Many people wished me happy birthday yesterday, and many asked me if I hope that having Polling Day and my birthday falling on the same day, that I will be ‘lucky’ to get elected as MP for Sengkang West. To that, I always reply that my ‘luck’ comes from the votes, and whatever happens at the end of the night, I have at least one reason to be happy about.
Birthday this year is an almost non-event to me. Wife bought a cake hoping to celebrate it with me and family on 6 May. However, an urgent matter cropped up that evening, and I had to quickly get my friends living in Sengkang West to help me, just at the making of a phone call. We resolved the matter way past midnight, and by that time the children have already gone to bed.
The next morning, before all the activities of Polling Day started, I thought of taking the cake as breakfast, and got my domestic helper to cut the cake to give to me. When wife woke up, she asked me if I have taken the cake, and who cut it. It was until that point in time that I realised that I did not even cut my own birthday cake!
Nevertheless, the day was filled with people sending me messages/telling me ‘Happy Birthday’, and I was genuinely happy for that, the care and concern of my friends.
Of course we now know the results of the votes in Sengkang West. I did not manage to win the seat from Dr Lam Pin Min, but I have done my best in the limited time I had. Many tell me the percentage I got at 41.92% is a good result, but I also know that there is always room for improvement…. until some day I get beyond the 50% mark. 
I have many people to thank: my wife and children, the whole extended family, my Election Agent Nathaniel Koh who is the most wonderful EA one can have, the Party members that provided the “basis” of the campaign like the rally sites and the maintenance of the Party web-presence, the volunteers that came along with me to knock on the thousands of doors, the 9 assentors that made the nomination possible, the many many volunteers that helped to distribute my profile to 120 blocks in Sengkang West within the first few days, my friends staying in Sengkang West that responded to an urgent matter and came out in the middle of the night to help, polling agents that helped to ensure the voting process was proper, counting agents that helped to look at every vote counted, and fight to make every vote count, and the many many more supporters who either give me a warm smile when I meet them, or come up to me to say encouraging words. To all these people, I thank you.
I stay in Sengkang, and I will still stay in Sengkang. Hope that I can make more friends in the days to come, and in 5 years’ time, if Sengkang West SMC still exists, I want to be able to return and stand in Sengkang West. I am happy for the many friends that I have made over the course of the campaign, and I want to continue to make more friends here.
The next reason to be happy is that Shin Leong not only won Hougang, but increased the margin that Mr Low had in 2006. Shin Leong led the AMK team in 2006, and I think in a way, this contest in AMK sparked my entry into politics. Working with him over the last 5 five years in WP, I have seen the kind of hard work and sacrifices he has made. He deserves this victory in Hougang, and I cheered and hugged him first thing I saw him at Hougang Stadium last night. This is one more reason for my to be happy.
And of course, the most important reason to be happy, is that Workers’ Party finally broke through a GRC! Even as I typed in, I can still feel the emotions in me that I felt last night. Five years ago, when I decided to join the Workers’ Party, I just have in mind to contribute in whatever way I can to help correct the imbalance in Parliament. Standing in front of the stage, looking up at the team making their speech, tears welled in my eyes, as I see the collective efforts of the Party over the last five years bear fruit. This is the outcome I wanted to see five years ago, although it is just the first step to change the situation in Parliament. This is the most important reason for me to be happy about.
Memories of 7 May 2011 will be etched in my memory, and I will never forget this day.