OF THE comments on the General Election, none is as wrong as that which proclaims that an increase in the opposition vote shows an electorate coming of age or maturing.
A mature electorate would not dismiss five candidates who served their constituency and Singapore, in some cases, with great distinction. Mature voters would not have voted in a team which has made no real contributions to the country.
What had the incumbents of Aljunied done or not done to lose the election?
A mature electorate would compare the individual candidates and their party manifestos and would study the programmes for their constituencies. How many did?
A mature electorate would not go ga-ga over a pretty face in the advertising industry with good speaking skills but with an unknown grassroots record, and would not viciously flame a candidate who has seven solid years of service to the community.
A mature electorate would not circulate untruths on the Internet that the Government spends only 1.4 per cent of the gross domestic product on health.
This is not to say that all who voted for the opposition did so without thinking diligently. I am certain many did. But to equate voting for the opposition with political maturity is just silly.
Thankfully, over 60 per cent voted for a party with a brilliant record and a solid slate.
So, perhaps, we do have a mature electorate after all.
Tan Ying San
14/5/2011 ST forum
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