Academics: Results of the last two General Elections not the norm

SMU Behavioural Sciences Institute Director David Chan and SMU Associate Professor of Law Eugene Tan spoke about the 2015 General Election (GE) at a post-election conference organised by the Institute of Policy Studies. Prof David Chan noted that elections are volatile as the results of the recent GE indicated that Singaporeans are not necessarily loyal to any single party, adding that the opposition parties ought to work towards gaining a deeper understanding of the needs and concerns of the people in order to win their trust. Associate Prof Eugene Tan cited the determination and sincerity of the People’s Action Party (PAP) to win back the voters, and the opposition misreading the electorate, as the key factors behind the PAP’s landslide win. He stressed that the opposition need to get votes for themselves, rather than relying on the anti-PAP vote.