Candidates: New-old and the New-normal

The Straits Times

23 August 2015

The People’s Action Party’s slate of new faces and the opposition’s likely new candidates are on two ends of a great divide.

The PAP’s is a story of continuity. Even as party leaders speak of new blood and renewal, the faces joining its ranks still come from a formula that has served the PAP well: former civil servants, business high-fliers.

In previous elections, the opposition was at times seen as a “misfits corner”, attracting people from outside the system, but a new breed has emerged.

Call it the new “normal” – career people and academics now make up the ranks of the opposition.

The PAP line-up could be termed “new-old”; many new faces but based on the old paradigm of Singaporeans who succeeded within the system and now want to do their part for their country.

… The party’s sterling slate is to be expected, says political science professor Bilveer Singh: “The PAP has the best political machinery, access to the best brains, leaders and experienced individuals.”

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