Oppositional Grassroots Activism in PAP Singapore

Abstract

Via detailed personal interviews, this paper canvasses the views of leading Singaporean opposition politicians and activists about the state of play in Singapore politics and likely developments over the next ten years. The role of internet activism is also explored. We also look at how and why individuals became politicized on the opposition side. The two highest profile opposition parties have contrasting approaches, with the Workers’ Party of Singapore (WP) being a disciplined and restrained political machine which has a primary goal of winning more seats at elections and the internet-savvy Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) operating more like a western NGO with its post-early-1990s liberal-democratic emphasis upon human rights, democracy, and non-violent resistance. Our interviews show that the Singaporean grassroots oppositional activist community, while still small, is passionate and committed to taking its country away from the right-wing authoritarian pathway. Those activists more interested in civil society and NGOs than contesting elections are eager to expand and deepen the civil society in Singapore. The Government’s non-intervention in the AWARE women’s group’s ‘fundamentalist Christian takeover’ suggests more freedom for some NGOs under current PM Mr. Lee Hsien Loong. Significantly, the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) may be splitting into ‘reformist’ and ‘hardline’ factions headed by, respectively, Lee Hsien Loong and the MP for Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC Mr. Wong Kan Seng. We obtain direct and personal access to Singapore’s opposition community, including people (aged 14-65 years) who are not party leaders or spokespersons and who are difficult to access.