MINISTER of State for Education Lui Tuck Yew was elected barely seven months ago, but is already thinking about the next election.
Speaking to more than 1,000 party cadres, he said one challenge before the PAP is to win over 'swing' voters ahead of the next general election.
'We must work to consolidate the backing of the PAP's core supporters and win over the 'swing' voters to our side,' Rear-Admiral (NS) Lui said. 'We can be sure the opposition is trying to do the same as they put together better qualified and more credible candidates.'
Analysts say the PAP's base of core supporters has traditionally ranged from 40 per cent of all voters in an opposition ward, to 60 per cent in a PAP ward. Swing voters are those who may be swayed by a range of factors, unlike loyal supporters of either PAP or the opposition.
What strategy did the MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC put forward to win these voters?
The former navy chief proposed preparing party activists to play a greater role in future elections as more wards are likely to be contested.
These activists are integral to the party, he said, paying tribute to those in his branch by declaring 'I am nothing without them'.
'Headquarters will find fewer uncontested candidates and their supporters to run the HQ, to man the operations room, to craft messages for the fliers and to organise rallies. We will have to rely on specialist teams of activists to take on these and other functions. We need to start to identify these people, train them early and test them out.'
RADM Lui recognised the desire of party activists, especially those younger, to have a greater say in policies as 'healthy and constructive'.
Where he felt they were needed most, however, was in being informed to explain policies on the ground - and even in cyberspace.
He said they should help put information out there to win people over, and could even supply their views 'to moderate the vitriol and balance the skewed comments' on the Internet.
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