SINGAPORE: A new voter survey carried out by BlackBox Research showed some particular results. The poll, conducted from Mar 28 to Apr 8, revealed that more than 80% of the respondents are satisfied with where Singapore is going.
This does not guarantee, however, that the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) will be given a mandate to govern in the upcoming General Election (GE), as the poll also showed that around three out of 10 participants have yet to decide who they will be voting for.
Interestingly, while the younger people surveyed, those aged 21 to 29, showed a “particularly pronounced” optimism, this age group, together with the poll respondents in lower-income households, expressed the highest amount of uncertainty concerning whom to vote for.
The survey results from BlackBox Research, which involved 1,500 participants, were published on Apr 11.
Both the Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, and the Leader of the Opposition, Pritam Singh, enjoy a high approval rating. PM Wong’s has stayed stable at 75%, and Mr Singh, who is the Secretary-General of The Workers’ Party (WP), showed an approval rating of 71%, an increase of seven points from the last quarter. Mr Singh’s rise in popularity is noteworthy, especially since he was found guilty in February of two counts of lying to a parliamentary committee.
Immediately after the verdict was announced, Mr Singh said he would nevertheless contest in the upcoming GE.
The poll also showed that cost of living, jobs, and housing affordability continue to be issues that Singaporeans are concerned with, although the recent tariff announcement from the US, in addition to growing tensions between China and the US, might also have an impact on voter sentiment.
“This election won’t necessarily come down to personalities or geopolitics—there are a lot of votes to be won on the ground. Election campaigning will revolve around the day to day issues, so the parties and their candidates will need to be at the ready or suffer for it,” Bloomberg quoted BlackBox CEO David Black as saying.
Many netizens have since commented on reports concerning the latest Blackbox survey, including one who opined that while the WP may keep the seats in Parliament it currently has, winning more, especially group representation constituencies (GRCs), will be challenging.
“Many want a balance of power. It is not difficult for WP to secure and win Aljunied/Sengkang GRC and retain Hougang and for other opposition parties to win some smaller SMCs (single-member constituencies), but the fact is it will be hard for WP and any opposition parties to win those GRCs with key installations and national interest,” he wrote.
One wrote, however, that the poll means “Singaporeans recognise Pritam Singh as the only legitimate opposition leader.”
“I don’t think (Lawrence Wong) deserves 70%. Who raised the GST when the times were bad?” asked one.
“When trains break down repeatedly, where is he? GST 9% hike triggered high cost of living,” another weighed in. /TISG
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