This year, the General Elections being held in Singapore has the most number of seats being contested in both SMCs (Single member constituencies) and GRCs (Group representation constituencies) since the independence of Singapore. In fact, all the SMCs and GRCs are being contested by the opposition, all but Tanjong Pagar GRC, where MM Lee Kuan Yew helms the team. The opposition had originally intended to contest Tanjong Pagar GRC, but as the candidates did not submit the papers on time, they were disqualified. To quote MM Lee Kuan Yew, the opposition had made a "feeble effort to show that they wanted to contest".
One GRC that has gathered the most attention is the Aljunied GRC, where the PAP is up against the Workers' Party. The Workers' Party is fielding its "dream team", which includes Chairman Sylvia Lim, Secretary General Low Thia Khiang, who left his stronghold of Hougang SMC, and Lawyer Chen Show Mao. The PAP's team includes Foreign Minister George Yeo and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Lim Hwee Hua.
This will certainly be an intense fight, because the team led by Workers' Party Chairman Sylvia Lim won 44% of the votes in the previous General Election. So with the addition of Party Secretary General Low Thia Khiang, the opposition might very well win themselves a GRC in this General Elections. As said by Mr Low Thia Khiang, "This is a a watershed election. We may end up with no elected opposition MP...the stakes are high, the risk is very high".
