In the 2006 election, the opposition contested 47 out of the 84 seats in parliament, For the first time since 1988, with the Workers' Party contesting 20 seats.

The Workers' Party was in a better shape than before and carried out preparations earlier and was seen to be the most credible threat to the PAP. There were even talks of the party winning Aljunied GRC. (Note: The opposition have never won a GRC before since the GRC system was introduced in 1988) A rejuvenated WP, under the leadership of Secretary-general and sole WP MP Low Thia Khiang and WP's first woman chairman Sylvia Lim, released its manifesto ahead of PAP and introduced several well-qualified candidates.

What was even more surprising for the electorate was this: The Workers' Party with its limited resources and funds were able to put up 20 capable, honest, clean, credible candidates for the elections. Coming from all walks of lives, these candidates includes a political science graduate, financial controller, entreprenuer, lecturer, businessman, etc. Of the twenty candidates, 3 were woman candidates. This attracted pretty much attention and Singaporeans stood up and took noticed of this rising political force.

The Workers' Party underwent the renewal process of its 3rd generation leadership by appointing Miss Sylvia Lim, who joined the party in 2003, as its party chairman. Young and dynamic candidates who joined the party after the 2001 elections were also pushed to the forefront to lead the charge to gain more seats for the party. The Workers' Party began the renewal process even earlier than PAP and this goes to show the party's emphasis on continued self-renewal in order to stay in touch and valid with the electorate.

Comparing the Workers' Party with the other opposition parties, the Workers' Party stood out with its dynamic personalities, better and systematic organisation, a more efficient application of resources.

More importantly, the Workers' Party did not engage in a tactic of tic-for-tat with the PAP. The party abandon a confrontational behaviour towards the PAP, focuses on its agenda and went about bringing their agenda to the electorate. The Workers' Party realised that open confrontation will never ever bear fruit in Singapore and will not appeal to the electorate. This was something that the SDP fail to appreciate.

The Workers' Party was much more willing to renew and in the process, attracted a bigger talent pool than the SDA. It was clearly evident with the profiles and characters of the various candidates of the Workers' Party when measured up against those candidates from the SDA. The failure of the SDA to attract woman candidates will also be key to its credibility and image.

What does all this mean for Singapore's political landscape:

1. The various opposition parties will be unable to continue to stay relevant & will self-destruct from within and/or fade away into annoymity.

2. The most powerful and credible threat to the PAP's rule will be the Workers' Party, in the short-term and in the foreseeable future.

In conclusion, the author's vision of a 2 party system of politics in Singapore is slowly but surely being realised. Internal factors within the Workers' Party, for instance, its continued emphasis of self-renewal, and the ability to attract good candidates, coupled with external factors like the sef-destruction of the other opposition parties, the electorate's desire to see a credible opposition, makes this vision a reality. The Workers' Party will thus be able to coordinate to opposition efforts against the PAP, and with greater economies of scale, comes greater financial funds and resources.

However, the most significant aspect of this rising force is that the electorate, being much more educated and tenacious, do applaud the significant inroads that the Workers' Party is making in terms of image, publicity, renewal. For the first time in Singapore political history, the electorate sees the possibiity of a future alternative government coming from the Workers' Party.

WP Vs PAP in all 84 seats: It's not that impossible after all ~