Somesay : WP huge rally End of the day people still vote pap.
1. Rally Turnout ≠ Votes? Then Why Does PAP Care?**
If rally crowds don’t matter, why does the PAP:
- **Bus in civil servants and grassroots members** to fill their own rallies? (e.g., Tanjong Pagar GRC’s "empty field" rallies in 2015 were mocked online, prompting PAP to artificially inflate turnout in subsequent elections.)
- Deploy multiple ministers to speak at the same rally, even in "safe" GRCs? (This suggests they fear losing even symbolic dominance.)
- Attack WP’s rally sizes in mainstream media?** (e.g., 2015 and 2020 GE, where state-linked outlets downplayed WP’s crowds while highlighting PAP’s.)
Hypocrisy Alert: The PAP dismisses WP’s crowds as "just spectators," but when their own rallies look sparse, they panic and bus in supporters.
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2. Historical Proof: Rally Momentum = Votes**
- Aljunied 2011:** WP’s **20,000-strong Hougang Stadium rally** was a turning point. Weeks later, they **won Aljunied GRC (54.7%)**—the first GRC loss for PAP in history.
- East Coast 2020:** WP’s **massive virtual rally** (100,000+ online viewers) preceded a **close fight (46.6% WP vs. 53.4% PAP)**—almost an upset.
- **Hougang & Punggol East:** Consistently high WP rally turnout correlates with **60%+ vote shares** in these SMCs.
If rallies don’t matter, why did PAP **lose ground** in every constituency where WP drew huge crowds?
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3. The "Just for Fun" Myth**
PAP supporters claim people attend WP rallies **"for the carnival atmosphere."** But:
- No free food or entertainment** (unlike some PAP events).
- No grassroots orgs mobilizing crowds** (WP relies on organic turnout).
- Risk of being photographed/identified (in Singapore’s climate, attending an opposition rally isn’t "neutral").
Reality Check: If WP rallies were just "fun," why don’t PAP rallies draw similar crowds without bussing people in?
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4. The Bandwagon Effect**
Large rallies create **psychological momentum:
- Media coverage amplifies opposition presence (e.g., WP’s 2020 Serangoon Stadium rally dominated news cycles).
- Social proof: Undecided voters think, *"If so many support them, maybe I should consider."
- Word of mouth: Attendees discuss speeches with family/friends, shifting opinions offline.
Example: In 2015, even though WP **lost Punggol East**, their rally momentum **pushed the PAP below 60%**—a warning sign for the ruling party.
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5. PAP’s Own Actions Prove They Fear Rally Impact
- 2011 GE:After WP’s massive rallies, PAP **suddenly announced "cooling-off day"** (no campaigning before Polling Day) to curb opposition momentum.
- 2020 GE

AP **flooded East Coast GRC with ministers** after WP’s viral rally, fearing a repeat of Aljunied.
Conclusion:If rallies didn’t matter, the PAP wouldn’t **change election ru
les** or **deploy heavyweights** to counter them.