Polls have opened in Singapore for an election that is widely expected to see the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) stay in power.
However, for the first time ever, opposition candidates are running in all constituencies, and could gain seats.
It is also the first election since the death of long-term leader Lee Kuan Yew, founder of the ruling PAP and the prime minister’s father.
The PAP has won every election since Singapore’s independence in 1965.
The PAP’s success has been attributed to its widespread popularity among Singaporeans – who have seen their country rapidly evolve into a first-world economy – as well as its tight political control.
Government stumbles in managing immigration and infrastructure, coupled with a greater desire by younger Singaporeans for political plurality, has led to increasing gains by opposition parties over the years.
The PAP’s biggest competition is the Workers Party, which in the last parliament had seven members of parliament out of 87 seats, but a number of smaller parties are also running. The next parliament will have 89 seats.
In previous elections, the PAP has retained some of its seats without a vote – known as a walkover – as no opposition candidate ran against them. But this year every seat is being contested.
The voting comes at the end of a colorful but brief nine-day election campaign period.
At least two million Singaporeans are expected to cast their vote at polling stations which will close at 20:00 local time on September 11.
The elections department, for the first time, will be announcing sample counts soon after voting closes. Opinion and exit polls are not allowed in Singapore’s elections.
Singapore is celebrating 50 years since it became an independent state with nationwide events.
Tens of thousands of people are expected on August 9 to attend an outdoor parade, complete with flybys by the air force and a Singapore Airlines A380 airliner.
People are also being asked to join together in reciting the national pledge and singing the national anthem.
Singapore became an independent state when it was ejected from the Federation of Malaya amid social unrest.
In 50 years, the former British colony has transformed itself into one of the world’s wealthiest countries.
However, its critics say the rapid development has been accompanied by a strict control on free speech and politics.
The city state celebrates its independence day in style every year, but this year’s SG50 events are being billed as Singapore’s biggest ever celebration, with months of build-up in shops, schools, work places and in the media.
Singapore has declared a four-day weekend for the anniversary.
There were long queues at the crossing points into Malaysia on Thursday and Friday evenings, as thousands of Singaporeans chose to go away for the weekend.
This year’s parade includes a special tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, who led Singapore into independence and was its prime minister until 1990.
Lee Kuan Yew, a much-respected leader in Singapore, died in March this year, prompting public mourning.
A recording of Lee Kuan Yew reading the Proclamation of Independence was played on radio and TV at 09:00 local time.
Speaking on the eve of the celebrations, PM Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew’s son, said: “At 50 years, as we stand at a high base camp, we look back and marvel how far we have come. We are grateful to those who made it happen.”
Key figures attending Sunday’s celebrations include Malaysian PM Najib Razak and Australian Deputy PM Warren Truss.
Despite achieving such goals as 90% home ownership and per capita GDP above $56,000, critics continue to point to the strict political controls.
Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) has been in power for more than 50 years and the opposition hopes to make more inroads in elections that could be called in September.
The last election saw the PAP suffer its worst performance, though it still kept 80 of the 87 seats.
It will hope the boost of the anniversary and recognition of the legacy of Lee Kuan Yew will help it at the next election.
The National Day Parade usually features a military march past with fighter jet displays, large-scale performances by community groups, and a retelling of Singapore’s history. It ends with a massive firework display as the country recites the pledge and sings the national anthem.
In its early years, organizers used it to push social messages such as courtesy and diligence.
These days it’s a more sophisticated, glitzier affair, held by the shiny skyscrapers of Singapore’s Marina Bay.
Though the propaganda still gets heavy, Singaporeans love it anyway for its pomp and splendor. Tickets for the parade and its rehearsals run out every year.
The body of Singapore’s late statesman Lee Kuan Yew has been transferred for lying in state at Parliament House.
Thousands of people are queuing to pay tribute to the father of the city-state.
Lee Kuan Yew’s body was moved by gun carriage on Wednesday morning from his official residence and through the city.
He died in hospital on March 23 at the age of 91.
Lee Kuan Yew led the city-state to independence and served as its prime minister for 31 years.
Singapore is observing a week of mourning ahead of Sunday’s funeral.
Lee Kuan Yew’s body has been resting at the Istana – the compound which houses the president’s official residence and the prime minister’s office – for a private family mourning period. Thousands have already left flowers and message at its gates and signed books of condolence.
His flag-draped coffin, accompanied by representatives of the military and government, was then carried from the Istana through the main shopping and business districts, before arriving at Parliament House.
Many organizations and businesses are giving employees time off to pay their respects. By midday, huge queues had formed in the area around parliament. The first in line had begun queuing the night before.
Visiting hours have been extended until midnight in response to the turnout.
On Tuesday, Singapore’s current prime minster, Lee Kuan Yew’s son Lee Hsien Loong, thanked all who had paid tribute, via his Facebook page.
He also announced that a new orchid – Singapore’s national flower – had been named after his father. The orchid, named Aranda Lee Kuan Yew, is on display at Parliament House.
Lee Kuan Yew – widely known as LKY – oversaw Singapore’s independence from Britain and separation from Malaysia and co-founded the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore since 1959.
He was the architect of Singapore’s transformation from a dependent, port city to a stable, prosperous independent state and a global financial hub.
However, he also introduced tight control. One of his legacies was a clampdown on the press – tight restrictions that remain in place today – while measures such as corporal punishment have been criticized as repressive.
Today, PAP remains firmly in control. There are currently six opposition lawmakers in parliament.
Lee Kuan Yew was widely admired by world leaders, but criticized what he saw as the overly liberal approach of the US and the West.
Singapore has declared seven days of national mourning following the death of its founding father, Lee Kuan Yew.
Lee Kuan Yew, who was 91, led Singapore’s transformation from a small port city to one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
World leaders have paid tribute to Lee Kuan Yew, who served as the city-state’s prime minister for 31 years.
President Barack Obama described Lee Kuan Yew as a “giant of history” whose advice had been sought by other world leaders.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Lee Kuan Yew was a widely respected strategist and statesman, and Russian President Vladimir Putin described him as one of the “patriarchs” of world politics.
The period of national mourning will culminate in a state funeral next Sunday and Lee Kuan Yew ‘s body is to lie in state at parliament from March 25 to 28.
A private family wake is taking place on March 23 and 24.
News of Lee Kuan Yew’s death came in a government statement that said he had “passed away peacefully” in the early hours of Monday at Singapore General Hospital.
Lee Kuan Yew had been in hospital for several weeks with pneumonia and was on life support.
State television broke away from its normal schedules and broadcast rolling tributes.
As evening fell, many Singaporeans were continuing to arrive at the Istana, the compound housing the president’s official residence and the prime minister’s office, where a book of condolence has been placed.
Earlier, some chanted “Mr. Lee, Mr. Lee” as a hearse carrying the former leader’s body arrived at the compound.
An area has also been set aside outside the hospital for flowers and other tributes.
Books of condolence have also been opened at all Singapore’s overseas missions.
In an emotional televised address, Lee Kuan Yew’s son, PM Lee Hsien Loong, paid tribute to him.
“He fought for our independence, built a nation where there was none, and made us proud to be Singaporeans. We won’t see another man like him,” he said.
Business in bustling Singapore carried on as normal. At the stock exchange, the normal stream of market prices displayed on a bank of screens instead read: Remembering Lee Kuan Yew, September 16, 1923 to March 23, 2015.
Lee Kuan Yew – widely known as LKY – oversaw Singapore’s independence from Britain and separation from Malaysia and co-founded the People’s Action Party (PAP), which has governed Singapore since 1959.
He set about creating a highly educated work force fluent in English, and reached out to foreign investors to turn Singapore into a manufacturing hub.
Lee Kuan Yew embarked on a program of slum clearance, industrialization and tackling corruption. He was a fierce advocate of a multi-racial Singapore.
However, Lee Kuan Yew also introduced tight controls, and one of his legacies was a clampdown on the press – tight restrictions that remain in place today.
Dissent and political opponents were ruthlessly quashed. Today, PAP remains firmly in control. There are currently six opposition lawmakers in parliament.
Other measures, such as corporal punishment, a ban on chewing gum and the government’s foray into matchmaking for Singapore’s brightest – to create smarter babies – led to perceptions of excessive state interference.
Lee Kuan Yew criticized what he saw as the overly liberal approach of the US and the West, saying it had “come at the expense of orderly society”.
Former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, who transformed the island country from a small port city into a wealthy global hub, has died at the age of 91.
Lee Kuan Yew served as the city-state’s prime minister for 31 years, and continued to work in government until 2011.
Highly respected as the architect of Singapore’s prosperity, Lee Kuan Yew was also criticized for his iron grip on power.
Under Lee Kuan Yew freedom of speech was tightly restricted and political opponents were targeted by the courts.
The announcement was made “with deep sorrow” by the press secretary of PM Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew’s son.
“The prime minister is deeply grieved to announce the passing of Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, the founding prime minister of Singapore,” his office said in a statement.
It said Lee Kuan Yew died peacefully at the Singapore General Hospital at 03:18 local time on March 23.
Lee Kuan Yew had been in hospital for several weeks with severe pneumonia. Over the weekend, people left tributes and messages of goodwill at the hospital as his condition deteriorated.
A charismatic and unapologetic figure, Lee Kuan Yew co-founded the People’s Action Party, which has governed Singapore since 1959, and was its first prime minister.
The Cambridge-educated lawyer led Singapore through merger with, and then separation from, Malaysia – something that he described as a “moment of anguish”.
Speaking at a press conference after the split in 1965, Lee Kuan Yew pledged to build a meritocratic, multi-racial nation.
But tiny Singapore – with no natural resources – needed a new economic model.
“We knew that if we were just like our neighbors, we would die,” Lee Kuan Yew told the New York Times in 2007.
“Because we’ve got nothing to offer against what they have to offer. So we had to produce something which is different and better than what they have.”
Through investment in schooling, Lee Kuan Yew set about creating a highly-educated work force fluent in English.
He reached out to foreign investors to turn Singapore into a manufacturing hub, introducing incentives to attract foreign companies.
The city-state grew wealthy and later developed into a major financial centre. But building a nation came with tight controls – and one of Lee Kuan Yew’s legacies was a clampdown on the press.
These restrictions remain today. In 2014, Singapore stood at 150 in the Reports Without Borders World Press Freedom Index, below countries like Russia, Myanmar and Zimbabwe.
Dissent – and political opponents – were ruthlessly quashed.
Today Lee Kuan Yew’s PAP remains firmly in control. There are currently six opposition lawmakers in parliament.
Other measures, such as corporal punishment, a ban on chewing gum and the government’s foray into matchmaking for Singapore’s brightest – to create smarter babies – led to perceptions of excessive state interference. However, Lee Kuan Yew remained unmoved.
“Whoever governs Singapore must have that iron in him. Or give it up,” Lee Kuan Yew told a rally in 1980.
“I’ve spent a whole lifetime building this and as long as I’m in charge, nobody is going to knock it down.”
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