SGporeans: NO sense of investment in our countryÂ’s destinyÂ…
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ST: Large number of uncontested seats in elections is cause for worry
Jan 11, 2006
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/forum/story/0,5562,364080,00.html?
I cannot agree more with Tan Chak Lim's comments on the state of the electoral process in Singapore (Too many GE walkovers, so will I get to vote this time? ST Jan 7).
As a Singapore citizen, I too have not had the opportunity to exercise my right to vote despite witnessing several general elections.
As citizens of Singapore, we feel at home in this nation and expect the right to benefit from its resources. But we do not have a sense of ownership of its fate or feel entitled to make statements on how the nation should be run beyond coffee-shop talk.
I am not referring to being involved in politics but to the lack of opportunity to exercise a sense of active belonging to the nation through our right to vote.
Since the introduction of the Group Representation Constituencies in 1988 (which is a good scheme in that it ensures racial balance in politics) the number of uncontested seats in the general elections has risen exponentially from 11 out of 81 in 1988 to 55 out of 84 in 2001.
Such a trend does little to encourage Singaporeans' practical commitment to the nation.
The general election is one important means through which citizens can demonstrate their right to have an opinion about the future of the nation.
If our GRCs continue to grow in size and appear more like big corporations, it is very likely that general elections will become a walk in the park for incumbent MPs.
And for every uncontested electorate, citizens are further removed from involvement in the political process. It is critical that the electoral process offers citizens a sense of ownership and personal investment in the nation's destiny.
Dr Selvaraj Velayutham -
actually we only need 3 grc ...
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The chance of PAP scrapping the GRC policy is very very very very low.
They aren't talking about it either, showing that they are not willing change the constitution yet. They welcome contests, but yet they want to keep the GRC policy. So what's the use of contest anyway? They have a slim chance of winning.