Elections are over in Singapore and as is customarily known, this signals the beginning of something else: a witch-hunt. Not since any election right from the times of the 1970s have opposition politicians in Singapore had it easy. The hard part for them usually happens after the campaigning is over.

In 1976, opposition candidate Samsudin Tung, from a defeated United Peoples Front (UPF), was hauled up for alleged gutter politics, after speaking on issues germane to the state's Chinese population.

In the 1980s, several other opposition politicians had similar run-ins with the state during electioneering, over allegations they deemed inappropriate.

In 1988, when former Solicitor-General Francis Seow switched loyalty and sided with the opposition, he, too, came to understand belatedly the heavy price one needs to pay for taking on an establishment that does not easily brook challenges.