Focus may shift from local to national concerns

While opposition parties may want the Punggol East by-election to be a limited referendum on the PAP performance since the General Election in 2011, the ruling party looks set to try its utmost to keep the focus on local issues. SMU Assistant Professor of Law Eugene Tan expects hot topics from the 2011 General Elections to resurface as some remain unresolved. He said: "National issues tend to have greater traction (in elections), especially with the opposition parties, as it gives them an opportunity to raise questions." The opposition is likely to cite these problems as evidence that voters need to elect more opposition members, to keep the Government in check and responsive to the needs and concerns of citizens, he added.