After last night's results, I think its the beginning of the end for PSP. Maybe they won't even be around next GE.
Redrawing of boundaries aside, I feel PSP also made quite a lot of mistakes this time. I don't think placing hazel, lmw and tcb in a SMC would have helped given the boundary changes. Also, those middle class voters are probably on holiday, which would have helped but would still not give PSP any wins.
Here are the mistakes from this GE
1. Not showing their younger high potential candidates enough
Stephanie Tan shows alot of potential, and more coverage whether marketing or social media would have helped change the image that PSP is becoming more professional. There may be more good young candidates but all overshadowed by your old people.
2. Not booking a stadium for the results announcement
There were so many questions why PSP didnt book stadium before the votes were cast. This gave the impression that PSP themselves gave up the fight already before it even started. Whoever decided not to book the stadium better explain themselves properly to the CEC.
3. Not enough rallies, not enough catchphrases, not charismatic enough.
Believe it or not, politics is also about soundbytes. You guys can learn from independent candidate Jeremy Tan. Even this guy got his "full time pay, part time job" catchphrase that people like. You need things to become viral to get swing voters like women votes. I have a few female friends that vote for PAP because of funny reasons like taskforceman is trending, or because lawrence wong's wife is pretty, or that cai yinzou is good looking. In fact, Jamus likely won Sengkang because of his "no blank cheque" statement.
4. Leon Perrera should not be seen so openly. He is a liability for PSP's image.
Big mistake having Leon as emcee in the PSP rally. Just ban him from being seen until PSP gains at least 1 seat in parliament. If it will even be around by then.
5. Image problem as anti foreigner party
PSP needs to learn how to be Pro SG first/Pro fairness without looking like anti foreigners, because like it or not you also need to attract this group of leechers. That's probably why WP is looking more and more like PAP-lite. They also know the demographics of this group will increase.
6. The west has a lot of new citizens, old people, and poor people
For new citizens, the people living here are likely ex-malaysians who work in tuas up to CBD etc. They like to compare PAP with whatever govt is running malaysia, thats why they don't really care if NTUC almost got sold and tbh they don't even want to know. They just want to game the system so that their friends and family can come to SG for personal benefits. I have had ex colleagues who are new citizens that keep receiving messages from their relatives telling them that oppositions are all anti foreigners and to vote for incumbent to bring more of their friends and family in. I think someone in edmw talk about xiaohongshu? How can PSP attract this people while avoiding the potential smearing by ruling party?
Old people, no need to say. Their whole sorry lives they only know PAP. They got not much struggles since their flats already fully paid and they probably retired.
Those poor people, believe it or not, live hand to mouth or "voucher to voucher" like some mosquito party says. This group of people will keep going meet the peoples session to waive things and ask for help and this creates some sort of master-servant reliance. Naturally you would be afraid that all your help received will disappear once an opposition takes over.
7. Never walk the ground enough
I know the boundary changed and it was uphill to begin with, as there was not enough time. But this also led to the outcome because you need to walk the ground to engage voters, especially old people who don't consume social media and even news. And another problem is, where else can you walk? You guys are all surrounded by PAP strongholds.
Here are the challenges
1. PSP is facing an image problem that will become worse after Dr Tan's retirement
PSP was always known as an old people or pensioners party. After Dr Tan retires, is there enough new blood to change its image?
2. PSP contested areas are surrounded by PAP high margin win areas.
"You look left, look right", if the electoral boundaries are redrawn again, you guys are gonna lose even more. Next time where can west coast redraw? what if its Tanjong pagar? Or if they redraw to include the area in jurong with Ong Ye Kung's cousin? This is a serious problem and one of the reasons why even WP don't even dare to touch the west. There's too much ground to cover and all are high margin PAP wins.
3. Leadership renewal and talent pool
After TCB, who can continue running PSP? LMW and Hazel no longer have the "mandate" as NCMP in the party. And you guys need more lawyers. And when I say lawyers, I mean those that can articulate and speak well, not the gho sze kee type. Sinkie are suckers for lawyers cos they speak well and cos its deemed as someone successful in life.
What u can improve
1. Branding
Get some consultants and change your image to look more professional like WP. Sinkies are suckers for branding and image. Get on with the times. Low Thia Kiang's ground up success cannot be replicated in 2025. You need more Stephanie Tans in your party. If you can get more guys of the same calibre like that independent candidate Jeremy Tan, I think it would help also.
Your old people also need to look less like old people and more like professionals. Sadly, alot of mosquito parties candidates look like old coffeeshop uncles, which PSP also has.
2. Get rid of the image that PSP is anti foreigner
PSP needs to strike a balance by being pro-fairness (meaning fighting against discrimination of singaporeans) while not turning new citizens away. Like it or not, you need these people to vote for you. Eventually the children of new citizens might face the same problem as sinkies anyway.
Silver lining, existential crisis
1. PSP did very badly this GE, but at least your results showed voters that you guys are not in the "mosquito party" league. But after TCB retires, which is quite soon, PSP might just end up as one.
@charleslee1989 that's what I can think of right now.
