Sunday, May 07, 2006 SINGAPORE: It was a decisive win for the People's Action Party (PAP) in the Singapore General Election.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who received a 66.6 percent nod from Singaporeans, thanked voters for "a very strong mandate."
While two single-seat wards remained firmly in opposition hands, the PAP stopped the opposition from winning a through a Group Representation Constituency.
Mr Lee also called on Singaporeans to close ranks and move ahead.
Make Singapore a "shining red dot," he said.
Mr Lee was speaking at the 2am post-election news conference on Sunday.
Exactly two-thirds of Singaporeans voted for the PAP, a margin better than what the Prime Minister had expected, which was 60-65 percent.
Mr Lee said this was not to be compared with 2001's 75 percent because of the spectre of terrorism and a poor economy then.
Besides that year, this is PAP's best showing since 1980 and slightly higher than 1997's.
Mr Lee said: "During these nine days of campaigning, many issues have been raised, many proposals hotly argued, many passions aroused.
"Now that the elections are over, we should come together again as one people. Our unity and cohesion has been one of Singapore's key strengths and you must continue to make it so.
"But I want also to continue to encourage open debate on issues because neither the PAP nor the government nor the opposition has all the solutions and answers to problems. But we have enormous talents in Singaporeans. And each has something important to contribute. We should tap and engage this for the good of Singapore."
The Prime Minister was flanked by 10 other party members who reflected not just a cross section of representation but also a next-generation team in place.
The conference centred very much on the future, and looked ahead to "an exciting Parliament."
Mr Wong Kan Seng said: "We have a new leadership today and in Parliament, with election of 24 of them, you'll find that this parliament will comprise 80% of new MPs elected since 1997 and that is a significant change. If you consider how other countries develop, you'll find that we have continually self renewed ourselves to stay relevant and that policy must continue."
The Deputy Prime Minister also thanked overseas Singaporeans for taking part in the election, and hoped more would do so in future elections.
As for the next general election, Prime Minister Lee said it would have to depend on what is happening in the region and the world, and the new faces would have come into their own.
Mr Lee said: "We're not sitting here wondering what's going to happen, waiting for it to happen. We are going to make things happen and the way to do that is to have a strong team who can work together to make things happen.
"In the next 5 years, they will establish themselves, they will learn the ropes, they will get the hang of it. By the next election, they will be old hands, experienced, some anchor persons, key members of the team."
This begs the next question: when will a cabinet reshuffle be announced?
The Prime Minister has earlier indicated four new faces will become office holders. - CNA/ir/ls
