To the vast majority of Singaporeans, the Electoral Boundaries Review Committee (EBRC), the work that it does, the significance of its report are none of their business and it is quite understandably so.
Ordinary citizens will not be interested, they do not care and do not know the what, why, who, which and when of the EBRC. It doesn’t concern them directly either daily, weekly, monthly or even in their lifetime, so, why should they bother? I therefore ask shouldn’t educated, patriotic and concerned citizens step up and care?
Shifting demographics and new housing developments justify the convene of the EBRC, however, the fact that the EBRC was appointed by the Prime Minister (PM) and presented its report back to the PM makes it less than ideal. Let me explain.
I do not doubt the integrity of our PM but I am mindful that the PM is a political person and he will be contesting in the election too.
The 2025 EBRC report has drawn big surprises, outcry, disquiet, puzzlement and even suspicious of hidden agendas etc among many Singaporeans.
In Parliament, when asked by Pritam Singh if there is gerrymandering in Singapore, a very reasonable and straightforward question, Chan Chun Sing somehow fumbled and could not even gave a confident and firm No for his answer.
I have a few suggestions.
The EBRC should be an independent body comprising statisticians, academicians economists and members of the public of various races. The government can lay the broad frame work or guidelines but the EBRC should and must be left to do it own demarcations.
Very importantly, the EBRC should complete its work 1 year before the General Election to give all the parties a fair chance to work the grounds.
Furthermore, it should also give its reasons why it drew the boundaries in a particular way. This is not the case now. Its decision is final.
This way, it is not only accountable to the government but it is also answerable to Singaporeans who will vote in the election, both in their work and in their deeds.
Finally, it reports to the Chief Justice and not to the President.
I recognise that no system is perfect and in a small country like Singapore, almost everybody knows everybody at the top but between reporting to the President and the Chief Justice, my choice is the Chief Justice and my reason is simply because I have seen how easily and magically one can changed one’s race and become another race at the top.
Think.
Simon Lim
