It is almost 4am, but I am experiencing such a strong surge of emotions that I have to write this post before I sleep.
The news headlines tomorrow will be full of reports of Workers’ Party’s Aljunied GRC landmark win and George Yeo’s team landmark lost.
Potong Pasir is the smallest constituency in Singapore and it’s lost to the PAP will likely be overshadowed.
As I was reading election related updates online, I am saddened that some opposition supporters are cursing at Potong Pasir residents, accusing us of “betraying Mr and Mrs Chiam for lift upgrading or a fresh coat of paint”.
This really hurts. Look at the pictures below. They were taken past 3am, after the results for Potong Pasir SMC was announced. Lina Chiam lost by a mere 114 votes:
Video 1:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwZQbQczfu0″]
Video 2:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mBFVVuxljE”]
Video 3:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnYmuz1yaWc&”]
Does this look like we conceded Potong Pasir to PAP without a fight? Do you see this in other losing constituencies?
My family of four (now five, including my wife, Rachel) moved to Potong Pasir 23 years ago. We have witnessed five General Elections won by Mr Chiam See Tong since.
Potong Pasir residents have a lot of heart. We have rejected carrots from PAP for the past 5 elections. Before criticising us, reflect on yourself first and asked if you have done your part for the oppositions. Other than the residents of Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, in terms of vote counts, the Potong Pasir residents are still the next closest in supporting the need for alternative voices in Parliament. In fact, we have done our part for 27 years – have you? Or were you one of the cowardly lions who voted out of fear?
Mr Sitoh Yih Pin won his fight fair and square for this election. There was no name-calling and he was in most part, gentlemanly in his campaign this time round. In all fairness, this guy has balls of steel to come back for a third try at Potong Pasir even when he was offered a backdoor pass into Parliament like a certain Kate Spade. For this, he earned my respect.
In case you are wondering how I voted, I voted with my heart.
For Lina Chiam.
It was a struggle as I was not impressed by her performance on the TV debate. Her rally speeches weren’t inspirational either. I was still undecided on the morning of Polling Day.
In the end, I chose Lina over Sitoh because I decided to go with my heart, and the heart of this small town where I grew up in. I was voting for something bigger than Lina Chiam, I was voting for what this small town called Potong Pasir symbolises, I was voting for the dedicated team of Potong Pasir grassroot volunteers behind the Chiams.
The town where a simple billboard of “Welcome to Potong Pasir” with Mr Chiam’s smiling face greets me everyday on my way home. A town where there’s compassion and lots of heart. A town whose people have the courage and dignity to support a humble man as one of the lone alternative voice in Parliament for 27 years, resisting upgrading carrots, election after election, for national interest.
One of my favourite comic book when I was young was The Adventures of Asterix.
Potong Pasir is like that small Armorican village to me, full of brave people like Asterix and Obelix. We have no magic potion, but fierce pride and dignity to stand up to oppression while the rest of Gaul quivers. No prize for guessing which party behaves like the tyranny Roman empire in the comic book.
Growing up, I am proud to witness this indominable Potong Pasir spirit triumphs, time and again against the sea of white around us.
Many Singaporeans only had their political awakening this election. Many of my peers in Potong Pasir had theirs since we were toddlers, having been brought up in an environment where you cannot help but notice the unfairness of the PAP towards us, election after election.
Potong Pasir residents pay taxes too and the guys here all served our NS dutifully. Why are we openly regarded as second-class citizens by a government which was tasked to take care of every citizen and “leave no one behind”?
How would you feel if your MP has to hold his Meet-The-People session in the void deck; that you see a sea of white mocking him in Parliament; that he is constantly being accused of not doing more for Potong Pasir by the PAP when they twist his arms around?
The more we get whacked, the stronger our resolve to stand in defiance.
Fyi, Potong Pasir is not a slum. Far from it. Our estate is clean and the necessary amenities are in place. Mr Chiam did his best with the limited resources he has and certainly did not use the Town Council funds to play the stock market.
Rachel and I will be moving to the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC next year when our flat is ready. This is my last time voting in Potong Pasir. It is with a heavy heart that I came to the reckoning that Potong Pasir may well be written off the electoral map next election, just like what happened to Anson.
If you were to ask me, I think Potong Pasir was lost, not because 114 of my fellow residents opted for upgrading carrots as we have rejected bigger carrots in previous elections. It was probably lost because some of us felt it was time to pass the opposition baton to other Singaporeans.
It is now over to the residents of Aljunied GRC and Hougang to shoulder the burden of providing alternative voices in Parliament. I salute them for their courage to vote for the long-term future of Singapore, and not the short-term carrots dangled in front of them (For PAP supporters still moaning the lost of George Yeo and his dedicated PAP team at Aljunied, blame it on the PAP for the GRC system they created).
To Mr and Mrs Chiam See Tong and my dignified residents of Potong Pasir, I salute all of you for having done our part in nation-building for the last 27 years.
To Mr Sitoh Yih Pin, please do a good job. You owe it to the residents here who voted for you, though I still do not know who they are as they were not visible tonight as the Chiams’ supporters lined the streets of Potong Pasir. The silent slight majority has spoken in Potong Pasir, and we will respect their decision.
Technorati Tags: potong pasir, singapore general elections, ge 2011, lina chiam, spp, singapore people’s party, chiam see tong, mr and mrs chiam see tong, singapore general elections 2011, sitoh yih pin, pap wins potong pasir, spp loses potong pasir, potong pasir residents, spirit of potong pasir
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Dear Alvin and all who had voted for Mr and Mrs Chiam See Tong,
I want to thank you for voting for CST for the past 27 years. You are all indeed brave, enlightened souls! With big hearts! No doubt a legacy of Chiam See Tong's leadership.
For all these years, we in PAP constituencies have envied Potong Pasir and Hougang, since the first day you became Opposition. I know I have. I know of many others who do too. You are our political pioneers, the germ of our political awakening. You took that first brave step to pave the way forward towards an Opposition presence in Singapore. Aljunied GRC is the fruit of your labour. That the Opposition could win Aljunied this time is due in no small measure to Potong Pasir as well as to Hougang. Well done!
As you have said, Potong Pasir will likely be no more next elections. That is really very sad. Nevertheless, our fight continues. I hope Potong Pasirians will continue to support the Opposition wherever they go. Together, we will create many Potong Pasirs, Hougangs and Aljunieds for the future!
God bless you and all Potong Pasirians!
From a grateful Aljunied constituent who voted Workers Party.
Hi Alvin,
While it's true that PP has supported Mr Chiam for 27 years, I am still saddened by the fact that the slight majority wavered JUST when Mr Chiam needed them the most. There is a Chinese saying "A friend in need is a friend indeed". I think it is clear to most of PP residents that Mr Chiam is more than just a MP, and last night was when he needed all his friends the most.
In this watershed elections of 2011, when opposition support is at an all time high, I can't help feeling "betrayed" when Mr Chiam took that all important step to come out of PP only to see himself being "stabbed in the back" by the people he thought he had the faith of. To admit, I am one of the "cowardly lions" you mentioned but even a "cowardly lion" like me has that courage this time round to vote with all my heart. It is really sad that while the rest of Singapore took that step forward last night, PP (the courageous lions for all of 27 years) took one step backwards.
I am sorry for the use of some strong words, but it really hurts for all those who care.
Hi Alvin,
Thank you for the wonderful pictures and report.
Honestly, i also feel its a lost to the supporters. As I became a working citizen, i had lost sight of politics in Singapore per se as no one had the chance to overcome the stronghold. I voted twice in my life so far, and all along i go for opposition, even though i know the credentials are not so good.
Y? To me, it is not about lift upgrading or facilities management. It is always about living standards and people's livelihood. With more voices it is actually like getting an audit.
As Singaporean, i never think of supporting a candidate as an "idol" or a "icon". CST is my exclusivity. Why? He was struck by stroke twice yet he stood firm for his constituents. I wonder would i do the same?
This kind of thing touched my heart deeply, and i am always asking how many CST do we really have?
If i were him, i would have retired long ago. But its about succession planning.
Anyway, i never enjoyed any opp wins so far, and i congratulate the lucky Singaporeans at Hougang and Aljunied. We should Persevere and analyse the current situations to prepare for next GE.
What i want to say is that in the past we had only 2 opp 85 stronghold.
But now we have 6 opp and 81 stronghold, this also means its time to work even harder.
Thanks
Hi Alvin,
Thank you very much for posting this. I rarely if ever respond to blog postings. But you've captured everything I felt these past month. Having lived here (albeit the Toa Payoh Lor 8 side) for the past 26 years, I felt every emotion and underwent the same dilemmas you did.
This village has been important to me. I grew up here. Went to secondary school at SA, and now my son is at Ascension. I've always been proud to declare myself a resident of Potong Pasir. Even more so as I saw the flats in Lorong 7 facing us spruced up and rejuvenated. And it is precisely this act of upgrading with the funds paid by Potong Pasir residents as taxes that have led me to believe that the alternative voice was needed. Even if it is by an ex-nurse seen by many to not have the oratorical skills Oxbridge graduates, it was still necessary. My flat is more than 35 years old, and yet deemed to be not a priority for upgrading? Thats a joke and a half.
I am proud of the 49% that stood up strong yesterday for what they believed in. And I agree that the accusations I've seen against Potong Pasir residents to be simplistic. If it was an emotional dilemma for Aljunied residents this time, then it has probably been the case for Potong Pasir for the past 27 years.
Its the end of an era, but I hope that the new dawn that appears to be emerging over the past week not be a false one like that we saw in 1991. As Singaporeans, we need to keep our hopes alive that true change is coming and will arrive.
All the Best! and great thanks for articulating my thoughts for me in your words and pictures.
Thanks for the pics Alvin. It is heartwarming to see ordinary Singaporeans waiting for thier Heroes. Mr Chiam is an icon in P.Pasir,and will be a legacy in team Opposition !
first, i muz state tat i'm no pap supporter. i feel tat CST has to shoulder most of the blame for Potong Pasir's loss. Why? Becos he didnt do any succession planning. It's clear to me tat his wife is a super-average "Joe", and yet he expects her to win via his Chiam-surname charisma? Dun forget tat CST, despite the good tat he has done, has had problems with fellow party (or ex-party) members as well as other opposition parties. Thus, the loss of Potong Pasir is basically CST reaping wat he sowed (or didn't sow). Peace.
Although not a resident or voter, Potong Pasir was like my second home for many years, where I spent some years going there nearly everyday. I remember that day in 1991, when Chiam See Tong gave Andy Gan a right ol' spanking. I still visit PP regularly, especially the scene of those videos, Blk 136, where my family doctor, Dr Goh has her clinic. (Incidentally her husband was a PAP MP, yet she has her clinic there, a testament to PP residents tolerance to their opponents). Hopefully the PAP will show the same tolerance and make PP an example, the kind of example of tolerance, forbearance and pillar of democracy that Chiam and the residents have displayed these past 27 years. When he first won, I was still in school, so like yourself, we've grown up with him.
I am disappointed naturally with those who voted PAP, but can accept that they had exercised the right to make their choice clearly. But I cannot accept the 242 voters who didn't make their choice, rather spoiling their votes. I am not saying they all should have voted for Lina Chiam (although I wouldn't discourage them), rather they have done a disservice to those residents who voted for her, by casting that doubt or thought of 'what might have been'.
Alas an era ends, my only fear for Potong Pasir is that it disappears from the electoral map, or gets changed so much so that there is no opportunity for Lina (or whoever succeeds her as the SPP/Opposition candidate), to have another bite in winning it back in it's natural form. Remember that Sitoh had 3 straight opportunities (plus a few more new residents in Woodleigh) to win over the voters, albeit with a wafer-thin majority.
I hope for the sake of Potong Pasir residents that they too, are given at least another opportunity to either confirm or reject the PAP, in an unchanged constituency.
Good read.
1. Thanks for writing this, Alvin. You've captured the essence of what went on last night. I was there amongst the crowd with my daughter, and while my heart was broken, I was affirmed in my conviction that Mr. Chiam literally lived for the love of Singapore and Singaporeans.
2. Like Red, I also struggled with my vote because I know Mr. Chiam, but am unfamiliar with Mrs. Chiam. Like you, the metaphor of Asterix's village resonated with me for this special town of Potong Pasir. And like the both of you, I voted for what was larger than Mrs. Chiam, and much larger than Potong Pasir, and certainly for *my* responsibility for Democracy.
3. I'm very heartbroken by the slice of residents who gave their votes away. If they stopped to think (as I did), they would have realised that a spoilt vote is a nod to PAP regardless of how it turned out. I'm also hearing coffeeshop talks this morning by the breakfast aunties, who explain that the new condo residents who moved into the area in the past 5 years could very well have swung the votes into PAP's favour. No matter - such is the democratic process, and for a child of democracy living in Potong Pasir, my family will abide by this, and will hold our new MP to his word to listen to us and speak for us.
4. This is a new chapter for Potong Pasir. What I'm going to do is to say another 'thank you' later at 4pm to the SPP team when they come to Potong Pasir. As a family, we'll go around taking photos with our town's icon - the Billboard you mentioned, the Town Council noticeboards at the void deck, the flats that bear the town's slogan and whatever else that marks Potong Pasir as the dear place in our hearts. For as long as it takes, I'll let my 3 kids - and especially my 2 younger ones - know what living in Potong Pasir means, and no matter what happens to the town in future, we'll always have Mr. Chiam's legacy of treating others with respect to carry around in our hearts.
Hi Alvin. I grew up in potong pasir too so we were neighbors. Similar to you I have been v involved w the politics since young w my parents an ardent support of mr Chiam. Mr Chiam in fact is our saviour. He helped my family out including myself when we unknowingly involved in a cheat scandal. He used his MP status plus his law firm to fight a law suit for us at no cost.
Yesterday my dad actually almost faint when he learn that PAP took over the ward.