Nomination Day: Colourful, cacophonous and fiercely partisan

Singapore — Awash with colour, cacophonous, and fiercely partisan.

That best describes the scene at the nine nomination centres islandwide today (Sept 1), as candidates from nine political parties, accompanied by supporters, trooped to the centres to submit their papers.

The movement of candidates to the schools which did double duty as nomination centres was carefully choreographed, and begin as early as 8am for some parties.

The rallying points — literally — were hives of activity for much more than ensuring that papers were in order. At an Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council office in Hougang, for example, Workers’ Party (WP) members busied themselves with preparing the accoutrements for a mass show of support, gathering the requisite number of neatly-rolled flags for unfurling later, or seeing to other logistical arrangements.

Party candidates and supporters who joined up at the various meeting points then proceeded apace to the nomination centres, and several were there at 10am, a full hour before proceedings commenced. They were met there by other supporters.

At Raffles Institution (RI), one of the most keenly-watched centres because both People’s Action Party (PAP) leader Lee Hsien Loong and Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang would file their papers there, a media scrum ensued as both men arrived, to raucous cheers from their support base.

As the candidates went about the serious business of filing their forms, unseen to the throngs gathered outside, the noise level began to build, with decibel levels climbing in apparent sync with the mercury. Despite clutching umbrellas, many kept them closed, practically daring the other side to wilt. The supporters of different parties were separated by barriers, but soon, the battle of decibels was joined, each side trying to drown out the other in volume, as well as with creative songs.

But despite appearances, it was a friendly rivalry, and the number of people who reached across the barricades to snap selfies with Singaporeans of an opposing political stripe was evidence of this.

The candidates themselves were revelling in the moment, emerging once nomination papers were put up at boards outside the school halls to snap pictures of their own or engage in friendly banter with their opponents. At RI, the leader of the PAP’s Bishan-Toa Payoh slate, Dr Ng Eng Hen, was seen snapping pictures of the WP’s Aljunied team’s documents.

One wordless encounter that did not escape the attention of the media was that between Mr Lee, who leads the PAP’s Ang Mo Kio GRC team, and one of the members of the Reform Party team he is up against: Blogger Roy Ngerng. The Prime Minister has successfully sued Mr Ngerng for defamation, and damages are to be assessed. Both men stood side by side, but nary a glance was exchanged.

A sharp spike in the decibel level brought notice that proceedings were nearing their end — as their candidacies were confirmed, politicians took to the microphones provided to thank their supporters and rally them for the fight ahead. But while their camp applauded lustily, those on the other side were merciless in their booing.

Dr Ng, however, gave as good as he got. Pointing to the WP supporters as he reeled off the achievements of the PAP over the years, he said: “We have educated Singaporeans to behave in a way that is right, not like these supporters who are just jeering”.

Then, turning to face the throng of blue, he said the PAP would do the same for them. “Year after year, we’ll improve your life even if you jeer us”.