SINGAPORE — Singapore's opposition camp is contesting all 89 parliamentary seats in the Sept 11 general election, posing the strongest challenge ever to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's party that has ruled the tiny city-state since independence, state media reported Tuesday.
A record number of over 180 candidates from Lee's People's Action Party (PAP) and six opposition parties plus a few independent candidates officially submitted their nomination papers Tuesday to enter the fray.
According to state media, it will be the first time since Singapore's independence in 1965 that all 89 seats in parliament will be contested by multiple candidates.
All 29 constituencies -- made up of 16 larger multiple-seat constituencies and 13 single-seat constituencies -- will also see competition.
Supporters from the People's Action Party (PAP) lift Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (back facing) after submitting his documents at the Nomination centre on Tuesday. (AFP photo)
The PAP has won every general election since independence as many Singaporeans associate it with the country's political and economic stability.
However, support for the ruling party has been declining in recent years with a growing number of Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, seeking a stronger opposition presence in parliament to provide checks and balances on ruling party decision-making.
"Please vote for us in this election," the 63-year-old Lee said as he addressed supporters after filing his nomination papers. "This is about your future. Vote seriously for the PAP to make sure that we can work together with you, for you, for Singapore."
Although the PAP was returned to power in the 2011 general election, its share of valid votes sank from 66.6% in 2006 to 60.1% -- the lowest since independence.
It also lost as many as six of the 87 parliamentary seats to the opposition in that election, including for the first time a large multiple-seat ward, which resulted in the staggering defeat of then Singapore foreign minister George Yeo in that ward.
Lee's team in his Ang Mo Kio multiple-seat constituency will face contest from the Reform Party's slate of candidates for that ward, which includes Roy Ngerng, a 34-year-old blogger who recently lost a defamation suit filed against him by Lee for his articles criticising the way a government-run retirement fund is managed.
For the first time, younger Singaporeans -- namely, those born after 1965 -- are expected to account for the majority of votes in the upcoming general election.
A 25-year-old Singaporean university student, who identified himself by his given name Gabriel, said he will be voting for the first time this year.
"Why would I be afraid of voting for opposition? The system itself is what I want to change, the system of having just one ruling party is more or less a dictatorship. I just want to see a check and balance to the ruling party," he said.
The general election will take place amid the euphoria of the wealthy city-state's golden jubilee celebrations this year, marking its 50th anniversary since independence.
The government has dispensed a slew of incentives over the past several months, such as cash payouts, especially for the elderly and low income citizens, to help them cope with the high cost of living and special "SG50" anniversary bonuses for thousands of civil servants.
In the 2011 general election, the opposition contested all constituencies except for that of Lee's father, Singapore's former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, in Tanjong Pagar, which has been a PAP stronghold for decades. The elder Lee died in March at the age of 91.
This election will be closely watched in terms of how Singaporeans will vote in post-Lee Kuan Yew era.
During Lee Kuan Yew's authoritarian rule, which tolerated little political dissent, Singaporeans had been more loyal to the PAP and fearful of voting for the opposition.
In the 2011 general election, Singaporean's expressed through their votes their unhappiness with the high cost of housing and the influx of foreigners, who have been blamed for fueling competition for jobs and places at state universities and congestion in public transport.
Other issues include the persistent lack of freedom of expression, perceived lack of welfare for low-income Singaporeans and concern about the inadequacy of a state-managed retirement fund.