FUTURE OF THE OPPOSITION IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

The Singapore Opposition has within the last decade put up a good showing in the electoral forefront especially from 1984 to 1991, in sharp contrast to, its poor performance from 1968 to 1980. While the term "future" may imply an advanced prediction of whether the coming years auger well for the Opposition, this academic exercise does not aim to speculate on what is yet known. In this study, “future" will be interpreted to mean the conditions or factors which will help enhance the Opposition's performance at the next election, scheduled for 1996. The primary concern of this academic exercise is therefore to examine the factors which have fostered the Opposition's rise from 1984 to 1991. In so doing, it is hoped to argue that these factors will have a bearing on the Opposition's performance in the 1996 general election. These factors have been categorized as follows Opposition's efforts towards securing its credibility; PAP shortcomings which have somewhat helped the Opposition and the different motivations of voters to cast an Opposition vote. In the discussion, emphasis will be placed on the SDP and WP, the two more outstanding parties in the opposition line-up. This academic exercise hopes to arrive at the conclusion that the Opposition's good performance at the next general election is dependent on the presence of factors to be discussed. However, the factors which have made possible the Opposition's resurgence cannot glide over the difficulties and problems the opposition faces. The academic exercise therefore hopes to conclude on a note of qualification to the rise with a general overview of what could impede the Opposition's success at the next election.