The Workers’ Party notes that Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat has indicated in a media interview on 27 May 2020 that the General Elections (GE) should be held soon. He further said:.. “Yes, elections are coming nearer by the day, and you have to be prepared for it”.
To date, there has been a distinct lack of clarity as to precisely how campaigning will be modified in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Ministers have made vague and unspecific comments since March that campaign methods would need to be modified. However, despite the Party’s calls, there has been no definitive announcement by the Elections Department on these anticipated changes.
With uncertainty as to what mode of campaigning will or will not be allowed, political parties risk squandering resources and expenditures. For instance, while it has been stated that streaming of videos may be employed, it is not known whether there will be regulations about the content and format of such videos. In addition, with elections “coming nearer by the day”, the window of time to find suitable suppliers for services is narrowing.
While Singaporeans continue to focus on overcoming COVID-19, general elections are an essential feature of our democracy that should not be taken lightly. Contesting parties should know the ground rules as soon as possible, in order to be well-prepared to offer Singaporean voters their best efforts at the polls.
WP Media Team
28 May 2020