TR EMERITUS

I refer to the CNA’s report, “GE2025: Stunning victory for PAP, winning 87 of 97 seats with higher national vote share in PM Wong's first electoral test” (May 4). GE2025 has clearly delivered the following key messages/notes from the vast majority of voters: The Workers’ Party (WP) has done a fantastic good job in defending its stronghold turfs, such as Sengkang GRC, Aljunied GRC and Hougang SMC, and earning the trust and support from the majority of its constituents despite the robust fights put forth by the ruling party. These amazing performances by the WP have displayed in the areas of town council and estates management, community service, bonding and connectivity. However, WP could not make a breakthrough in any of the contested constituencies (SMC and GRC) were really disappointed by meeting most Singaporeans, as the huge crowd turn up at the WP’s rallies could not transpired into total valid votes. The post election analysis by many political analysts are right that the ruling party’s advocacy for losing its political office holders will greatly diminish the government’s governance and credibility, and this fear-mongering tactic has proven effective in this general election. For examples, in the hotly contested Punggol Tampines and East Coast GRC. However, the respective WP teams have achieved “worth comforting”results (average 44% of the total valid votes) in these hotly fought constituencies. Voters of Singapore generally do not like to see multi-cornered fights in any constituency. For example, in the Tampines, East Coast and Sembawang GRC where the “mosquito” party was badly defeated and worst, their election deposits were forfeited. The PAP’s election strategies have worked well and had achieved an astounding victory - 65.57 % of the total valid votes up from the last GE2020 of 61.24%. For examples, PAP cleverly applied the tariffs threats from the Trump’s administration to institute fear that Singapore needs a strong government and mandate from all Singaporean voters in order for the government to negotiate confidently with the US counterpart as well as leading Singapore forward and steadfastly steering and charting in the water of global economic uncertainty and turbulence. PAP claims that advocacy for more liberal democracy and diverse political voices will weaken the governance of the government and the stability of its existing political system. The continual redrawing of electoral boundaries has indirectly contributed to the landslide victory of the PAP. As, this strategy has really resulted the entire opposition with insufficient time and resources for the preparation for the GE. Hence, this time round, although the people of Singapore generally like to have the presence of more opposition members in the parliament. But, at the same time, they also like to see more capable, rational and responsible opposition candidates especially from the promising younger ones to represent them in the parliament to deliver their voices, concerns, ideas and aspirations/hopes. However, many small political parties are unable to do it or fulfilling the demands from the majority of voters. In due course, we can also witness that many rejected/void votes in this election (at approximately 9000 plus), and the lowest voter turnout in the country's history at 92.47 per cent. Most importantly, in this general election, we can also sense that all voters hate to see and strongly reject the practice of gutter politics and the interference or infiltration of foreign power. For example, playing along the flimsy and gaslighting line of xenophobic racism and religion. Last but not least, this GE2025, the people of Singapore see a critical need to have a diverse, fairer, inclusive and open political landscape which can accommodate diversity of ideas, opinions and perspectives in the parliament. To an extent, quite a number of voters buy the advocacy of some opposition parties which call for the People Association to be depoliticised because its funding comes directly from the government of today. So that it is deemed unfair for the PA to be used as a political tool to advance the ruling party’s interests. Nonetheless, the respective opposition parties must rethink and re-examine their political vision, positions, outlooks and strategies. At the same time, in order to consolidate the resources of the opposition party as a whole, it is necessary to reconsider the integration and unity of several small and inconspicuous parties into a strong and promising opposition party (besides the Workers’ Party). Otherwise, they are easily being defeated by the strongest ruling party. It is simply because majority of voters don’t want to see so many “mosquitoes” political parties (which are without clear and good manifesto, proposal and advocacy) in the political arena.   Teo Kueh Liang (Mr)    Read More →

Singaporeans can't get enough of their phones these days, spending tons of time battling opponents, building virtual worlds, and racing against the clock. Mobile gaming has really taken off there! The city-state has become a hot spot for game developers from around the world, while local Singaporean studios are making their own splash on global charts. Players of all types flock to these games, from casual gamers squeezing in a quick session during their commute to dedicated players who organize tournaments with friends after work. There is something for everyone in Singapore's mobile gaming scene. Many players value the availability of free-to-play games, while others look for trusted online casinos in Singapore that offer real-money games that are compatible with mobile devices. A wide range of players from different age groups are drawn in by the combination of fun and possible rewards. First Fun's "Last War: Survival Game" is now the highest-grossing mobile game in Singapore, per latest data from Google Play. Thanks to its captivating post-apocalyptic gameplay that appeals to strategy lovers, this survival-focused game has received over 10 million downloads. The prosperity of regional studios demonstrates Singaporean developers' ability to compete internationally. In second place, Century Games PTE. LTD.'s "Whiteout Survival" also achieved the milestone of 10 million downloads. Players must avoid dangers and gather resources to survive in the game's icy landscape. Its appeal comes from difficult situations that put players' reactions and tactical planning skills to the test. The internationally recognized "MONOPOLY GO!" from Scopely holds third position with an impressive 50 million downloads. This digital adaptation of the classic board game adds fresh mechanics that work perfectly on mobile devices. Players collect properties, build houses, and participate in tournaments against friends or random opponents. Mobile Legends: Bang Bang ranks fourth, boasting 500 million downloads worldwide. The MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena) title attracts competitive gamers who participate in five-versus-five battles that demand teamwork and skill. Its accessibility compared to PC alternatives contributes to its widespread adoption in Singapore. Roblox occupies fifth place with over one billion downloads globally. This platform hosts thousands of user-created games, attracting younger demographics who enjoy everything from obstacle courses to tycoon simulations. The variety of experiences within one app explains its lasting popularity. Dark War Survival is in sixth position, another 10-million-download achievement that demonstrates Singaporeans' appetite for survival games. The title combines resource management with combat elements that keep players coming back day after day. The seventh spot belongs to Pokémon TCG Pocket, which successfully translated the physical card game to a mobile format. With 10 million downloads, this title brings the beloved franchise to phones with simplified mechanics that respect the original gameplay. Capybara Go! takes eighth place with more than 5 million downloads. This casual game featuring the popular rodent offers relaxing gameplay sessions perfect for commutes on Singapore's MRT system. Love and Deepspace ranked ninth with 5 million downloads. This space-themed romance simulator combines narrative elements with strategy gameplay that appeals to story-focused mobile gamers. Rounding out the top ten, Royal Match accumulated 100 million downloads worldwide. The match-three puzzle game offers quick sessions that fit perfectly into busy Singaporean lifestyles, with colorful visuals and satisfying mechanics that appeal across demographics.      Read More →

A total of four opposition parties, the Singapore United Party (SUP), People's Power Party (PPP), People’s Alliance for Reform (PAR), and National Solidarity Party (NSP) lost their election deposits in GE2025. Based on the number of candidates and constituencies contested, these parties suffered a combined loss of S$364,500. Election deposits are forfeited when a candidate or team fails to secure a minimum of 12.5% of the valid votes. An observer, Amanda,  opined that most of these parties are,  literally, fly-by-night opposition parties that surfaced weeks before polling, with no national messaging and barely any ground presence. "For them to lose their deposits is expected, I would be very surprised if they don't", she added. Amanda further opined that maybe if the opposition parties taking part in the election had been only WP, SDP and PSP, the results would have been significantly different. What do you think?      Read More →