Not insular politics but glocal

MANY recent elections across the world swung against incumbents, with votes turning on national issues. The longstanding adage is that all politics is local. Results from Singapore’s general elections held in May however challenge both those expectations.

Not only was the incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) returned to power with an increased popular vote. Global issues too played a significant role, with particular focus on “Liberation Day” tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump.

Trade, investment and market sentiments across the world have since been affected, and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong effectively focused on the emerging impacts on Singapore.

He did this early when delivering the S Rajaratnam Lecture the day after Parliament dissolved in anticipation of the election, and raised the issues again in the May Day Rally, just before cooling-off day and voting.

More than non-Trump

Voters in Canada and Australia had similar concerns too, and voted for alternatives to Trump-like figures and policies. But the Singapore result was not simply a reaction against the controversial American president.

PM Wong – leading the PAP in electioneering for the first time – sought to convince Singapore that there would be direct and profound impacts. Building on observations shared early in the year by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, the analysis is that the current global order is changing, and experienced and steady hands are needed.

Both PM Wong and his deputy, Gan Kim Yong, were key figures during the global pandemic, regularly briefing Singaporeans about the situation. Trust was built from those circumstances, and emerging global conditions have given this a premium.

The Wong government quickly showed commitment by setting up a new task force to help those impacted by global trade dislocations. Add to this the generous 2025 budget. This provided evidence that government assistance would go beyond words, to deliver support and funding.

In the S Rajaratnam lecture, the prime minister called on Singaporeans not to have an “island mentality”, insular in attitude, but to connect to broader issues and to each other, and remain open. Voters seem to have responded positively.

Local-level action speaks louder

This is not to say that local issues were left aside. Inflation, housing and jobs were consistently and strongly raised by the opposition. This was across the board, whether by the Workers’ Party (WP) – that maintained its 10 elected seats and picked up two non-constituency seats – or other parties who failed to win any.

Yet while these domestic issues were repeatedly raised, the PAP chose how best to respond. Campaigning in West Coast, for example, Progress Singapore Party’s Leong Mun Wai was rebuffed when he challenged incumbent minister Desmond Lee and the PAP to a debate.

Instead, in most constituencies, the PAP favoured on-ground efforts, to re-emphasise their attentive presence and practical offers to help. They largely avoided speechifying, and canvassed broader issues at rallies and TV, mainly by PM Wong speaking at centralised, national platforms.

The result was a balance. Local and insular issues did not dominate, while global concerns were not abstract. Rather, the politics that mattered in the elections combined aspects of both and, to borrow a phrase, could be considered, “glocal”.

The WP stance was not dissimilar. Emerging as the sole opposition party with any seat in the next Parliament, they largely agree on foreign policy and campaigned on the fact that they have experience in running constituencies.

Controversies that did not bite

Anticipated controversies, in contrast, did not bite. These included recent cases that embroiled political office holders in corruption and inappropriate relationships. Even longstanding disputes aired by Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of founding PM Lee Kuan Yew, and published in The New York Times were greeted by most with a raised eyebrow and shrug. Many feel these have received more than enough air time.

There were also global issues that did not strongly feature in campaigning. One was the humanitarian concern over Gaza. While Singaporeans do care about the situation there, there was an appeal to ensure that issues abroad would not be used to divide Singaporeans.

Another issue was when two Malaysian opposition politicians and an ex-Singaporean and self-styled Muslim preacher encouraged voting along religious lines. PM Wong intervened on the basis that such online messaging amounted to foreign interference and crossed the line against mixing religion and politics.

He called on all parties to agree that this was unacceptable. WP chief Pritam Singh was quick to publicly deny that his party’s agenda had been influenced.

Other factors no doubt played a role in the result. These include giveaways in the Budget, the likeability of the new PM, and the generally positive tone in campaigning. The campaign notably eschewed and called out personal attacks.

But the global turmoil and connections to the local and national issues were standout factors that made a difference. The result is a strong popular mandate for PM Wong and his team that will support the Wong government in the international arena.

What major powers do remains beyond Singapore’s control. An island in a turbulent world will always be vulnerable. But resilience bears emphasis. This does not mean controlling what happens. Resilience focuses instead on how we respond.

That Singaporeans responded with “glocal” awareness is good news, and not just for the vote. If citizens give attention to both global concerns and to what is in their personal interests and Singapore’s, our country will be more resilient and united in facing the challenges ahead.

The writer is chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs