Recently,
the PAP announced its lineup of 89 candidates for each SMC and GRC for the
upcoming general election to be held on 11 September 2015 (GE2015). Although
the PAP said it would name 24 new candidates, I counted only 21 new candidates.
I had deducted Koh Poh Koon from the list announced by CNA, as he had
participated in the Punggol East by-election. Chan Hui Yuh and Kahar Hassan
were not named as candidates for GE2015 despite strong signals they would run
in Aljunied GRC.
The
purpose of this post is to analyse how the PAP has deployed its candidates, to
uncover the PAP’s outlook of winning a SMC or GRC. This is done by looking at
the age of the candidates, how many years each candidate has served as an MP,
and the replacement of candidates and comparing it against the previous
election performance (GE2011). For GRCs, the average age and years in service
as an MP is used, although there is a high degree of correlation between a
candidate’s age and his/her years in service.
Loss of Aljunied GRC a defining moment
Many
considered PAP’s loss of Aljunied GRC in GE2011 to be a defining moment because
compared to an SMC, it has been a safe channel to bring new candidates into
parliament. GRCs were introduced in 1988 after PAP for the first time, lost two
seats in in the 1984 elections and since then, until GE2011, no GRCs had fallen
into opposition control. Given the relative certainty of winning a GRC,
candidates identified to have ministerial calibre have often entered parliament
through a GRC.
With
the loss of Aljunied GRC, it means that the PAP will now have to assessment the
possibility of their GRC candidates not being elected, along with that for the
SMCs. This leads me to believe that if the PAP is not confident of winning or
winning back a GRC or SMC, it is unlikely to place new candidates that it
considers important for the next
parliament in that respective GRC or SMC. With respect to Aljunied GRC, I
believe that the PAP will field a team that can run in elections after GE2015,
because while it may not win at the first try, it may at the second time of
asking. This has happened in Potong Pasir SMC.
Understanding PAP’s outlook for GE2015
The
rest of the section will look at the profile of the PAP candidates lined up for
GE2015.
The
average of a PAP GE2015 candidate is 48.2 years. The youngest candidate is Tin
Pei Ling (32, MacPherson SMC) and the oldest candidate is Goh Chok Tong (71,
Marine Parade GRC). Most of the new candidates except for Chong Kee Hiong (47,
Bishan Toa Payoh GRC) and Victor Lye (52, Aljunied GRC).
Slightly
more than half the 89 candidates have not yet served as an MP or have served only
one term. Another 18 candidates served three or four terms as MPs. Goh Chok
Tong has served the longest as an MP for the current PAP candidate lineup (39
years), followed by Lee Hsien Loong (31), K Shanmugam (27) and Charles Chong
(27).
Of
the MPs, that are not running for GE2015, Wong Kang Seng (31 years) is the most
senior, followed by Mah Bow Tan (27 years). Four MPs are not running for
GE2015, having served only two terms. Lui Tuck Yew is the most prominent as he
was the recent-past Transport Minister.
The
next table below is the most interesting because it compares the data described
above with the PAP’s performance in GE2011. Jalan Besar GRC, Marsiling-Yew Tee
GRC and Tanjong Pagar GRC do not have GE2011 results because they are new or
were not contested. Aljunied GRC is the only GRC to be under opposition
control. The GRC most at risk of falling into opposition control is East Coast
GRC, followed by Marine Parade GRC, Bishan Toa Payoh GRC and Tampines GRC. GRCs placed after Tampines GRC can be
considered “relatively safe”.
PAP not confident of regaining Aljunied GRC
None
of the previous candidates that stood in Aljunied GRC in GE2011 returned to
contest in this GRC for GE2015, hence a 100% replacement rate. Ong Ye Kung, the
only candidate from Aljunied GRC in GE2011 has been redeployed to Sembawang GRC.
On the other hand, Yeo Guat Kwang has been redeployed from the relatively safe
Ang Mo Kio GRC, into Aljunied GRC. None of the remaining four candidates have
been described to possess minister qualities. Consistent with my beliefs, the
PAP most likely feels that its chances of winning back the GRC are low. Given
that the team is of the average age, it is very likely most of the team will
return to run in Aljunied GRC in the next elections, should they not win in
GE2015.
Using
the replacement rates as an indicator, the most at-risk PAP GRC is East Coast GRC, followed by Marine Parade GRC, Tampines GRC and Bishan
Toa Payoh.
PAP very cautious of retaining East Coast GRC, Marine
Parade GRC
Should
a 6.5% occur in GE2015 as it did on average against the PAP in GE2011, East Coast
GRC will fall under opposition control. The candidates for East Coast GRC in
GE2015 are the same as for GE2011 save for Raymond Lim, as his Fengshan ward
has been carved out into an SMC. Without replacements, the East Coast GRC is
also one of the older teams amongst all the other PAP GRCs. Consistent with my
beliefs, the PAP is very cautious about its prospects of retaining the East
Coast GRC. One minister and two ministers of state are at risk should East
Coast GRC comes undone.
For
Marine Parade GRC, the PAP has brought in Edwin Tong from the recently
disbanded Moulmein-Kallang GRC. At the same time, Tin Pei Ling’s MacPherson
ward has been carved into a SMC. With no new candidates introduced, aside from
a redeployment, it suggest that the PAP is cautious of retaining Marine Parade
GRC. The question remains, why Edwin Tong is brought in to the GRC.
