Note: Mr Tan will be at Speakers’ Corner this Saturday, 5pm to 7pm.
Tan Kin Lian / Columnist
I have received many questions on my request to collect 100,000 signatures of support to contest in the next general election or presidential election. I wish to give my answers below.
1. Why is there a need for a petition?
I want to give an opportunity for the people of Singapore to state if they wish to see an active contest for the next general election or presidential election. If a large number of people sign the petition, it will encourage more people (not just me) to come forward to take part in the contest.
In several past elections, there were no contests for many constituencies, as capable candidates were reluctant to come forward to contest under the alternative parties. Most of the candidates from the dominant party were not elected, and won by walkovers.
I hope that this situation can be changed. If there is a contest, the elected leaders will know that they have earned the support of the voters. This will give them a mandate to represent the voters.
2. Why 100,000 signatures? Would 10,000 signatures be sufficient?
100,000 signatures is for greater impact. It may take a longer time and more effort to achieve this high target, but it will be worth the effort. It allows a large number of people to be involved in this exercise. It can be like a referendum.
The person signing the petition is just expressing a wish for me to contest the election. It does not imply that he will vote for me.
3. Do you wish to contest in the general election or the presidential election?
I wish to keep this option open. Based on the first 220 signatories of the online petition, the majority (67%) want me to contest both elections.
4. Why do you ask for the e-mail address and telephone number of the signatory?
I wish to contact them by e-mail to keep them briefed about my future plans. I also hope to ask some of them to step forward and help me in my effort, or to get more people to sign the petition.
5. What changes do you wish to see in the political climate in Singapore?
I like to see the elected leaders understand and reflect the aspirations of their constituents and be their voice in Parliament. They should play an active role in debating and passing laws that are beneficial for the people. The elected leaders should be in touch with the people and should ensure that their concerns are adequately considered, before laws are passed.
I also hope that the economic and social policies will create a more just and equal society. These are two key values in our national pledge.
Many people find life to be too stressful in Singapore. The cost of living is too high and their wages are inadequate. They have to work hard just to survive. We need to implement policies that can give a better life for all the people, and not just for an elite few. I prefer our society to be more egalitarian.
6. Many people think that these changes require a strong political party. Will you be forming a new party? How about joining an existing political party?
If there is strong support, as reflected by a large number of signatures to the petition, and if more people are willing to step forward, then it is possible to set up a new political party.
I will also keep the option open to join an existing political party. I hope that the smaller parties can get together to cooperate with each other and perhaps, one day, to merge into a larger party.
7. Is it better for Singapore to have a multi-party system?
It is more important that the elected leaders should reflect the aspirations and wishes of the constituents. The leaders should be freely elected in a contest.
We should have two or more political parties with different platforms – for example, to be free market or regulated, to be pro-business or pro-people, to achieve higher growth or lower growth (and a better quality of life).
8. What is the deadline to achieve 100,000 signatures? What will you do, if you do not achieve this target within the deadline?
I do not have any definite deadline. I understand that the process of educating the public to be more politically-conscious can take a few years. We must be prepared for the long haul.
We need to educate the people that they have a say in determining the values of our society. They have a vote and their vote counts. They should elect leaders that they can trust to look after their interest.
9. Will you be able to attract sufficient high calibre people to join you?
It is more important that the elected leaders should have the passion to serve the people. They should be honest, fair minded, courageous and have a strong sense of right and wrong. They do not have to be highly educated or of high calibre. In fact, it is better if they are more in tune with the people that they represent.
10. Some people say that you have political ambition all along, and that you used the minibond crisis to promote your agenda. What are your comments?
Actually, it is the other way round.
After a few weeks on the minibond crisis, I was shocked with the approach of the government in handling this matter. They were not interested to listen to the investors who have lost their hard-earned savings and understand their anguish. Instead, they appear to have taken the side of the financial institutions. I find it so unjust to the affected people.
11. What is the key message that you wish to give to the people of Singapore?
Help me get 100,000 signatures.
——
Good Morning #102 Ho Cheow Seng @ 3.46 am
How are you? You have brought up many points, but before we go further. I am sure you understand based on our previous encounters I need to ascertain (how shall I put it politiely mmmmmh) in possession of your faculties perhaps?
Sir, this is what you wrote:
“you (Singaporedaddy) also the one who has ADMITEED to being a self-CONFESSED blogger-supporter of the WP?”
Tell me Ho.C.S.
Could you please copy and paste where I once made such a “confession” online as you so mentioned – for the benefit of the rest of the readers in TOC, of course.
If you could all your problems will melt away like lemon drops; as I promise to go to a monastery in the mountains and never ever show my face in TOC again – surely the proposition is irresistable.
Come, come or worst still, sacré bleu have anyone here accusing you directly of confecting all sorts of unsubstantiated claims and lies which will throw doubt on your character and soundness of mind– you see Ho.C.S I have your good interest at heart, that is why I am trying my best to ensure your sterling reputation and credibility remains intact – that is why I am giving you every opportunity to avail yourself.
However please bear in mind Ho.C.S should you fail for ANY reason to produce this ONE and SINGLE “self confession” which you claimed I once publicly made online, then surely even you must concede why although I wish for nothing more than to consider you credible and worthy of serious engagement– surely even the most reasonable amongst us would have to bow their heads and say as Russians often do when they see curellean skies curling against the azure of the sea; “every river must give way to the sea.”
Go….. fetch and return and I promise to take up the rest of the issues you raised.
Good day sir (I must go for my 50Km cycling now)
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood]
after the Mumbai blast – I feel that PAP will start the FEAR engine, just before the elections.
Wonder how many innocent familes will be destroyed by ISA just before the elections, just so that PAP can be on top.
Wonder if TOC will interview families of ISA detainees to get their viewpoints.
As each of us is entitled to our own free will, it is understandable that some among us are reluctant to help the investors in lehman minibond to recover their damages. But why are there views against those, in particular Tan Kin Liang, helping these investors? It is evident that a considerable number of investors had been misled into such transactions, amid their signing of those realms of fine prints in the contracts stating that they understand the risks, which they didn’t.
if they were to be faulted, it would be on their inclination to trust the words of the banks on the soundness of these structured financial products, via the Relationship managers, with whom they deal. And they can be further faulted for not being sophisticated enough to tape record the conversations with the RMs so as to present the recordng as evidence of misrepresentation.
And according to the government, hence they deserve their outcome because they trusted the banks.
I therefore feel strongly that anyone with any shred of sense of social justice ought to support Tan in his endeavour to help these mis-led investors. Even if one cannot do much to support Tan, one ought not to oppose his effort.
what is the motive behind opposing Tan helping the vicitims? Are we already degenerated into a society where we only want to see the strong get stronger at the expense of the less able ones?
人各有志，有人不支持雷曼苦主我们也不勉强。可是看到人家这么做还去反对，就太没有道理了。
从我的角度，我关注的是一个社会公义的问题。银行不能在坑了无辜的受害者以后，还躲在政治权力和御用律师的后面来逃避责任。
我还是那句话，任何一个有正义感的人都应该支持陈钦亮。就算不能，或者不敢公开支持，也不应该去反对吧?
看到有人为弱者打抱不平还生气和冷餐热讽，这是个什么心态？
#104 “Even if one cannot do much to support Tan, one ought not to oppose his effort.
What is the motive behind opposing Tan helping the vicitims? Are we already degenerated ”
They opposed because this is their mindset 以小人之心渡君子之腹
Where is the online petition? I want to sign up and support Mr Tan wholeheartedly.
He is one of the very few brave men in our society to dare to challenge the mighty PAP. He has all the disadvantages of having to contest on very unfair terms. He is risking all his earthly possessions. Yet he has risen above this very unlevel playing field to bring about true democracy.
For this and many more reasons I salute you Mr Tan. Please let me know how I can sign the petition. My first hope is that you can bring about a reduction of the outrageous salaries which the ministers are paying themselves to more mortal levels.
29/11/08
Hi Tan Kin Lian
I am not wrong when I first wrote that you have have hideen agenda and I just read your Q & A and you are keeping your options open and you are a very shrewd man. I am Andrew Chuah and I have been writing on my real name since 2001and I don’t hide under other fictious names.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
In other countries, i am sure
HEADS would have ROLLED.
i mean for the mini bon bon thingie
Mr Tan, I guess you might have missed this question in another thread. Hence I am posting the questions here.
I am keen to sign the petition but would appreciate your response to three questions:
1) Which PAP constituency were you serving in for the past 30 years? Just marine parade?
2) Did you hold any appointments such as CCC chairman?
3) Were you ever invited to the party’s ‘tea-session’?
Thanks.
“The question which I would like to pose to you on behalf of all my friends and colleagues is what is your position towards online anonymity. The reason why I am asking this question is, I strongly believe this is a very important point that many citizens consider worth protecting i.e their right to privacy.”
Do you for a moment know the implication or absurdity of what you are puking up here? Whilst you take safety under cover of your ‘right to privacy’, you seem blissfully ‘thoughtless’ of others’s claim to the same right. If you insist on being anonymous under the pretext of your ‘right to privacy’, then you have no right to attack publicly someone who openly reveals his identity. Hey man, you are behaving like a ‘bandit’ here, dupe. You shoot at your target(s) under cover of darkness, and, also in the name of Freedom and Rights which many on this site equate with Democracy. In a real Democracy, the real ‘democrats’ will hunting you down. Please, please, you’d better go play marbles or ‘fly a kite’, or ‘climb a tree’. You’d better heed my advice and not get painfully hurt and find yourself in a situation like what they say in Hokkien: “Eh kow tio pung teng”. [The mute who got stung by a bee and is in great pain but unable to tell others what had happened so that they could give him the necessary help].
102) singaporedaddy on November 29th, 2008 7.34 am
Sir, this is what you wrote:
“you (Singaporedaddy) also the one who has ADMITEED to being a self-CONFESSED blogger-supporter of the WP?”
No Sir, I beg to differ. YOU wrote the ‘edited’ excerpt within quotation marks above. AND I WROTE the following. (It’s on this same site):
“Incidentally are you also the one who has admitted to being a self-confessed blogger-supporter of the WP?”
So you left out TWO very critical words. I’d like to believe that you left them out unwittingly or on account of an oversight on your part. If this were not the case, then I’d leave it to the imagination of fair-minded readers of this site to decide on an appropriate term to describe your character.
I firmly believe in Singapore, there are more than 1000 who qualify to serve the people as MPs. Note that qualify to serve need not just mean paper qualification.
We need people like our late Mr Ong.
I am hoping that these 1000 will start to step forward and stand inline with Mr TKL. Can the media cover 1000 ? May catch them off guard!
surprise!
Its onces every 5 years or so. How long more should we wait?
My thinking:
It’s normal for human being to have hideen agenda.
Change, asian do not like this word. This word come to their mind only fire burn their ass.
TK
Good afternoon Ho Cheow Seng @ # 113 @ 2.46 pm
Tsk, tsk, tsk…..temper, temper. You seem like you could do with a Kit Kat. You need a break.
Are you ready now Ho.C.S?
Once again please this time from the very top. Allow me to reiterate the question that I posed to you in # 102 which arose from your statement in #103.
“CAN YOU PLEASE SHOW US ALL THE POST, THREAD OR COMMENT WHERE I (SINGAPOREDADDY) ‘ADMITTED’ TO BEING A SELF CONFESSED BLOGGER SUPPORTER OF THE WP?”
I wrote in plain and simple English; any simpler and we would all be using ESP – Ho.C.S can you or can you not produce what you claimed, I once wrote so prosaically and even commented extensively on #102?
It’s very simple. You can ask anyone here in TOC, it cant get any simpler than dat; it’s a bit like getting pregnant; either you are positive or negative; there is no middle ground, no grey area, no contention of debate – so again will you kindly Ho.C.S produce it all for us to see how I once “admitted” to be being a self confessed supporter of WP?
Come, come…Ho.C.S…you keep making wild accusations, that I snipe at you etc etc etc. BUT when I give you one opportunity for you to avail yourself as a man who doesnt misrepresent the truth, why dont you just show us all how we should all rightfully blog?…take a few deep breathes….take a stress pill….no need to get flustered; no need to call me names; I understand; really I do; only perhaps you should know the first rule of war; you have to keep your cool; its no good if you running around like a headless chicken…do you understand….surely you don’t expect me to ask you for the third time now….do you?
Like I said, its a very simple question and really I dont see what is so complicated about it.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
My reply is in 116 Ho.C.S…, it will come out once it works its way through the spam filter / just you wait and see / be cool, you need to take a stress pill man.
“100,000 signatures so more people will step forward” – stepping forward is a bit like Guillaume Apollinaire stanza, where it begins roughly with the words
“Come to the edge, ” he said.
They said: “We are afraid.”
“Come to the edge,” he said.
They came. He pushed them and they flew.
It’s good and noble and should be encouraged.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
P.S Dear readers my profuse apologise for messing up this thread. I want you to know, that’s never my intention, but I was attacked and I feel that I have a right to set the record straight – once again, I am so sorry
My fellow netizens,
I don’t know abt you; but the whole idea of “change” is so big. Even I find it difficult to wrap my head around it.
How do you eat an elephant? Cut it into tiny pieces and munch on it throughout the year. That’s much better than trying to gobble it down in one go – but to do that you need to give yourself TIME.
Take this whole idea of “change” for instance that Mr Tan is driving – will it produce good? I have absolutely no idea. To be honest with you, I need TIME to work it through and I am not going to mince my words here; that’s just the way the world stacks up; and if it’s slow then its slow, but I will not be rushed, besides there is whole lot of living that needs to compete with this whole idea of “change” and life doesnt revolve around the internet, that maybe just 2% of my life– I need to figure out for instance what I am going to do with my life once I get retrenched this Xmas; what kind of disguise I am going to use to try to siam the local Ah Long; where to hide my wheels with the repoman.
You see I have a simple Forest Gump strategy when it comes to signing ANY thing; I never sign anything that I am NOT comfortable with – As I said, I need TIME, more the better. The way I see it no one can pressure me; if they say; if I don’t sign by this date then I am not going to get that bunny mug; then so be it; I’ve do without; that’s way I figure it; it takesTIME to understand things for what they really are; one needs to start from the edges work your way to the center; then stand back and take the whole sweep of the picture; if it feels good then go for it; if not put it all in a box and slide it underneath the bed; and when you’re ready go back to it all again.
But to do ALL that you need to give yourself time; and like I said, I don’t see the rush; Otherwise its no good – it just doesn’t come around – and you wouldn’t even know the first thing about what you’re buying into; or even what’s to be changed? What will it replace? Who will drive it? What will it produce?
That takes time my friends, but remember, the truth may not even come out in one sitting; that doesn’t mean you’re dumb; it just means you’re working through the whole idea of change in your head.
So take your TIME.
My fellow netizens may I wish you all good memories for this exciting new time in your life – we are certainly living in interesting times.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
PS: Once again I so sorry abt this Ho.C.S thing; no buts no conditions and I just hope I didnt muck up your surfing experience.
116) singaporedaddy on Your comment is awaiting moderation
Good afternoo @ # 113 @ 2.46 pm
Tsk, tsk, tsk…..temper, temper. You seem like you could do with a Kit Kat. You need a break.
Are you ready now Ho.C.S?
Once again please this time from the very top. Allow me to reiterate the question that I posed to you in # 102 which arose from your statement in #103.
Can you pls show us ALL the post where I singaporedaddy “admitted” as you said to being a self confessed blogger supporter of the WP?
I wrote in plain and simple English; any simpler and we would all be using ESP – Ho.C.S can you or can you not produce what you claimed, I once wrote so prosaically and even commented extensively on #102?
It’s very simple. You can ask anyone here in TOC, it cant get any simpler than dat; it’s a bit like getting pregnant; either you are positive or negative; there is no middle ground, no grey area, no contention of debate – so again will you kindly Ho.C.S produce it all for us to see how I once “admitted” to be being a self confessed supporter of WP?
Come, come…Ho.C.S…you keep making wild accusations, that I snipe at you etc etc etc. BUT when I give you one opportunity for you to avail yourself as a man who doesnt misrepresent the truth, why dont you just show us all how we should all rightfully blog?…take a few deep breathes….take a stress pill….no need to get flustered; no need to call me names; I understand; really I do; only perhaps you should know the first rule of war; you have to keep your cool; its no good if you running around like a headless chicken…do you understand….surely you don’t expect me to ask you for the third time now….do you?
Like I said, its a very simple question and really I dont see what is so complicated about it.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
Auto resend by blackberry 888930032-AB acc 98723649 Failed send 48
29./11/08
Hi SingaporeDaddy *117-We don’t change things ie first dismantling and then putting up new things in Singapore (I doubt in USA the in coming Presdient Obama will be able to dismantle everything Presdient Bush has installed and replace them with those promises he made during his election campaign-now he has realises this “tak boleh” and “that tak boleh”).
In Singapore, we must only fine tune those PAP policies and institutions which have gone astrayed and once these have been fiine tuned, we can see that Singapore can be a better place for all of us. I doubt Tan Kin Lian is able to carry out his changes should he wins the Elected President election (this position is merely a ceremonial position). Tan was with NTUC Income till he retired and was with the PAP CC and I doubt he is able to completely erased all these years of influences (when I first posted my article on him heling those 10,000 bond holoders,mainly Uncles and Aunties and I replied that this was defamatory-PAP style, I was just giving my two cents worth and my own fare share of expeirences in dealing with those Singapore banks.Look at Anwar Ibrahim,he was unable to bring ‘Reformasi” to Malaysia and in PKR’s Congress today, he faied to offer any explanation and stayed mum over Sept16 plan to topple the BN government in Malaysia.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
29/11/08
Hi SingaporDaddy-Correction to my posting *119-should be he replied that this was defamatory.
Regards
Andrew Chuah
“Andrew Chuah on November 29th, 2008 7.38 pm
In Singapore, we must only fine tune those PAP policies and institutions which have gone astrayed.”
Which group of people are you referring to when you mentioned “we”. Maybe let me rephrase the question, which group of people should be leading the fine tuning process.
Dear Mr Tan
I have been following the “MiniBond” saga for the past few weeks. The response by MAS to your petition is “ridiculous”.
They are not taking your letter and effort “seriously”
If the relevant authorities have been helpful in the first place, the public would not have needed to seek your advice and assistance for so many weeks.
It is very brave and admirable for you to stand up for the poor victims who would have been helpless and clueless on what they should do.
I am very sure your active involvement in this matter has forced the auhorities to become more sympathatic towards the “innocent victims” who have beed misled into placing their life savings in prducts which are not 100% safe.
Also through this saga, you can see for yourself how “unhuman” or “robotic” the current government has become ! Perhaps too complacent to the extend that a petition written by ex CEO of NTUC income together with 2300 signatures can just be so easily brushed aside. My gut feel is that if the same petition has been written by Dr Lee Wei Ling, sister of the PM, the response would be different.
Somehow for whatever reason, the current government seem to have regarded you as an outsider and just no different from any ordinary citizen. This is not right taking into consideration your experience in the finance/insurance industry and how you have successfully transformed a 18 million company into a 28 billion one !!!
Perhaps you would consider running for President when the next election comes along. Singapore needs a variety of talents and voices from different sectors. A monopolised system as in the current case is definitely far from healthy for Singapore in the long run.
I would also like to take this oportunity to thank you for taking the time and effort to render assistance to the “clueless victims” If not for you, I really don’t know who would step forward to speak on behalf of the silent masses !!!
Cheers
Gary
119) singaporedaddy on November 29th, 2008 7.36 pm
Did you miss reading #Comment 113? I thought you wrote very well, based on the few ‘commentaries’ posted by you on this site, and so should have no problem understanding the simple English I’ve employed on this occasion.
Take note that whilst you talk in terms of ‘brotherhood’, my generation talk in terms of “huay Kuan”, “kong huay”, “tiong p!hai, tor p!hai, cheah p!hai”, and ” chor li lai!!”. I hope you know where I’m coming from.
As the Bard has said, a man is what his character has made of him. And “Tragedy in Shakespeare is character issuing in action” according to the great Shakespearean critic A.C, Bradley.
So attributes like arrogance, brow-beating, peddling snake-oil, ill-will, cynicism, being a show-off and ‘over-vaulting’ confidence are the kinds of flaw in an individual that are deemed ‘fatal’ and which ineluctably lead to an individual’s self-destruction. This is Bradley’s interpretation of the Bard’s great tragic plays. And to me Bradley’s interpretation is very discerning as it seems to be borne out by Life’s experiences.
So let’s be humble enough to accord one another the basic courtesy expected of a decent human being instead of taking the moral high ground only to brow-beat and denigrate others. I will not say too much for the time being. I will reciprocate accordingly. I follow a very simple precept: a gentleman should be treated as such while ‘a bully’ or ‘a sham’ must be exposed for what he is. So Good-day to you, singaporedaddy.
ho c s,
alright, “So let’s be humble enough to accord one another the basic courtesy expected of a decent human being.” We will speak no more abt it. I am here to broaden my brain, not to prove a point, so let leave it at that – this is good – we can build on this.
To Andrew,
Hows it hanging? I’ve read some of your comments and you’re one of those who usually writes very insightful stuff. Well spotted agreed with what you said abt obama. As for Mr Tan, I am reserving comment, as I said, lets give him time.
This question has always trouble me, “In Singapore, we must only fine tune those PAP policies and institutions which have gone astrayed.”
Bc if you really think hard about it, the whole idea of “change” is given, it’s really a non issue.
So the real question MUST turns on only WHAT will be catalyst that will drive and sustain change; and here you really need to understand that every oligarchy and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a 100+ yr firm like Lehman or an exotic species of birds living in some remote island in the Pacific has a built in mechanism of self destruction; if its not constantly under threat, regularly challenged or if there are even safety nets everything just corrodes and decays; that’s why Malaysia is so screwy; they boast to the world that they can produce automobiles, but what they don’t tell you is; they’re still passing off 30 year designs as the new in thing; result: it’s no good – it doesn’t go around. Proton sells only in Malaysia (period) – it cannot compete like Toyota or BMW globally – and why bc for so many years the playing field was weighted in their favor; levies were imposed on imported cars, they relied on political patronage etc. So with time is it such a wonder they became so riven with inefficiencies and backwardness that they’re not even in the league table.
You see Andrew, after a prolonged period of zero competition; EVERY oligarchy will begin to fossilized that’s really the detonator that sets the mechanism of self destruction ticking and they may even begin ritualizing how they see the world and react to it and in no time they’re in a dead end; that’s why a bunch of jungle book kids with AK-47’s could kill so many people in the Oberai hotel in Mumbai; I mean if those dummies pulled exactly the same stunt in lets say King David hotel in Jerusalem; I guarantee you in 20 sec flat all of them will be hanging on the wall in the grande lobby like those shrunken heads exhibits in the P-65 blog. Because even a chamber maid could probably snuff them out with tissue paper or a tampon; she’s probably an ex Charlie Angel Mossad trained assassin – and why that? Because peace is never ever taken for granted in the state of Israel – the Jews are always in a competitive race for survival. Result: skill-at-arms improves; it’s constantly replenished and nourished to meet the new security challenges.
My feel is this is the ONLY way to drive change that consistently produces good for the country and people Andrew – is by stressing the system and if possible forcing it to operate in a discomfort zone – and that simply means buying into the whole idea of healthy competition.
The power of one is no good – it just doesn’t come around.
That’s why whenever, I see in board of directors meetings people cliquing together to form mutual appreciation clubs; and giving themselves creamy bonuses or trying to convince others they’re the masters of the universe or some anointed dream team; that really scares the living day lights out of me; bc usually 9 out 10 that’s the surest indication; the end is very near; the next act is going to be the curtain call – it’s time to smile and serious think about an escape plan – In summary, the power of one can never be a reliable producer of good – its no good.
SD
I had approached a few people on this 100,000 signatures for their opinions and supports. They wanted to know the circumstances why TKL leaves NTUC Income as he had nursed this Company for 30 yrs. This is sad and the feelings are same for anyone working in a Company for so long. If TKL aspired to take up public office, I am sure many people want him to tell the true reasons on why he left the NTUC insurance Company. As a feedback, they wanted to know what made him so hardened to crawl explanations, extract arguments and challenges with the new NTUC Management as some of these people are also his former colleagues groomed by him. I can only say that I did not know beyond what was published in ST and in his blog. He may be doing a public service by pointing out the shortcomings and unfairness. This is called integrity and, a strong fighting spirit to seek the truth.
I dont want to speculate too much abt TKL. He may or may not be the ideal candidate for EP or MP, but from what I can see he may still be an unknown quantity to many here in blogoland.
It takes time for a relationship to build up. ppl have to get to know him and he too is on a learning curve as well, from what I am able to make out.
Give him time and I am sure at the end of it, it will serve the interest of all concerned.
The important thing is it has started. Many MP’s have not even begun yet. They are very far off the curve.
Gosh Oscar Choy
You have started to dig on TKL’ s past even before the PAP does so. The PAP must be very grateful to you for beating them to it in doing their job.
Why must you insist on knowing the past of any would-be opposition candidate, when you don’t even know the present of our PAP masters. For example, do you know what is the asset of any of our present leaders? How many houses and cars does each of them own? Where do the ministers keep all their astronomical salaries?
Well, I don’t know anything about TKL’s past, and I don’t expect it to be perfect. However, regardless of his past, I am grateful that TKL is brave enough to come forward to bring about a more equal and just society. Regardless of his past I only hope that he will do good for society in his future. Regardless of his past I pray that he will stand up to help the poor and needy. Regardless of his past he needs and deserve our strongest support because he is going to fight a most unlevel playing field against all obstacles and with virtually no resources compared with the mighty PAP. For this reason I am willing to contribute whatever I can afford to help him. I hope you too will do the same.
less of his past, TKL is now I don’t
Just one more question, if you dont mind, recently Dr Tan Wu Meng said one party is the way to go, or something to that effect.
He ended it with the words,
“To those who call for more diversity, I invite you to come talk with us, to join us in our community work and to see what we do. We may surprise your scepticism, even as we find common cause in our aspirations for a better Singapore.
Dr Tan Wu Meng
Organising Secretary
Young PAP”
just asking, why not work with them singaporedadi? Makes sense to me, no? I mean from what I see TKL hopes to do the same. Isnt that a better way to make progress than to talk from the outside?
I mean even if you are the smartest person in the world and you are just talking to yourself in the basement, what use is it.
thx,
How are you labrat?
How’s the teeth business? Allow me to speak candidly. A few weeks ago, I and a few of my cycling buddies; decided to pop into the PAP shop and take an application form; we were curious; but after we read what Tan WM wrote; we made a few paper aeroplanes and that was that.
So u can draw what you want.
As for Tan KL, this is what I will say; at his age, he has shown a remarkable capacity to effect personal change; he is a retiree, but despite this he has taken to the internet like a fish to water; this again is exceptional. As even Tan WM cannot do 1% of what Tan KL has demonstrated he can do. He has also demonstrated plenty of resolve and leadership by projecting into the real world as we have all seen in HLP – but let us not mythologize him, he is not the Dalai Lama, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela allrolled up into one, he is Tan KL and as I said, he should give himself and others time to get to know him better.
I see a very bright future, if he plays his cards right.
But here we should also be sportsman; because if we say there is no level playing out there and the rules are rigged for the house to win all the time; then where is the wisdom if we recreate that same setting online? Do you see my point?
So we should not snipe at Tan KL or just keep on 鸡蛋里挑骨头 – that to me is not sportsmanship and we will never support it. If we see it, we our response will be swift, terse and sharp, that is all I can say as the Liaison rep.
Give the man a fair run; if you genuinely want to find out more about him or his call for change; then ask him; you can be robust and even earnest, but why find fault with him? Do so in the spirit of sportsmanship and with a clean heart; then it could be said; you are part of a community who once built a better machine of doing things online and that will always fair well to attract more smart and capable people.
SD
anybody knows where to sign the petition the url is so hard to find, maybe that’s why so few people are signing up.
Hi justkaypoh,
The petition can be found at the following link:
http://www.petitiononline.com/TKLFPO1/petition.html
Please encourage your family, friends and colleagues to sign up as well too if they with to support Mr Tan!
I suggest that another way to get that 100,000 signatures is to be ambivalent. To appeal to the masses, it may be best to promise to give away 20% to 35% of the Office of the President pay every month to be shared amongst all registered charities in Singapore. This way many people will not say that someone aspires to that Office for the moneys, mind you $3M+ a year is no small quarter. The President is to serve and look after the interests of all Singaporeans especially the weak and the disadvantaged besides the usual duties. To cast an example and display a good heart and be more down to earth, the next President we look for must set some precedence which makes difference to the lives of the people he protects and loves. What other altruisms we are looking for the next President should have? Let us give all the TOC “bongo” and “wanaba” people have a piece for consideration.
I’m writing this because I read in the ST today that only 600 signatures so far (before yesterday) had been collected in the 3 weeks the petition had been put up. It is indeed a very slow take-up rate and is expected to slow down even more as general interest about the issue wanes and fatique sets in.
Even if the rate is constant, a simple calculation will tell us that it will take no less than 9.6 years to reach 100,000 signatures!
From being someone who had earlier questioned his credentials to be in politics, I have now changed my mind and have promised him to be more positive towards his future plans.
It’s not that I have suddenly learnt a lot about him in the space of 5 days, but it now appears that his intention to contest in elections is a serious one. Perhaps, he has some self-doubts, and he needs some proof that there are indeed large numbers of people who wish to see his political participation.
I still think having this 100,000 signature petition is a bad idea for several reasons, not the least of which is that it is not going to be a successful petition. Nonetheless, I would like to reassure him that if the petition is only to find out how many people want him to run (not how many people will support him or vote for him), then it is a no-brainer to assume that at least 66.66% would want him to run. It would not surprise us if even the PAP leadership says tomorrow that they welcome him to join the fray.
So, I hope Mr Tan Kin Lian will not waste too much time on this petition, but put more time and energy into the necessary preparatory work for his polititcal debut.
I had every intention to sign, but when I went to the website at
http://www.petitiononline.com/TKLFPO1/petition.html
the way it is framed makes it very uninviting. It is merely a one-liner asking people to sign up without any reason or introduction of TKL. Someone who has not been following TKL’s recent effort would be wondering who is this unknown man seeking office.
In fact the info that I am required to give of myself is even longer than the petition statement itself. On a score of 1-10 for the petition writer I think I would give no more than 1.5.
I was asked to click on view signatures, but nothing of the sort appears and the only info that I see is the number of people who has signed up, currently standing at 614. Such a number can easily be faked if we don’t even know who signed up, including your ownself.
Once I sign up I would not even be able to see my own signature or what information I have written in or when I did the signing it.
You should compare this petition with the petition put forward against ex-NKF chief TT Durai. There was so much more comforting info and people feel good to join the thousands who signed up.
I really wish that the petition writer can put in more effort to tell us more about the
reasons and the signatories.
Mr Tan K L has already done much good in helping the misguided minibond investors, and surely he deserves some kind of introduction in the petition itself.
Further to my last comment, I should also add that the petition writer should at least put up some effort to publicise the petition website. Out of 50 people I have asked about the petition only 2 persons could direct me to its website. Most people don’t even know that it existed.
So, if we don’t get many signatories the failure is due to the inadequate interest of the petition writer, and not at all due to the general lack of support of Mr TKL.
I belong to the old school of thought that if you want to do something at all you must put up the best effort to do it well. Otherwise don’t even start it at all, so that other more capable people can take over and do a better job.
My friends, lend me your ears, if you will………
It is not the clamor the 600, but the silence the 99,600 who choose as their voice that is truly deafening; in brotherhood parlance we call this the “arh-fu” – no one knows exactly where this word originates from; some say our troops in the Northern territories developed this word during the Ascension wars when they once fought a prolonged and debilitating war against the Aryanians very much in the way American GI’s once coined new words such as fubar and snafu to capture the pathos and askance of their times. I once served as pro-consul in those territories, so I should know………I understand my friends.
Be patient my little friends – the day will come. Trust me. It will come.
Do not be surprised, if the cup is filled to the broth within the span of time it takes for one to blink, my money is still very much with Mr Tan KL, you see, I have seen many things and one of them is this.
“To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour.”
I wish you all well.
SD (Internet Liaison officer of the brotherhood)
I would like to ask Mr Tan if you would do something for the education system in Singapore if you should go into politics.
The shocking news of the death of ACS boy over the change of CCA; the horrors of reading about top PSLE students and their study habits, plus the many disgruntled parents whose children keep hearing – you are not good enough – either academically or for the CCA they wish to take part in – these are only some reasons for asking for a serious change in our pursuit of grades at the expense of character development and education for interests and education’s sake.
This government is bent on stressing our kids and putting in a system of telling them they are no good until they are miserable and school becomes a series of tests and exams, only to be told again at the end of all that meaningless testing that they are no good, not good enough. This is not the way to go at all. I worked in an international school system for many years and seen students love school, love learning, love their sports. And they really know how to play, improvise and have fun. Their education makes them better people, engaged in society and warm individuals.
Will you do something to change the horrible education system here? If you say you will, you have my signature, and if you get into politics, my vote.
Andrew I was very specific. As I mentioned it was comment 82 and 119. I personally dont know how Singaporedaddy feels abt it, but its just my opinion that its very strange dont you think so Andrew that the same thing should have happened as well when he was having a heated debate with Ho cheow seng.
Dont you think that is coincidental? What is the chances of lightning striking the same spot?
I was really thinking of writing for toc, but after this. I want to watch and see what happens a bit longer if you dont mind.
If it can happen to such a public figure like a diplomatic representative of the brotherhood, then who is safe Andrew?
Another thing. i really believe toc should put an end to singaporedaddy’s poetry. It is driving me crazy, as I can to make head and tail out of it.
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