GE win ‘means 10 more years of good governance for Singapore’: PM Lee
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and cabinet ministers doing the party cheer at the PAP Party Convention 2015 held at the Max Pavilion on Dec 6. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong
SINGAPORE – The good result for the People’s Action Party at General Election 2015 is also a “tremendous plus” for the nation because it assures Singaporeans of at least another decade of “predictability, political stability and good governance”, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today (Dec 6).
Speaking at the biennial PAP Convention, Mr Lee, the party’s secretary-general, said the PAP’s win also enables Singapore to complete a “crucial transition” in its history: From the generations who went through independence to a post-1965 generation of Singaporeans and leaders.
“If successful, it’ll show that Singapore will not just be exceptional for a one-off period, and then turn ordinary and fade away, but that we have institutionalised our system of governance; that Singapore can endure,” he said.
While the election win was convincing, Mr Lee touched on what the party must take away. “We’ve got to be prepared to fight for our convictions,” he said, adding that MPs must listen closely, take feedback and believe in what they’re doing. “(Singaporeans) expect you to serve, to do your duty and they will respect you for that.”
In his speech to some 1,500 party members at Singapore Expo, Mr Lee also gave his preliminary thoughts on why the GE turned out as it did — with the PAP winning 69.9 per cent of the popular vote and taking back Punggol East from the Opposition.
He put it down to three factors: The hard work of the party’s Members of Parliament and their teams; the PAP Government’s policy agenda; and the stronger sense of national identity this year.
The PAP’s convention this year also featured panel discussions on three important issues for the future; Lifelong learning, caring for an ageing population and those with disabilities, as well as community engagement and sustainable living.
And with its strong mandate at the polls, Mr Lee said the PAP Government and the people will be able to do “much more together”. One is to transform the economy and society, and transition to a new phase of development.
“We’ll use technology to create new markets and opportunities so that our lives will continually improve and our children will have brighter futures,” he said. “Growth will be more challenging but we’ll nurture lifelong learning and productivity.”
Another is to deal more effectively with external challenges, as one united people, especially with the problems in neighbouring and other countries and potential future difficulties in bilateral relations.
“We must expect rough weather sometime in the next decade. We need to deal with it without being weakened or distracted by internal division,” Mr Lee said.
With Singaporeans by his side, he said the PAP was also in a robust position to carry out a smooth leadership succession, as the party was able to gather a new team over the last two elections.
“There is time for them to gel and to take over the reins, well before the election after next,” said Mr Lee. He warned party members, however, that although the GE2015 result was a “good base”, the next election will be a new fight.
“Voters will judge the PAP ... not only by what we’ve done before, but what we’ll be doing this term and what we can continue to do for them,” he said.
“So let’s start now in order that come the next General Election, whether it’s 2021 or maybe earlier, the PAP will be ready and say what we promised, we delivered, what we stand for, we continue to uphold.”
Mr Shamsul Kamar, a PAP candidate in its Aljunied team this year, called Mr Lee’s speech a timely reminder for party activists to reflect on their “core purpose of serving Singaporeans from all walks of life and races”.
“The results of the recent election are a reminder of the responsibilities Singaporeans have entrusted to the PAP government to lead them forward. Party activists should continue to be guided by the party’s core values to serve with sincerity and stay humble,” he told TODAY.
