Apart from racial issues, Mr Singh raised questions about gerrymandering – the manipulation of the boundaries of an electoral constituency in order to favour one party or class.
He told the House that he did not hear defences from the NMPs or PAP MPs on the argument that the GRC system was “ridden on for gerrymandering purposes”.
Citing examples of Fengshan and Joo Chiat, which were formerly SMCs before being absorbed into East Coast and Marine Parade GRCs respectively, Mr Singh said that gerrymandering was “not an imaginary issue” but one that has “happened repeatedly”.
“That’s a hallmark of the way the PAP has employed the GRC system.
“And that leads to cynicism and the argument which I believe some would make every now and then about the problems of the GRC system – notwithstanding the very well-meaning and principled argument about the importance of the multiracial system,” he added.
Mr Singh then asked Mr Chan for his take on how the GRC system had been employed in the past.
In response, Mr Chan said he was glad that Mr Singh agreed with the PAP’s objectives to have multiracial representation in parliament and avoid racial politics.
He said that Singapore has constantly tried to evolve different systems to meet its needs according to the times, and it must continue to do so.
“But today, the vote on this motion hinges on this: To abolish the GRC; do we abolish it because we don’t agree with the philosophy, or do we abolish the GRC because we agree with the fundamentals but there are some things in the execution that you think we can evolve?” Mr Chan asked the House.
Senior Minister Teo Chee Hean then rose to speak on the issue of gerrymandering.
“These are not new accusations that they exist, whether we have GRCs or no SMCs,” he said.
“I just wanted to ask Mr Pritam Singh whether he knows where the term gerrymandering comes from and how far back it goes, and whether or not they have GRCs in those places.”
Mr Singh replied that while he did not know the precise origins of the term, “you know it when you see it”.
Raising the examples of Fengshan and Joo Chiat once more, Mr Singh added that gerrymandering could exist in SMCs too but that Singapore is dealing with a GRC system.
“Every constituency which is a tight fight between the PAP and WP, what happens? It’s gone.
“Until we can have some assurance from the PAP, will you stop using the GRC for this purpose?” Mr Singh asked.
Mr Teo responded that the accusations of gerrymandering “happen in every country where the electoral boundaries are being drawn or redrawn”.
“Gerrymandering goes back 200 years or more in the United States of America – what we consider the paragon of democracy today, and those accusations are still being made today.”
Mr Teo added that the issue was not whether a constituency is a GRC or SMC. In fact, GRCs where the boundaries were not redrawn have been won by opposition parties, he said.
“I don’t understand why the EBRC (Electoral Boundaries Review Committee) has not changed them, but perhaps you can make a request for all of them to become SMCs. That may be an interesting idea,” Mr Teo added.
Countering Mr Teo, Mr Singh said it would be helpful if the EBRC produced “a more detailed report when boundaries are redrawn”.
He noted that past reports contained up to 50 pages explaining why boundaries were redrawn, while the latest one was “in single digits”.
“You are going to continue to have cynicism about the GRC system and it’s not going to stop,” he added.
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