SINGAPORE: The Elections Department (ELD) has published the results from registered voters overseas, which were counted on Thursday (May 15). Nothing changed concerning the final outcome, although the percentage of votes each party or candidate received shifted slightly.
The overseas voter results were the most interesting in the two Single Member Constituencies (SMCs) where the Secretary-General and the Chair of the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) had contested.
At the newly created Sembawang West SMC, SDP chief Chee Soon Juan had stood head to head against the People’s Action Party’s Poh Li San and had narrowly lost. Meanwhile, at Bukit Panjang SMC, party chair Paul Tambyah contested, and lost, for the second time against Liang Eng Hwa, the incumbent from the PAP.
Read also: A dream deferred: Dr Chee Soon Juan falls short in Sembawang West SMC
However, more overseas voters chose Dr Chee rather than Ms Poh, with 23 casting their votes for the SDP chief, for Ms Poh’s 21. For overseas Bukit Panjang voters, it was a tie, with Dr Tambyah and Mr Liang receiving 36 votes each.
The results of this year’s GE were a blow to both SDP leaders, perhaps especially to Dr Chee, 62. It was the fourth time for him to contest, and the closest he has gotten to a win. With him garnering 46.82 per cent of votes, it had even looked as though he might have clinched a seat as a Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP). However, this seat will go to the Workers’ Party’s candidates at Tampines GRC, who had won 47.37 per cent of the vote.
Nevertheless, the results of the votes overseas appeared to be enough for supporters to encourage Dr Chee and cheer him on.
“Well done, Dr CSJ. Looking forward to your next GE,” wrote one.
“To garner so many votes in a new SMC within a short period of time speaks volumes about him,” observed another.
A commenter wrote that Dr Chee “deserved the NCMP” seat, reflecting the opinion of many that the inclusion of the fiery SDP head in the next Parliament would have made it more interesting.
Nevertheless, a commenter wrote that nothing has changed in the final tallies: “That representative democracy for the better or worse still lies in the final result. A win is a win, even by a razor-thin margin or by just 1 vote. Everyone is entitled to a choice for change,e whether you like the incumbent or you want a stronger substitute. We can’t change anything but respect the decision and mandate of the people.” /TISG