(Singapore, July 11, 2020) The results of the 2020 General Election shows a desire for a diversity of voices in Parliament but the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will strive to win back the three lost constituencies, said Prime Minister and the PAP secretary-general Lee Hsien Loong.
The PAP secured 83 out of 93 seats in parliament. But the main opposition Workers’ Party won the other 10, the most ever held by opposition lawmakers, while the PAP’s popular vote fell to 61%, down from 70% in 2015.
PM Lee said that while the ruling party’s share of the popular vote was not as high as he had hoped for, it still reflected a broad base of support for the PAP.
“Singaporeans understand what is at stake and why we must come together to uphold our national interests,” he said at a virtual press conference held at The Treasury building at around 4.30am on Saturday.
“I will use this mandate responsibly to deal with Covid-19 and the economic downturn and to take us safely through the crisis and beyond,” he said.
The results of the GE are indicative of the pain and uncertainty that Singaporeans feel in the Covid-19 crisis – the loss of income, anxiety about jobs, and the disruption caused by the circuit breaker and safe distancing restrictions, he said.
“This was not a feel-good election, but one where people are facing real problems and expect more rough weather to come,” he said.
However, in a Facebook post on Saturday, PM Lee said that overall, he was satisfied with the outcome of this election. “There were also real concerns raised during the campaign that we must address,” he added.
PAP lost a second group representation constituency – the newly created four-member Sengkang GRC – to the Workers’ Party.
He expressed disappointment that the PAP lost in Sengkang, adding that the team led by labour chief Ng Chee Meng “always knew it was going to be a tough fight”.
“They gave it their all but Sengkang voters have spoken and we respect their decision,” he said.
He also described the defeat as a significant loss to the 4G team. The PAP slate which was defeated there included three officeholders: Mr Ng, who is Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and NTUC’s secretary-general; Dr Lam Pin Min, a senior minister of state; and Mr Amrin Amin, a parliamentary secretary.
“I have spoken to Chee Meng and the GRC team, to encourage them to serve the party and Singapore in different ways,” he said, adding that the PAP will strive to win back Sengkang, Aljunied and Hougang.
Also in the virtual press conference, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stressed the need for the opposition to work with the PAP, when asked what he would say to the business community after the results.
“First, the work of restructuring the economy and transforming our industry must continue. The work of protecting jobs, saving jobs and creating new jobs must continue. I think it’s important for us to continue to emphasis the fundamentals we have and be able to enhance investors’ confidence,” he said.
