18 February 2006

Theory & Practice

Today the Straits Times has an article entitled "45,000 more can vote in next GE". Naturally this is untrue. More precisely, 45,000 more people satisfy the requirements that would permit them to vote if their respective constituencies were contested. Of course the majority of constituencies in Singapore are not contested at all.

Mr Wang is well over 21 but he has never had a chance to vote. When he was a teenager, the PAP just barely won in his constituency (something like 50 point something per cent vote). In the subsequent elections, the authorities gerrymandered redrew the electorial boundaries and Mr Wang's area has since officially become part of the Marine Parade constituency, stronghold of SM Goh Chok Tong.

It actually costs Mr Wang more than $11.00 to take a taxi to East Coast Park, so Mr Wang wonders why his residential area is considered part of Marine Parade. (Well, now, of course Mr Wang knows why. But he can't say it, can he?)

Feb 18, 2006
45,000 more can vote in next GE
By Peh Shing Huei

MORE Singaporeans are eligible to vote in the upcoming General Election. There will be nearly 45,000 more voters compared to the last polls in 2001.

The Elections Department announced yesterday that 2,158,439 Singaporeans can go to the ballot box this time, up from 2,113,540 in 2001.

The final tally came after voter registrations closed on Jan 17 and voter registers for the 23 electoral divisions were certified.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

If I could remember correctly, last time PAP won in contested areas with an average of 80%votes. Well, I guess the people voted correctly. Look, there are so much improvements in many areas. People's life is getting more comfortable; the government is more compasionate to the people; the HDBs have been upgraded; Spore is getting more open up and more democratic; there is a lot more political freedom. So this time, we shd give them 100%vote and give them absolute power. I love PAPa

hugewhaleshark said...

I am tickled at the amount of pre-campaigning *good news* featured in the local media.

All those pictures of happy people in the Straits Times beaming about their budget goodies. Taken in broad daylight some more, when the announcement came out only the evening before. All so warm and fuzzy, and prefabbed.

Anonymous said...

just to correct your English...

Today the Straits Times has an article entitled "45,000 more can vote in next GE". Naturally this is untrue.

Well, it is true but whether they will vote depends whether their constituencies are being contested. When you say it is untrue, well you are wrong, it is true.

With regards to the redrawing of boundaries, I agree with you. But you need to go for some English tuition.

Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wang said...

Heheh. Yes, yes. 45,000 more Singaporeans can vote and also cannot vote. If the constituency is contested, they will vote. If the constituency is not contested, they "will not" vote. But meanwhile we must say that all these Singaporeans "can vote".

Aiyah, CANNOT VOTE just say CANNOT VOTE lah.

Anonymous said...

and the real reason is.....

Anonymous said...

Hmm... think I used to live in that same constituency that was won by 50 point something %. It was all very exciting because that election was my first chance to vote... BUT... I came down with chicken pox and little did I know that that was to be my LAST chance (so far) to vote!

I have since moved but my chances to vote never improved... sigh...

I do have a sneaky feeling, though, that there might be more competition this time round.

Heretic_Guy said...

not gonna happen dude.

moomooman said...

You mean I'm not the only one never to have voted in my life?

Actually the number spelled good news to cinemas showing purely RA shows. That means another 41k people can watch RA shows this year.

Anonymous said...

SOmething to alert you Mr Wang, remember your hotly debated topic with the picture of the old woman bending over washing her clothes (maybe it's not her clothes...), the Chinese televsion media apparently is picking up the same topic and showcasing it on 'Frontline' (forgot channel U or 8) in a few days time.

ALthough it cannot be proved that they chose that topic because of your blog, at least i can say it's quite coincidental that they chose this topic that they have already covered before either on "Focus" or one of their morning shows.

lbandit said...

Um.. if suay suay we do have to vote, is everyone's vote going to be counted as one vote or are the responsible voter's votes going to be counted as two votes?

Anonymous said...

You take $11 taxi and you are still in Marine Parade? My cab fare is $2.40 and I am not in Marine Parade. Strange huh?

Jayce said...

I'm part of the 45k more.. just crossing my fingers and hope that I can do more than watch RA shows

Anonymous said...

Haha maybe you can try for Guiness Record lor. The oldest person living in a democracy who has never been allowed to exercise his voting right. Otherwise if you really want to vote then there is Singapore Idol coming again. That is your best bet I guess