Leong Sze Hian /
I received an SMS at around 7 pm, asking Singaporeans to go to Blk 108 Potong Pasir Ave 1, to sign a petition for another election at Potong Pasir SMC. The battle for the opposition stronghold was decided by a mere 114 votes in the end, giving victory to the People’s Action Party candidate, Mr Sitoh Yihpin over Mrs Lina Chiam.
Apparently, after counting the votes from overseas Singaporeans, Mrs Chiam had lost by only 97 votes.
Supporters of Mrs Chiam then organised this petition-signing to collect signatures to call for a by-election. It is unclear what the supporters are basing its request on, or which part of the Constitution it is referring to.
When I arrived at Blk 108, there was already a traffic jam, with a volunteer helping to direct traffic – telling people not to enter the car park as it was already full.
There were about 300 people there, with two queues to sign the petition – one for the residents of Potong Pasir, and the other for Singaporeans from other constituencies.
As I mingled with the crowd, I was told that those who had already signed the petition were waiting for Mr Chiam See Tong.
People were passing the word to tell their neighbours, those at the coffee shops, etc, to go to Blk 108 to sign the petition tonight or from 6 to 8 May, from 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.
At around 8.45 pm, people were shouting that Mr Chiam would arrive at the Potong Pasir Town Council office at Blk 121 at 9 pm.
People were saying, “No speech, but just to see Mr Chiam”.
Almost instantaneously, the crowd began to stream out of Blk 108 to Blk 121, which was about 150 metres away.
I estimate that a crowd of around one thousand plus people had gathered at Blk 121, when there was thunderous applause and shouting – it was a false alarm, as it was only a bus that had arrived, to the laughter of the crowd.
Then, there was thunderous applause and repeated chants of “Potong Pasir! Chiam See Tong!”, as the crowd moved in unison towards the car park, where Mr and Mrs Chiam had arrived in a pick-up truck.
The pick-up stopped for a few minutes and then slowly began to make its way out of the car park, with the crowd following behind.
I heard from some of the people there that they walked to Blk 108, and then returned to Blk 121 again, as the word went round that Mr Chiam would be there again later.
But later word got round that Mr Chiam would not be coming after all, as the authorities was believed to have informed him that it would be illegal as the crowd was a large one.
A close aide of Mr Chiam confirmed that the Police had advised against Mr Chiam from appearing before the crowd.
One of the two Potong Pasir resident volunteers who were manning the petition tables told me that about 5,000 plus people had come for the petition.
Is history being made in Potong Pasir? – Will Singaporeans keep coming for the next three days to show their support?
As I walked towards the MRT station at around 10pm, I saw that almost everyone had stopped to take out their mobile phones to take pictures of the billboard which says, “Chiam See Tong, Welcome to Potong Pasir”. It was as if everyone knew that that signboard, which has been a familiar landmark of Potong Pasir for the last 27 years, would be gone in a few days time . Mr Chiam won Potong Pasir in 1984, after suffering two previous defeats in 1976 and 1980.
I was dead tired and took a cab home, when I heard on the radio that 8 May is singer icon Teresa Teng’s death’s 16th anniversary.
Perhaps Mr Chiam See Tong, like Teresa Teng, as Singapore’s longest serving opposition Member of Parliament (MP), whom many call fondly – the Lion of Potong Pasir (or the Lion of Singapore), will always be remembered as the single flame which played such a significant and crucial role in the democratic and political development of Singapore.
Mr Chiam declared he will carry on with his political career, as long as his health permits”. (“GE: We’ll win Potong Pasir back”, Channel News Asia, May 8.)
The lioness (Mrs Lina Chiam) is also set to create history as the closest ever losing margin Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) to enter Parliament.
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My Gratitude
Living in pp for umpteen years, never in my life have I seen sitoh. only his posters when GE drawing near. As For Mr Chiam , me & my son had seen with our own eyes on how he personally attended pp… e.g ensuring safety… reshaping trees which seem unsafe to public places like children playground nearby, lamp lights not working & together with Mrs Chiam, driving his humble little “beetle” car volkswagon to blk 136 & blk 147 mini markets greeting & meeting with his residents on sundays for many years. etc… His personal touch towards residents simply AWESOME ! (^^,)
THANK YOU MR & MRS CHIAM. GOD BLESS YOU IN GOOD HEALTH.
WE LOVE YOU
Singaporean are so F**king Naive. Asking for a by-election/re-election because of the small margin win. In other country the win can be of only 4 votes different, they do not shout for re-election/by-election.
Come On like with your consequence, like what your Supreme Leader/god has said “Live to REPENT” Your frick who lives in Potong Pasir and Bishan-Toa Payoh, who allow someone who has wrong Singaporean by letting a limping terrorist to escape into parliament.
PAP are allowed to make mistake, BIG BIG mistake, but when OPP make a small, minute mistake, Singaporean will cruxify him/her like a criminal. But when someone who betray Singapore (working with the Japanese during the war) are treated like god/founding father of singapore.
LHL AS PM and BG title disgrace Singapore in the world, remember the incident in Germany inspecting the guard of honour, being a BG does not know protocol and do not respect another’s country flag? With a simple apology will give him elected to another big majority government.
What a BIG INTERNATIONAL JOKE SINGAPORE IS, Singaporean will be looked down in the international community.
Mr Chiam’s political career may be at an end, but his legacy will live on. He basically created the template for the modern opposition movement – keep close to the ground, focus on constituency issues, show yourself to be a good MP first. This is the template that Low Thia Kiang and the WP have used to create their success, and on which all the leading opposition parties base their strategy on. This was in contrast to the more confrontational style of JBJ (which is not to denigrate his great contributions – he kept the flame alive through the darkest years of PAP domination). This strategy is bearing fruit now that the PAP has lost touch with the ground. Fifty years from now, when the names of most of the current PAP ministers will have been forgotten, the name of Chiam See Tong will still be lovingly remembered by Singaporeans. Thank you, Mr Chiam!
@slave,
In the US, the courts were used in Bush vs Al Gore, Bush vs Palm Beach, Florida, etc in 2000? So, it is not like the courts cannot be used to dispute results.
And actually, Gore had more popular votes than Bush, but Bush won anyway through the electoral college.
In PP’s case, unless there is a legal basis to the petition for a by-election, it will not fly. In some countries, a run-off is ordered automatically if they are within a certain percentage margin. However, this does not appear to be the law in Singapore. So, I can’t see any legal basis for it. There is not even a cry of fraud or reluctance to accept the result.
Does anybody else see that this is an opportunity for us to learn more about our elections, our neighbours, our leaders, our love of our nation? If we ask the right questions and listen to the answers, we will learn a lot. We can actually grow stronger from this experience. Never let it stay at “them vs us”.
For those that think Mr. Chiam’s supporters are sore losers, try to think about how it feels to know that you are losing the single most important relationship that has kept your passion ignited for your town all these years. It would seem as if your passion would also be lost with it.
If you had to voice out over losing something you are immensely passionate about, I would encourage it. I’m sure all those supporters in PP and others that have experienced it would encourage you too.
The passion Mr. Chiam had for serving the residents of PP connects them in the same way as in the past when our leaders of the past connected with and moved and led our elder generations.
For those that would be quick to be angered at those annoyed with your commendable attempts at preventing an important loss, remember, they don’t understand.
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” – Carl Gustav Jung
Feel sad for Mr and Mr Chiam as well as the residents of Potong Pasir. The loss would be most felt if Potong Pasir were to disappear and be absorbed into a GRC in the next election.
PAP will never change. Since when have you seen a leopard change its spots. Why should they change when in denial mode they regard 60.1% of the votes as a strong mandate from all Singaporeans. We are going to suffer for the next 5 years. We are going to continue to be marginalised. When will Singaporeans ever learn??? Those who voted for PAP should not complain anymore. The 40% who voted for oppositions have to suffer as well.
Dark days are looming ahead. :’(
Though it is over now, I hope that voters in Potong Pasir who voted against Mrs. Chiam by mistake will learn from it and do the right things in the next GE. Pardon me, I believe some voters were self-centered and succumbed to temptations of materialistic gains such as estate upgradings. Is money more important than the soul of Potong Pasir which Mr. Chiam has nurtured and cultured over 27 years?
To pp residents who vote only for upgrading, I have one thing to say about these group of people: you guys are lightweight. You fail to realize that it’s not morally right to use taxpayer’s money to buy votes at the expense of every citizen’s entitlement. Vote for yr rights as a citizen – justice and equality
Good luck Mr. And mrs chi am wish you good luck next
Election.now stay well and keep yourself fit for next election. Dont worry the lord will surely bless both of you.
I would like to point out that the cut off date for the registrar is 1 Jan 2011 for this election.
We have shifted to PP this year but were told to go back to our previous town to cast our vote, which I find totally irrelevant to me.
Why was the cut off date so long before the actual election date?
selfless singaporeans,
If Mrs. Chiam cites vote buying with giving of monies and estate upgrading witholding to gain votes, she may have a good case to ask for re-election.
In other words, she can allege a lack of fair contest in such an election.
Of course how to convince the judges will be a difficult act as they are appointed by the executive not by an Ombudsman committee with opposition party having veto or substantive role.
Mr Chiam is a well respected man who conduct himself with integrity and the things he does really comes his heart and not many people in the world are like him,serving the citizens unconditionally.Its really disheartening to learn his years of hardwork ended in this election. Even in times of poor health,he is still involved in campaigning for his party for this election and i am sure he sure set a good example for the next successor,why dont the voters see that?
A Re-count can be requested if the votes count is close NOT a call for By-election
so I am puzzle why Lina Chiam party is NOT being advised by the Election Council?