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| Yam Ah Mee |
Hoping for some earlier sign, the media had been on the tail of Foreign Minister George Yeo, the People's Action Party's helmsman in the division, when he arrived at the Damai Secondary counting centre at about 8.15pm. He spent more than an hour there and then at Montfort Junior School - and as he thereafter headed for Bedok Stadium just before 11pm, he wore a heavy expression.
Word filtered down that the PAP team would not be asking for a recount. As Mr Yeo and his PAP Aljunied team gathered in the tent behind the stage at the stadium, the atmosphere was decidedly sombre, as if they were prepared for the worst.
Over at Hougang Stadium, the mood could not have been more different.
The Workers' Party supporters came ready to claim victory, many waving flags and blue umbrellas emblazoned with the party's trademark hammer, filling up the stadium stands and part of the field.
Just after 11pm, party helpers huddled in groups behind the stage, trying to contact their teams at the counting centres for updates. Observing the buzz, many supporters frantically checked their mobile phones, trying to confirm the odd piece of news leaking out.
Unofficial confirmation came first from the PAP camp. Candidate Mrs Cynthia Phua and an aide to Mr Yeo told reporters the fight was lost. The team sat silently huddled around a table with their families and activists, heads bowed and checking their mobile phones or making calls.
Periodically, colleagues, friends or supporters came over to shake their hands, put their arms around them or offer comforting pats on their backs. Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong and Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean also spent considerable time speaking with them, and separately with Mr Yeo, who looked stoic if tired during the three-hour wait for the official results.
POKER FACES
At about 1.10am, WP secretary-general Low Thia Khiang arrived at Hougang Stadium with party chairman Sylvia Lim, Mr Chen Show Mao, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap and Mr Pritam Singh, and were instantly surrounded by a media scrum.
As the crowd cheered "Workers' Party! Workers' Party!", the five candidates, however, put on their poker faces and did not give any hint as they headed for the tent where the WP's other candidates were waiting.
Their show of inscrutability, however, failed an hour later when an excited Dr John Yam - making his thank-you speech to the crowd after it was announced that his team had lost in Nee Soon GRC - blurted out that "today is the beginning, a new begining that we have won Aljunied!"
And three minutes later, returning officer Yam Ah Mee laid to rest all doubts. As he announced the WP's 54.71 per cent victory, the crowd roared, confetti was popped, and a trumpet blared.
Mr Low and his team got up on the stage and Ms Lim, fighting back tears, broke into a smile.
First to speak, notably - there had been questions earlier about whether the WP could win over the significant Malay vote - was Mr Muhamad Faisal, who vowed to do his best to represent Malay constituents and their issues.
Taking the microphone next, Mr Low thanked Aljunied residents and WP supporters. "Your courage has made a real breakthrough for future generations. We know this has not been an easy decision for each and everyone of you but you have cast aside doubts and fears and taken a real leap of faith," he said, beaming fiercely.
The crowd responded with chants, tears of joy from both men and women, and one resident shouted in Mandarin: "I have waited for you and you have finally arrived!"
Simultaneously, over at the Bedok Stadium, Mr Yeo and his team addressed their emotional supporters and Aljunied residents, thanking them for everything.
With a smile and a heartfelt demeanour, Mr Yeo said: "It was a great campaign, we fought hard, we have no regrets. And we respect the decision of the people of Aljunied.
"It was our great honour to have worked with you and the bonds of friendship will be lifelong. A new chapter has opened in Singapore's history. There's a tide which we were not able to overcome - but that's life."
As cheers of "we love you" and "we want George" rang out among supporters, Mr Yeo added that he hoped Mr Low and his colleagues would "look after the people of Aljunied well and we wish them every success".
Sounding hoarse, team-mate Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed said he had been humbled and inspired in his time serving Aljunied constituents. "If there's anything that I've said or done which may have hurt anyone or where I've not been able to help, I truly apologise. I really wish we could do more for everyone," he said.
He added that even as the results would mean a "new path" for Aljunied, Singapore would be stronger "if we stand together".
It was only when the team walked off the stage to thank their supporters one by one that their emotions overflowed - a red-eyed Mr Yeo maintained a strong smile and tears streaked down Mrs Lim Hwee Hua's face, as supporters hugged them tightly and some cried.
