In a Facebook post on July 8, People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Chan Chun Sing responds to leaked audio clips of him implying that a crisis will save the PAP in the elections, and he also clarified the period in which the clip originated and the context in which the statements in the audio clips were made.
He added that the conversation happened in early 2019, “in the wake of Malaysia imposing a restricted flying zone north of Seletar Airport”.
Chan explained that he was warning “our people to never be complacent, thinking that a crisis will help PAP secure the votes at an election.”
Chan wrote: “It may be true that historically during crises, there may be a flight to quality and stability. But we must never take it for granted. In fact, we must work hard to serve our people, take care of them and not depend on a crisis to secure the votes.”
He also clarified parts one and two of the conversations.
Chan also wrote that “the timing of the release” of the clips is “surely not coincidental”.
You can read the full transcript of the leaked audio clips that Chan was referring to below:
“… put our heads right, and do the right thing, then winning the election is inevitable.
“Winning the election has nothing to do with the nine days of campaigning. We have four years, five years, to get ourselves ready by doing the right thing, to convince our people that we care for them more than others, we have the interest of the country, more than anyone else.“
“And we are the dependable (indistinct)“
“But our problem with today’s world: people are fickle-minded. Dependability is not a virtue. Stability is not a virtue.“
“And if people feel itchy enough and say that ‘I have nothing to lose’, or ‘I can afford to risk a bit’, then PAP will be in trouble. So it’s very difficult.“
“Actually, PAP votes always drop one. Every election the PAP votes drop. You check back the 50 years’ history. Then suddenly a crisis will save us. Then we’ll start dropping again. Until the next crisis will save us, and we’ll drop again.“
“You look at the last 40 years pattern, it’s the same one. Lee Kuan Yew’s death saved us. Before Lee Kuan Yew’s death, 9/11 saved us. Then before 9/11? (indistinct)“
“So unfortunately, this is the reality.“
“So doing the correct thing is necessary, but sometimes not sufficient.”