00:00The People's Action Party has been forced to reflect on its political durability after
00:05Barca Nacional's shock defeat in Malaysia's 2018 general election, Singapore's Foreign
00:10Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said.
00:12At a recent roundtable with Malaysian journalists, he said the PAP, which has governed Singapore
00:17since 1959, once took comfort in UMNO and BN's long dominance, but after the upheaval
00:23of 2018, the PAP now feels like it is the last man standing.
00:27BN had historically dominated Malaysian politics for nearly 61 years, but Paketan Harapan
00:33swept to power after the 2018 general elections with 121 parliamentary seats, while BN's
00:39share plunged sharply.
00:41Balakrishnan warned that each succeeding election will become more difficult for the PAP, even
00:46though it has never lost in an election since 1959.
00:50He outlined three existential dangers for long-ruling parties, corruption, incompetence, and losing
00:55touch with reality.
00:57Balakrishnan said the PAP must maintain its obsession with accountability by fighting
01:02corruption ruthlessly, insisting on high standards of competence, and staying close to voters.
01:08He added that Singaporeans look for honesty and integrity in their leaders, and without
01:12that trust, leaders lose credibility.
01:14Danai Shuntada Reza, FMT.
01:18We'll be back.
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