One Election, Many Stories: Lessons in Data Storytelling from GE2025
- Derrick Yuen, MBA
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Singapore’s 2025 General Election may be over, but the conversation around what the results mean is just beginning. While all analysts referred to the same data, they walked away with very different interpretations. And that’s not a flaw of data—it’s a feature of data storytelling.
Take, for example, The Straits Times, which called it a “resounding endorsement” for the ruling party. In its post-election analysis, it noted:
“Singaporeans opted for stability and experience, delivering a strong endorsement for the PAP under Lawrence Wong’s leadership.”
On the other hand, Channel NewsAsia offered a more tempered view. In a commentary reflecting on the broader implications:
“This was not a wave election. It reflected Singaporeans’ preference for a familiar team amidst global instability, rather than a dramatic shift in direction.”
Same dataset. Different storylines. That, right there, is the power—and risk—of data storytelling.
Lesson 1: If You Don’t Control the Message, the Audience Will
Each chart, table, and dashboard contains multiple valid insights. But unless you guide the viewer to the right takeaways, your audience may draw their own—and possibly unintended—conclusions. That’s what happened in GE2025.
At FYT Consulting, we explored the election results using this Tableau dashboard:
From that same data, credible newsrooms painted two different pictures—one of confident victory, the other of cautious stability. And that’s not surprising. When it comes to data, what you choose to highlight is what shapes the story.
Lesson 2: Storytelling Offers Flexibility—but Must Be Anchored in Data
Data storytelling allows interpretation. But that interpretation must remain tethered to the facts. The good news? Anyone can interrogate the numbers themselves—especially when tools like Tableau are made publicly accessible.
Here’s FYT’s interpretation based on the data:
Economic uncertainty likely pushed voters toward continuity.
In newly redrawn GRCs and SMCs, where opposition parties had no track record, the PAP performed strongly.
In some constituencies, up to four parties contested, but several failed to cross even the 1% threshold—some earning less than 0.5%. The data suggests these were weak efforts with little ground game.
Where opposition parties had previously built presence, their results were more respectable. But many still lost 5–10% vote share compared to GE2020.
The Workers' Party (WP) made notable progress—gaining share in Sengkang, holding steady in Aljunied, and performing competitively in Punggol and Tampines.
Among the new SMCs, trends were harder to pin down. However, independent candidates performed well where they had a clear reason for contesting. In contrast, many party candidates lacked message clarity and voter connection.
Lesson 3: People Matter More Than Parties
One clear signal from the data: individual candidates matter.
Where candidates had a personal message, visible commitment, and local rapport, voters responded positively. This was true for WP incumbents and several independent candidates alike. Meanwhile, many party-affiliated candidates struggled—likely due to unclear messaging or weak ground presence.
This suggests that in an era of widespread political participation, credibility and communication count for more than just party brand.
What This Means for Data-Driven Thinking
The election results tell us as much about data storytelling as they do about politics.
If you don’t guide the message, someone else will.
There’s room for interpretation—but not distortion.
And most importantly, with accessible tools and transparent data, anyone can become an informed reader—not just a passive consumer.
At FYT Consulting, this is our philosophy. Real data capability isn’t just about dashboards and software. It’s about helping people shape messages honestly, ask better questions, and connect analysis to action.
Final Word: The Election Is Over—Let’s Move Forward
Whether you saw GE2025 as a landslide, a consolidation, or a reaffirmation of Singapore’s political maturity—one thing is clear: it’s done and dusted.
What matters now is how we move forward—as professionals, as data thinkers, and as a country.
And perhaps with greater clarity in our stories—and greater courage to draw our own conclusions from the data.
