Hello all! An article I would be evaluating would be Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s message to the People’s Action Party (PAP), on the need to reinvent itself in wake of the recent hotly contested general election. Whereby the PAP came into power with a mere 60.1 percent of votes, its lowest since the independence of Singapore. This issue was highlighted in an editorial titled “The Road Ahead’; in the newsletter, Petir; which was issued on Thursday, 8th September 2011.
Mr Lee implores the PAP to work cohesively and to refine their skills so as to ensure oppositions are kept at bay. In the meantime, the PAP would also have to keep a listening ear to the voices of the people. All these would in turn garner the PAP “political points”, and would help “build political support for the policies to take Singapore forward, and gain recognition for the Government’s good work”. To further gain rapport, Mr Lee has also indicated a necessity for the PAP to be able to use new media efficiently, and that using Facebook and Twitter as means of listening would not be enough. He suggested that the PAP should be “on the same wavelength as the netizens and resonating with the Internet generation”.
I would believe that in order for the PAP to maintain and to increase their share of votes in the next election, it is quintessential that the Government is consistently trying to reach out to the people so that miscommunication would not occur. This is especially so on how the Government has been losing votes as the general election progresses, which would mean that most votes would be lost to the new voters. The various approaches Mr Lee has suggested greatly corresponds to the psychological perspective of communication, whereby he mentions the need to tackle the situation by becoming more technology savvy, which would allow the PAP a stronghold that could reach out to the Y generation. This would come as a form of improving communication as the Government would be initiating a shared experience with the different needs of the different people in the community via a source of multiple channels to deal with competing stimuli. By having listening ears on the ground, the PAP would be able to see things from the perspectives of the people, and would be able to study up on their needs so that necessary policies could be passed.
I highly feel that Mr Lee’s preemptive on reinventing the PAP would serve well if properly implemented. As change seems to be necessary and that people from all generations and walks of life should be heard from if the people are to “see the PAP for what it is and what it always has been”.
xavierchua 
I guess that is why PAP is losing votes to the opposition as the younger generation (new voters) are much more interested in change. That is because they did not pay that much attention to the younger generation. But the fact that they are trying to approach in a different manner, through twitter, facebook etc. shows that they are recognizing them and not just to cater to the generation X. We shall see the next election then. (:
Yes definitely, I agree that the votes of the younger generation are of key importance, but their differing views have yet to be met because change does not seem to be for the better. Well, as you said, let us wait for the next election!
I agree with your view. PAP should really do some serious reflections if they want to garner more votes from the younger generation in the next election. While it is good that they are taking into consideration the various social networking tools to reach out to the younger people, they also need to listen to the others who are not that IT savvy and make changes with people’s feedbacks in mind.
Hmmm that is true, they have definitely got to figure out the other interfaces they could contest on so they could help themselves garner more votes if they intend to do better next election!
Yes, PAP should constantly revamp itself so that they do not fall into complacency. The latest GE results reminded them that they can be voted out if they do not deliver. Right now, change is coming as MM Lee and former SM Goh Chok Tong have stepped down to give the cabinet a fresh slate. So I hope for the next five years, the PAP will continue to deliver their promise made to the people during GE. They will have a tough road ahead but I believe they can do it, as they always have in the past.
As they always have in the past does not sound like a very good supporting statement. Well, the fresh slate is good as hopefully new cabinet members would know how to target different audience, but could it also mean that we would lose the support of the older generation?
yes, i think PAP should look into their campaigning methods. the youth is a big part of society. the youths are as important as working adults, and being part of this society, it is only fair that they cater their campaigning to youths despite only being able to vote only at the age of 21. perhaps this can garner votes for them in the future once youths are of age.
they definitely should if they still want a place in the government! the youth makes up a huge majority in the next few elections to come!
I haven have a chance to vote yet so i am still unsure of who i will vote when i have the chance. However, through this year’s election, i could see how hard the PAP as well as the opposition is trying to use the media to better communicate with the younger generations and i think it is definitely a good start.
The media is definitely a stage that both parties have to contest on, it is good to know that they are using it as means to garner themselves votes this election, but whether they used it efficiently is a whole different matter
Hey Xavier, I agree with what you say about the PAP able to reinvent itself. And I do believe that they are trying very hard; hence getting MP Tin Pei Ling to be its social media dept head as well as a voice for the younger generation. Although the debut wasn’t very well executed with many hiccups, it does show their willingness of wanting the youth to participate in the process of being a voice of community and having their views heard as well. “properly implemented” is the keyword here, and it takes a process of trial and error as the various ministers are posting updates on their facebook account and their blogs in an attempt to connect with the audience.