam more resources with the PAP.)

Why this Scenario won’t work?
1) PAP too inflexible to use the “praise your opponent to death” approach.
2) PAP rules too rigid to offer Chiam a seat on the committee.
3) PAP too aghast about honouring an opposition MP when their own MPs don’t get such treatment (have we seen any Tan Cheng Bock park?)
4) PAP moves Sitoh to a GRC to reward him for his efforts over two terms in Potong Pasir. Any other PAP candidate would have to start from scratch, to build up rapport and trust and bonds, and the voters of Potong Pasir are slow to warm up.
5) PAP worries about what it means to other constituencies. But Chiam is a unique situation.

Next: Chiam’s possible counter strategy