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#1: The Fear Of An Opposition Wipeout Was Real
The G’s confidence in calling for an election in the midst of a pandemic and the political analysts saying they expect a “flight to safety” did make many worry. And HSK’s sudden move to East Coast dampened hopes of WP’s Nicole Seah winning. But it is probably worth mentioning that even with HSK at the helm, PAP secured only 53.41% of the valid votes cast. (Compare this with Tharman’s almost 75% win in Jurong GRC)
#2: We’re Waiting To See What The “East Coast Plan” Is All About
HSK fumbled and people mercilessly poked fun at him because of that bungled speech. But just maybe… that plan’s so awesome that it’s hard to find the right words to describe it. 
So we shall see. And truth be told, I think we’re only mean (ok, debatable) to HSK because we think he’ll be our next PM – someone we probably expect to be of *ahem* you know… Tharman’s stature? However, I do remember the nation being very concerned when HSK collapsed during a Cabinet meeting in 2016 because of a stroke, then impressed when we read that among his first words after waking up from a coma were “Is there a Cabinet meeting today? Where are the papers?” Then he made a miraculous recovery and that was it. So ya… we love Mr Heng. Just that it’s tough love for the person who could be our future PM lah.
#3: The Jamus Factor
I don’t even live in Sengkang yet I’m over the moon that Jamus, *ahem* I mean the WP, won in Sengkang GRC. Sengkang folks.. you lucky fellas, you! I had thought that whatever happened with Raeesah Khan would adversely affect her team. But they pulled through. The WP leadership responded admirably and it was a great lesson for all political parties in Singapore. Warms the cockles of your heart too, right? *wink wink*
#4: The Mystery Of The Many Spoilt Votes
According to this table by CNA, there were 5,009 spoilt votes just in Ang Mo Kio GRC alone. HUH? How did these 5009 people turn up at the voting centres only to ‘spoil’ their votes? Genuine mistakes in marking the ballot papers? Or just disinclined to vote for either party? I simply cannot understand this.
As for Sengkang, where it was said that many had to queue out under the hot sun for a long time just to vote, there were still some 1194 spoilt votes. Who? How? Why? HUH?!
#5: WP fielded a totally unknown candidate in Punggol West SMC, got 39.03%!
I would have bet my last dollar (and thankfully, I didn’t) that PAP’s Sun Xueling would win big. Like, 92% vs 8%, maybe. After all, she’s a familiar face to many people here, especially those from young families, who go to her for help regarding securing places in preschools for their kids, etc. She also sent us quite a few (donated) masks, fruit, handwash, yadda yadda. And she did show up at my doorstep at least once, when I’d just stepped out of the bathroom, hair still dripping wet and with a towel around my shoulders. I probably gave her a shock then. XD
Meanwhile, there’s Tan Chen Chen from the WP, who’s so refreshingly innocent. Just look at the things she posts on her Facebook page. For instance, on July 4th, she posted an image of the Coca Cola she was having during a break from meeting residents. And on 5th July, her lunch of tau huey, Sunshine buns and what I assume must be 4 hard-boiled eggs. Meanwhile, folks like Sun Xueling and Tin Pei Ling were doing countless Facebook Live sessions, even ‘interviewing’ residents who had only good things to say about them. SXL even has at least one featuring Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean.
Imagine what would have happened if WP had fielded, say, Nicole Seah in Punggol West SMC instead of East Coast GRC.
This time, PAP sprang a surprise on WP with HSK going to East Coast GRC. Perhaps in 2025, it’ll be WP’s turn. Fun!
#6: Girl Power
As expected, Tin Pei Ling did very well in MacPherson SMC – she won 71.74% of the valid votes cast. Folks who doubted her in the past due to certain remarks she’d made are probably nodding in approval now. The residents clearly love her. I hope she continues the good work in MacPherson. 
And I would hazard a guess that one of the factors for the all-male PAP team losing in Sengkang GRC is precisely that: all-male.
#7: Lee Hsien Yang Not Contesting GE2020 After All
Again I would have bet my last dollar that LHY would be fielded as a candidate for PSP. That would have been exciting, no? But I guess it spooked certain people in the PAP enough. Minister Masagos Zulkifli even referred to LHY as our PM. But he can probably take comfort in the fact that a number in the PAP have made verbal gaffes too. From “mee siam mai hum” (mee siam without cockles) to cotton comes from sheep.
#8: Dr Koh Poh Koon At Yet Another GRC
I’m almost losing track of the GRCs he’s been fielded at. From ‘son of Punggol’ to ‘son-in-law’ of Ang Mo Kio… and now another move to Tampines. Well, I hope he’s finally found somewhere he belongs.
#9: Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s Disappointment in Defeat Palpable
I wish him well. Hopefully, he stays in good health and gives us a lesson on never giving up, and trying again. 留住青山在不怕没柴烧 (As long as the mountain is green, there will be firewood for burning)
#10: ‘Report Card’ For The G’s Handling Of The Covid-19 Crisis
For some voters, I think the GE was, in fact, them scoring the report card for the G’s handling of this crisis.
Some had lost their jobs. Others had their incomes drastically reduced. And that’s painful.
We’ve also had cordon tape on everything from park benches to exercise corners and even around swimming pools in condominiums. And I’ve never seen so much cling wrap used before – to encase tables and seats at hawker centres and coffeeshops. It’s enough to drive any zero waster crazy.
Honestly, I was disappointed with the initial response (or lack thereof). When the nation should have been advised to mask up, we were told to wear masks only when we are ill. Then a sudden U-turn, with the G no longer discouraging the use of masks. Then it was mandatory, and with a lot of things in SG, there’s a fine attached if you disobey. And while we may not wish to apologize (‘cos an apology was not demanded of the ministers, or something like that), we did let the FWs down. Because of their living conditions, the virus was able to wreck havoc. The G scrambled to contain the virus, and I think they did so in an efficient and somewhat effective manner. Though I wouldn’t totally attribute the low fatality rate to their competence lah. Credit has to go to all the medical professionals. And also that thankfully, many of the workers who contracted COVID-19 were relatively young and in decent health.
So, we went from ‘gold standard’ to ‘cautionary tale’. Which is sad. And xiasuay.
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Ok, I think that’s it. You’ll probably have more to add, like how voting hours were extended (from 8pm to 10pm), wearing gloves when voting suddenly ceased to be a requirement as long queues were forming, and elderly folks who’d ordinarily stay in the safety of their homes had to make their way to the polling venues (yup, painful to watch). Go write your own list so I can read it.
The way I see it: It’s probably unwise for the G to hold an election again if there is yet another pandemic (cos there are lots of coronaviruses, remember) unless they have more GRCs to lose. And for some members of the opposition, they are far from being “clowns” or “jokers” as some people like to say. Singaporeans have and will likely continue to vote for those they deem credible and competent. So the WP, for instance, has to attract more candidates like Jamus Lim, He Ting Ru, Nicole Seah.
And I think it’s a good thing that National Day is less than a month away. So we can all feel united once again. Otherwise, where do we go from here?