SINGAPORE-ELECTION/POLL OPENS Singaporeans head to the polls for the general elections

Record ID: 139979

  • Title: SINGAPORE-ELECTION/POLL OPENS Singaporeans head to the polls for the general elections
  • Date: 11th September 2015
  • Summary: SINGAPORE (SEPTEMBER 11, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VOTERS WAITING IN LINE TO ENTER POLLING STATION VOTER TAKING IDENTIFICATION CARD OUT VARIOUS OF ELECTORAL WORKERS VERIFYING VOTERS' IDENTIFICATION CARDS VARIOUS OF VOTERS WAITING IN LINE TO CAST THEIR BALLOT VOTERS WALKING BEING SHOWN THE WAY TOWARDS BALLOTS VOTERS REGISTERING POLLING STATION VOTER PUTTING BALLOT IN BALLOT BOX VARIOUS OF VOTERS COMING OUT OF POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SINGAPORE VOTER, JENNIFER, SAYING: "They should give us more welfare." REPORTER QUESTION: In which area should they do more? "In healthcare, education, and public transportation, things like that. These are what we should have anyway." VOTER CASTING HER VOTE (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGAPORE VOTER, MOHAMMED RIZAWAN, SAYING: "As usual we hope our country will move forward and whoever the party that is going to win will make the country move forward and do a lot of help for us." VARIOUS OF VOTERS COMING OUT OF POLLING STATION (SOUNDBITE) (English) SINGAPORE VOTER, RAMLI BIN IBRAHIM, SAYING: "Yeah it's a good thing but I think we have to have opposition so whatever the government do, they are watching it. But so far I think the government is doing a good job." VARIOUS OF VOTERS COMING OUT OF POLLING STATION
  • Embargoed: 26th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Singapore
  • Country: Singapore
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA64OBKJJWTN2F2K2ACEQD7ISAK
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Voting began in Singapore on Friday (September 11) in the city-state's most hotly contested general election, which could bring the sternest test of the long-ruling party's dominance of politics even though it is bound to win.
    Years of strong growth have turned the island nation into an international financial hub with spotless streets and malls, well-tended parks and living standards unmatched in Southeast Asia.
    But the success and an influx of foreign workers have brought high property prices, crowded public transport, and a widening wealth gap which have fuelled resentment among many in a city that surveys regularly rank as one of the world's most expensive.
    Opposition parties are hoping to take advantage of the grumbling and are contesting all seats in parliament for the first time since independence in 1965.
    They have focused their campaign on the bread-and-butter issues of jobs, healthcare and housing.
    At one polling station in the central district, about 30 mainly elderly people queued up before the voting began, while more than 100 people gathered outside a polling station in the city's west.
    "They should give us more welfare," said Singapore voter, Jennifer. "In healthcare, education, and public transportation, things like that. These are what we should have anyway."
    Preliminary results are expected from a couple of hours after the polls close at 8 p.m. (1200 GMT).
    "As usual we hope our country will move forward and whoever the party that is going to win will make the country move forward and do a lot of help for us," said voter Mohamed Rizawan.
    Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's People's Action Party (PAP), which has ruled since independence, has a bedrock of support and will win the bulk of the 89 assembly seats but opposition inroads would challenge its effective dominance.
    The PAP's share of the vote dropped to 60.1 percent in the last election, in 2011, its lowest ever. Nevertheless, it held 79 of a total 87 seats in the outgoing parliament.
    The main opposition Workers' Party held seven seats while one, that of former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, the current prime minister's father who died in March, was vacant.
    "Yeah it's a good thing but I think we have to have opposition so whatever the government do, they are watching it. But so far I think the government is doing a good job," said Ramli Bin Ibrahim after casting his vote.
    The PAP is hoping that a sense of patriotism inspired by this year's golden jubilee and of respect that followed the death of the elder Lee will work in its favour in the election.
    Since 2011, Prime Minister Lee has also launched a multi-billion-dollar healthcare insurance program for the elderly, introduced cooling measures for the property market and curbed the flow of foreign workers.
    Opinion polls are illegal and so no one is making confident predictions. Voting is compulsory and almost 2.5 million citizens can vote.
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