of PAP, Nokia, and The Importance of Connecting (with) People

PAP shall expect tougher fights in future elections; therefore PAP must connect with people...with Nokia...because Nokia connecting people? Hur hur. Sorry. I simply cannot resist.

The People's Action Party (PAP) was less effective in its campaign coordination and strategy during the general election (GE) in May 2011.

Party Chairman Khaw Boon Wan said that in some branches, campaign strategies on physical developments "did not gain good traction with voters".

He said that at the national level, despite steering the economy out of the country's deepest recession since independence, the party was less effective in getting political mileage out of it.

These were issues identified by a review committee, which he is heading to analyse the results of the election.

Mr Khaw, who shared the findings at the PAP Convention on Sunday said there was also a perceived disconnect with the people.

He highlighted four underlying trends from the results of the GE that'll serve as useful lessons for members.

They are: a stronger mood for more opposition voices, a strengthening of the opposition, a shift in demographics where more young voters are influenced not just by what they read on the Internet but also by a certain mood for political change, and the era of the digital age.

Mr Khaw, who's also Minister for National Development, stressed that the PAP must evolve to meet the intense competition that lies ahead.

He said it must ensure that it remains constructive and continues to put Singaporeans first.

Partially quoted from Channel NewsAsia, "PAP must connect with people: Khaw".

The ruling People's Action Party (PAP) can expect future general elections to be tougher contests and should not expect any more clean sweeps and safe wards.

This was the message from PAP Secretary-General and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the party's convention on Sunday.

Mr Lee said in every constituency, the "PAP must fight, and fight to win".

He urged party activists to prepare early.

He reminded them that preparations must not just start when the elections are approaching, but continue throughout the five-year term.

He stressed that whatever the overall strategy and national issues, ground work in each constituency still makes a great difference.

This applies to constituencies that the PAP lost, such as Hougang and Aljunied GRC, as well as wards that it won comfortably or narrowly.

Mr Lee said one conclusion from the party's review of the general election is the need to identify and deploy potential candidates earlier.

He said the PAP must "avoid parachuting people in at the last minute" and pointed out that it's already looking for potential candidates for the next round.