Held amidst a global pandemic, Singapore's GE2020 was notable for several reasons – not least the gains made by the opposition. With inroads made by the Workers' Party, many young voters in the city-state believe this is the start of a wider political culture shift
A member of the public holds up a shirt depicting opposition figures during a campaign walkabout on July 5.
Singapore, July 11, 2020. It was a night like no other.
Red flags whirled through the early hours as supporters of the opposition Workers’ Party cheered and leapt to the rhythmic beating of drums.
While there are no publicly available sources to determine voting patterns by demography, many observers felt that the younger voters’ desire for checks and balances fueled part of the vote swing against the PAP.
Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, too, acknowledged in a media conference after the results that the outcome reflected a desire by younger voters for a greater opposition presence in Parliament.
It was only after the WP put forward a slate of diverse and relatable candidates for this election – which included an economist, social activist, Grab driver and small business owner – that he decided to volunteer with the party in Sengkang.
During the campaign, Shawn recalled walking the housing blocks with other Gen Z volunteers, most of whom could only vote in the next election, along with Oxford students and Cambridge graduates.
All of a sudden, the supporters broke into song – the national anthem. Its stirring melody and lyrics in Malay envision Singaporeans moving ‘toward happiness together’
This article was written by Toh EE Ming and Kelly NG
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