Recently, Singapore’s largest Chinese newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao published an online poll asking people, “What are your views on holding an election during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic?” Of 11,635 voters,
7,859 voters (67.55%) were not in favor to holding the election amid the coronavirus pandemic as it would be difficult to hold rallies due to the current restrictions.
2,550 (21.92%) of those polled said that they would be open to having an election at this time as “daily life must go on”. The remaining 1,226 voters (10.54%) said that it didn’t matter to them either way.
However, the recent poll on Lianhe Zaobao is no longer on the website as reported by TOC on March 31. TOC reached out separately to Lianhe Zaobao but has yet to receive a reply.
In the meantime, Lianhe Zaobao’s Chief Editor, Han Yong Mei, wrote an op-ed titled, “Merits of holding a GE during an outbreak” that was published on the Straits Times on March 20, noting that the coronavirus outbreak period may be a “critical period” for the ruling government to hold GE, “but it also presents the best opportunity”.
