GRC - the closed election system?

• robertteh

  7 May 07, 11:32

  goldameir wrote:
  luvmibiz wrote:
  No scare lose, why have GRCs? Why those P65 must hide in GRCs? Why Lily Neo didn't challenge in HG? Answer us!!!!!!
  
  even if the father of singapore
  go to houghang he also sured lose 1
  want to bet?
  if he win
  i checkin houghang mental health with my 8 white elephants

  You have a point here. The current system of election is a closed system which prevents people from fielding their own best individual candidates because of blockage of singles from standing for election by the GRC based on excuse of providing racial balance.
• ^tamago^

  7 May 07, 11:34

  Welcome to Singapore!
• wisefool83

  7 May 07, 11:36

  I've often heard that the GRC is a major "cheat tactic" of the PAP, but what exactly are the disadvantages that it causes on the opposition? Could some one simply list them out?
• ^tamago^

  7 May 07, 11:39

  "The official justification for GRCs is to allow minority representation. However, opposition parties have criticized GRCs as making it even more difficult for independent and opposition members to get elected, as a single strong candidate will find it very difficult to win and a steep group deposit of at least S$67,500 (S$13,500 per candidate) is required to stand for election. The opposition has also charged the government with gerrymandering GRC boundaries at very short notice, and "stuffing" otherwise weak GRCs with cabinet ministers. Many PAP MPs have also entered parliament by being placed in a Minister's GRC and so have never faced a vote.
  
  Critics have noted that Joshua Benjamin Jeyaratnam won the 1981 Anson by-election in a Chinese-majority constituency, and that since the GRC system was implemented, minority representation in Parliament has actually declined."
• Fingolfin_Noldor

  7 May 07, 12:50

  Originally posted by wisefool83:

  I've often heard that the GRC is a major "cheat tactic" of the PAP, but what exactly are the disadvantages that it causes on the opposition? Could some one simply list them out?

  1. Opposition is forced to field all the seats in a GRC to fight for it. No more no less. If the Opposition lacks manpower, no go.
  
  2. It costs more money too to run for one GRC.
  
  3. The Govt has happily rewritten the boundaries like Chengsan when it felt like it. Guess that was a poison pill for them in Ang Mo Kio.
  
  4. People in a GRC vote for the minister rather than the idiots for an MP into Parliament. Goh Chok Tong had the bloody cheek to admit that it was a way to get MPs into parliament knowing they are such idiots they can't even sell themselves to the people to justify why anyone should vote for them.
• hawkeye1819

  7 May 07, 14:32

  In the last 2 elections, the opposition was unable to a GRC or any precinct in a GRC. Will it make a difference if they are broken up into single wards?
• av98m

  7 May 07, 14:40

  Originally posted by hawkeye1819:

  In the last 2 elections, the opposition was unable to a GRC or any precinct in a GRC. Will it make a difference if they are broken up into single wards?

  didn't that useless fucker wong kan seng, or was it mah bow tan, lose to chiam chee tong when they went one on one many years ago?
  
  that's why the pap needs the grc system
• Fingolfin_Noldor

  7 May 07, 14:40

  Originally posted by hawkeye1819:

  In the last 2 elections, the opposition was unable to a GRC or any precinct in a GRC. Will it make a difference if they are broken up into single wards?

  Possibly. It will force the PAP to work harder however which they may not like.
  
  Or rather the ST will be so unreadable, I'd even cancel my subscription.
• kilua

  7 May 07, 16:09

  PAP was on the verge of losing many wards hence the need for GRC and all the gerry meandering
  
  GRC system allowed winning 61%-63% of the votes to take 95-99% of the seats
  
  1988
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1988/votes.html
  
  63% of the votes
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1988/seats.html
  
  80/81 seats 99% of seats
  
  1991
  
  61% of the votes
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1991/votes.htm
  
  77/81 seats = 95% of the seats
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1991/seats.html
  
• hawkeye1819

  9 May 07, 12:10

  Originally posted by kilua:

  PAP was on the verge of losing many wards hence the need for GRC and all the gerry meandering
  
  GRC system allowed winning 61%-63% of the votes to take 95-99% of the seats
  
  1988
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1988/votes.html
  
  63% of the votes
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1988/seats.html
  
  80/81 seats 99% of seats
  
  1991
  
  61% of the votes
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1991/votes.htm
  
  77/81 seats = 95% of the seats
  
  http://www.singapore-elections.com/ge1991/seats.html
  

  But in 1984 PAP won 97% of the seats with 64% of the votes when there were no GRCs and only single wards.
  
  The only option we the people have is to convince our families, friends, relatives, colleagues to vote for opposition.