Election fever.

May 8, 2011, will be etched in the annals of Singapore history for it marked a watershed General Election, with a unprecedented 82 out of 87 seats contested, a younger electorate, ageing population, many issues contested, and for the first time, the massive (and generally clean) use of social media in campaigning.

Results-wise, it was even more... impactful. The opposition Workers' Party have managed to capture a Group-Representation Constituency (Aljunied), or 5 seats, away from the ruling People's Action Party. They have also retained their former stronghold of Hougang, which netted them one more seat. At the same time, veteran Member of Parliament Chiam See Tong has lost in his attempt to go for a GRC, and his wife has also lost the party its seat in Potong Pasir Single-Member Constituency. Tin Pei Ling, much flamed by netizens online, was elected to Parliament, and at the same time, we have lost a very capable Foreign Minister in George Yeo.

My feelings on this are truly mixed, so much to the point that I have become a tad blank in my head and heart. Certainly, the costs of this election has been heavy for more voices in Parliament, and perhaps the Westerners will see us as more accomodating in terms of human rights and media freedoms (hey, even the local media aired some dissenting views this time round) after this election. Whatever. But now, all parties know they need to work harder to build up their support base, and for those elected to Parliament, work together to serve the interests of all citizens. These are big words, but I sure hope it will happen.

And out on Facebook, I feel like I've been championing the spoilt vote option, running around to defend the stand against some of its detractors. Hmm... as much as it is an exercise in futility.

Else. It's over now, we will wake up to a new reality tomorrow. And... life goes on. All the thoughts have evaporated from my mind. WATERSHED.