Pap (updated Sept23)

Campaign heating up here for the general election later in the week. The lorries were circling the streets and the market every fifteen minutes this morning. Open-backed lorries such as are used for the transport of the foreign workers returning to their dormitories late at night. (Large looms the issue of the number of foreign workers, and also the projected population that will be drawn to the Republic in coming years.) The campaign lorries this morning carried fluttering PAP flags three either side, amplifier and broadcast speakers. One kilometre off they could be heard on the approach, two men in the cabin donned in the party white polos, with the thunderbolt insignia on the breast. Chaps had the windows wound down and the jockey in particular the role of rallying all and sundry on the streets to the banner. A kind of meet-and-greet on wheels, fellow smiling and waving like a lunatic, one thought at the first encounter. At least that was a newcomer's reflex. More practiced citizens like the aunty this morning rolling her shopping trolley back from market, receive the friendly greeting from the truck in their stride and immediately return the same. It is possible the truck jockey is one of the candidates; more likely a volunteer from the ranks. One of the candidates featured in the newspaper was pictured jogging between housing towers in order to save time for door-knocking; another rode a bicycle for the purpose. (Workers Party critics maintain the ruling PAP members on near a $100k a month would not have the foggiest idea of public transport, let alone footslog and bicycles.) A great deal of newspaper attention is being devoted to the event and a fair spread allowed to a number of opposition groups, in what has been a single-party government in the half century since Independence. Finally, too, the uniform cricket white/choir-boy attire of the PAP was explained by a mention in a recent speech of the PM's. Purity and incorruptibility the point. Often a smart half-eleven in the Group Representative Constituencies descends upon kopi shops and housing towers at election time. (A manipulation by the rulers, the GRC's, critics charge.) In the local neighbourhood the Joo Chiat ward, which almost fell to the Opposition last time round, has been incorporated into the East Coast GRC. (According to some another manipulation.) 
         May the best team win. (Oddly, this time round the election is being held on a weekday for some as yet unexplained reason. Public holiday declared.)

NB. PAP — People’s Action Party. Mostly fondly lampooned as Pay-And-Pay, when of course tax rates are famously low and draw a good many expat avoiders from their own countries to these shores.