Elections Matter!

Reading, “Hamas win throws peace in turmoil” (TODAY: January 27,) was enlightening. Hamas, best known as a terrorist organisation, is dedicated to eradicating Israel. Its victory in the elections was received with shock. The Israeli government has refused to negotiate with any Palestinian government that Hamas in involved in and the US government has expressed similar sentiments. The EU and Asian governments have called on Hamas to reject violence and terrorism. Singaporeans should look behind the usual bluster about Hamas and its terrorist activities.

An analysis of why Hamas won so handsomely is lessons into what Singaporeans tend forget at General Elections – an electorate has a civic duty to ensure that it has good government.

Singaporeans have grown up in a privileged environment. Thanks to more than four decades of benevolent government, Singaporeans enjoy a standard of living that is the envy of many. PUB ensures that you can drink from any tap in Singapore and NEA ensures that we won’t die of the plague because rubbish has not been collected. Thanks to the URA, you would never realise Singapore is a tinny island with four million people.

While this has been good for Singaporeans, and I for one would not want the situation to be otherwise, there’s been a social cost – political apathy. Most Singaporeans simply don’t care about issues like civil liberties as long as does not affect their lifestyle. Honestly, why trouble yourself if some old man accused of hacking up someone is denied access to legal council until the police have concluded the investigation? Caring about it won’t help buy next months Gucci gown. As one letter writer said, “Why insist on political participation especially when there is no need to.”

Would Singaporeans would feel the same if the government was not half as effective and benevolent as it is? The Palestinian electorate knew the answer to that and booted out a government that was corrupt and incompetent. Say what you like about Hamas’s terrorist activities but the organisation ran a domestic issues campaign, promising to deliver the conditions for Palestinians to improve their lot. If anything, the election was loss for the Fataah movement more than a win for Hamas.

Terrorist ideology of groups like Al-Qaeda is loathsome but I also believe that former Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten hit the jackpot when he said, “People don’t wake up planning how to become suicide bombers unless they are in unusual circumstances.” Circumstances in the Occupied Territories are unusual – they’re unusually bad. Unemployment and educational levels are abysmally low. Government officials are corrupt. As far as most Palestinians were concerned, Hamas were the only group offering to change this, so should we be surprised by this result?

Thank goodness that Singapore has none of the conditions that are prevalent in the Occupied Territories. The government has always been devoted to making the life of ordinary Singaporeans better.

How long will this situation last? Will the PAP always be able to provide good government? Ironically the PAP government is trying to prepare for the day when this may become an eventuality. As Dr Ng Eng Heng argued in defending the elected presidency, there needs to be a check on the possibility of a corrupt government.

However, all of this is useless if we, as an electorate are apathetic towards political participation. Senior Minister, Goh Chok Tong, said that, “An unthinking press is bad for Singapore,” so surely the same has to be said for the public. As a citizen of Singapore I have benefited from good government. I believe that I have a reciprocal duty to help ensure my government stays that way and no matter how our elections may lack contest, they matter to Singapore

Copyright: Tang Li (C) 2006