PAP to adapt to new electorate: PM

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PAP

May 9, 2011

PAP to adapt to new electorate: PM

By Rachel Chang

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the PAP will be 'soul-searching and studying' how to adapt to a 'new electorate'. -- ST PHOTO: DESMOND WEE

IN THE weeks and months ahead, the People's Action Party will be 'soul-searching and studying' how best to adapt to a 'new electorate,' said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong early on Sunday.

Although Foreign Minister George Yeo has lost his seat in Parliament, Mr Lee indicated that his call for a 'transformed PAP', made at a rally on Thursday, would not go unheeded.

'We understand in the PAP that this election is a watershed election, and we have to adapt to this new situation and (find) policies and approaches which will work with this new electorate,' he told the media in the early hours of Sunday, after the final results from the General Election.

The PAP suffered a historic loss of a Group Representation Constituency in the form of Aljunied GRC to the Workers' Party, and failed to win back Hougang single seat ward. In the next Parliament, there will be six elected opposition MPs in Parliament - the most ever.

In addition, there will be three Non-Constituency MPs (NCMPs), the 'best losers' from the polls.

Mr Lee said that the PAP would, in the weeks and months ahead, be searching for a 'formula to go forward.'