MICA (P) 129/02/2011 Issue No. 2/2011 - MINDS

MAKING MY
VOTE
COUNT
An exclusive feature on Persons with Intellectual
Disability and their voting experience at General
Elections 2011
Text by: Fiona Tng, Training Officer
Photos by: IEDC
The Singapore General Election (GE) was held on 7th May
2011. To the 2.21 million electorate, it was a decision that
required marked consideration and thought process as
Singaporeans decided on the candidates that would ultimately
impact their lives. As long as one was a Singapore citizen past
the age of 21, regardless of race, language or ability, one was
given the right to vote.
This voting privilege was exercised by some clients in IDEA
Employment Development Centre (IEDC). And although this
occurrence is not representative across the board, it was
nonetheless, trailblazing! The process that led up to these
clients’ decision proved that they have a considerable level of
competency in determining what they felt was best for them
and their nation. This is truly commendable.
During an interview for this article, these clients shared a
variety of motivations behind their decision-making and party
of choice. Aspirations on earning better salaries were sound
out. Estate maintenance and upgrading was also addressed.
Particularly if estates and lifts would are cleaned and the
desire to have new lifts installed at their HDB blocks. Other
views included the desire to have increased frequency of bus
and MRT services throughout Singapore. This emerged from
clients’ experiences in travelling to their centres independently,
via the public transportation system.
In the run up to Polling Day (7 May 2011), an IEDC client,
Nuriman and his family attended 4 rallies both by the People’s
Action Party (PAP) and the opposition parties. Mr Kamal,
Nuriman’s father felt it was important for his son to have a
balanced perspective.
They were keen for him to be kept abreast of the latest
developments in current affairs in order for Nuriman to make
an informed decision. When polling closed, the family went
and waited at Bedok stadium (the assembly centre for their
GRC) to obtain first hand information of the election results. Mr
Kamal said that Nuriman and the family stayed till 5.30am.
Another IEDC client, Loh Jiun Long, shared his experience in
voting at GE 2011. In fact, this was Jiun Long’s second time to
vote. In his own words, he said that it was a more challenging
► Nuriman on the right with his pro-active and supportive family
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