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| Singaporeans vote in polls expected to return ruling party | Singaporeans vote in polls expected to return ruling party |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| SINGAPORE — Wearing masks and plastic gloves, Singaporeans voted Friday in a general election that is expected to return Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s long-governing party to power. | SINGAPORE — Wearing masks and plastic gloves, Singaporeans voted Friday in a general election that is expected to return Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s long-governing party to power. |
| Senior citizens were the first to cast ballots at 1,100 polling stations across the city-state, with strict safety measures in place for Southeast Asia’s first national election since the coronavirus pandemic began. | |
| People being treated for COVID-19 or under quarantine at home were not allowed to vote. | |
| The health crisis and concerns over an economic recession will likely cause voters to opt for stability under Lee’s People’s Action Party. It faces 10 small opposition parties that are contesting the 93 parliamentary seats mostly on a one-on-one basis against the PAP. The opposition has said it does not want to govern, but urged the 2.65 million voters to reduce the PAP’s overwhelming majority in parliament to deny it a “blank check.” Voting is compulsory in Singapore. | |
| The PAP has dominated politics since 1959, when Lee’s father, Lee Kuan Yew, became Singapore’s first prime minister and built the resource-poor city-state into one of the world’s richest nations during 31 years in office. In 2015, the party won 69.9% of the total vote and 93% of parliamentary seats. But it has also been criticized for tight government control, media censorship and use of oppressive laws and civil lawsuits against dissidents. | The PAP has dominated politics since 1959, when Lee’s father, Lee Kuan Yew, became Singapore’s first prime minister and built the resource-poor city-state into one of the world’s richest nations during 31 years in office. In 2015, the party won 69.9% of the total vote and 93% of parliamentary seats. But it has also been criticized for tight government control, media censorship and use of oppressive laws and civil lawsuits against dissidents. |
| Lee and his wife, Temasek Holdings CEO Ho Ching, lined up outside a school around noon to cast their ballots. He said the safety protocols were practical, although they led to longer-than-expected lines. | |
| “The officers are trying their best and from what I know, the teething problems have been sorted out and it’s running smoothly now,” Lee, 68, told reporters after voting. “I am going to chill out until tonight.” | |
| The Election Department later dropped the requirement of donning disposable gloves to cut waiting time for voters. It also extended voting by two hours until 10 p.m. (1400 GMT) to clear the queues. | |
| The opposition Singapore Democratic Party said the voting extension was unprecedented and “highly irregular.” It said some of its polling agents would have to leave, causing some polling stations to be unattended when the boxes are sealed and this could cast doubt on the results. | |
| Retiree Dennis Phua said the election shouldn’t have been rushed since the PAP’s five-year mandate would last until April next year. He said he hopes for louder opposition voices in parliament so the PAP wont be “so arrogant.” | |
| “There are so many things we are not satisfied with. It’s a good government, but the way they do things can be better,” Phua said as he waited outside a school to vote. | “There are so many things we are not satisfied with. It’s a good government, but the way they do things can be better,” Phua said as he waited outside a school to vote. |
| But not all agree. | But not all agree. |
| “I hope that it will remain as the status quo. For so many years, it has been the same and so far so good,” said homemaker Florence See. She praised the government for putting in place strict measures to protect voters. | |
| Lee has faced opposition from his estranged younger brother, Lee Hsien Yang, who said the PAP had turned into an elitist party. The younger Lee joined an opposition party last month but is not running in the election. The prime minister has said the polls are about ensuring a strong government to secure the country’s future, not his family feud. | Lee has faced opposition from his estranged younger brother, Lee Hsien Yang, who said the PAP had turned into an elitist party. The younger Lee joined an opposition party last month but is not running in the election. The prime minister has said the polls are about ensuring a strong government to secure the country’s future, not his family feud. |
| Singapore’s election follows polls in Serbia and Mongolia last month and in South Korea in April, when governing parties in all three countries scored resounding victories. | Singapore’s election follows polls in Serbia and Mongolia last month and in South Korea in April, when governing parties in all three countries scored resounding victories. |
| The polls come just weeks after the country emerged from a two-month lockdown aimed at controlling one of Asia’s worst coronavirus outbreaks. The tiny nation of 5.8 million people has reported more than 45,000 cases, most of them foreign workers living in crowded dormitories that were overlooked in the early phase of its crisis management. | The polls come just weeks after the country emerged from a two-month lockdown aimed at controlling one of Asia’s worst coronavirus outbreaks. The tiny nation of 5.8 million people has reported more than 45,000 cases, most of them foreign workers living in crowded dormitories that were overlooked in the early phase of its crisis management. |
| With the economy forecast to shrink this year by up to 7%, Lee’s government has unveiled several economic assistance packages totaling nearly 100 billion Singapore dollars ($71.7 billion) but warned the full economic impact hasn’t been felt yet. | With the economy forecast to shrink this year by up to 7%, Lee’s government has unveiled several economic assistance packages totaling nearly 100 billion Singapore dollars ($71.7 billion) but warned the full economic impact hasn’t been felt yet. |
| While coronavirus cases have mostly declined, new daily cases still top 100. | While coronavirus cases have mostly declined, new daily cases still top 100. |
| The government determined the election could be held safely with the number of polling stations increased from 880 to 1,100 and other safety measures such as masks and temperature checks. | The government determined the election could be held safely with the number of polling stations increased from 880 to 1,100 and other safety measures such as masks and temperature checks. |
| Voters were given a two-hour window to cast their ballots to reduce crowding. Election officials were wearing full personal protective gear and polling booths were to be sanitized every half hour. The last hour of voting was reserved for those with fevers or on stay-at-home notice after returning from overseas. | |
| Results were expected to begin arriving late Friday, | |
| ___ | ___ |
| Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. | Ng reported from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. |
| Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. |