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PAP could lose dominance in 15 years: Ho Kwon Ping

SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) could lose its dominance in Parliament in 15 years, or lose power completely in the second half of the next 50 years, said Mr Ho Kwon Ping at the IPS-Nathan Lecture held at the University Cultural Centre at NUS today (Oct 20).

PAP supporters at the Nomination centre at Singapore Chinese Girls School during the 2011 General Election. TODAY file photo

PAP supporters at the Nomination centre at Singapore Chinese Girls School during the 2011 General Election. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — The People’s Action Party (PAP) could lose its dominance in Parliament in 15 years, or lose power completely in the second half of the next 50 years, said Mr Ho Kwon Ping at the IPS-Nathan Lecture held at the University Cultural Centre at NUS today (Oct 20).

Mr Ho, who is Executive Chairman of Banyan Tree Holdings and an S R Nathan fellow, raised these scenarios at the lecture by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) titled Politics and Governance, citing historical trends which point towards an election loss by the PAP in the second half of the next 50 years.

Democratic elected ruling parties have generally floundered after about half to three-quarters of a century, he said, giving examples such as Mexico’s Institutional Party, which lasted 71 years, and India’s Indian National Congress, which lasted 49. The PAP has been in power since 1959.

Mr Ho said there are three possible causes for the PAP to lose power, including a freak election, a split in the PAP, or a massive loss in legitimacy. However, Mr Ho added the last cause is not likely to happen.

This is because there is no evidence that corruption has increased in Singapore’s public life despite a few scandals involving mid-level bureaucrats, and Singapore “remains exemplary” among its neighbours and counterparts in developed countries for its low level of corruption.

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