If you wish to help to collect 100,000 signatures in support of Mr Tan Kin Lian running in the elections, please print out this form and help get 20 signatures. You can of course print out more and approach more people to sign. Please scan the completed form (with 20 signatures) and send to the e-mail address : epsingapore1@gmail.com .
Sign the online petition here:
Support Tan Kin Lian
Here are four emails which were sent to Mr Tan regarding his running for elections:
Dear Mr. Tan,
like you, I find it ridiculous that retired laymen who trusted in our local institution that likened to our National Savings Bank being enticed with greed for higher interests in Lehman Brother’s scheme of things – all because Lehman Brothers is a much older institution of more than 150 years old.
Remember the 200-year old financial institution, Baring ING in Singapore ? The fall guy was Nick Leeson, an “O” level foreigner.
With the sub-prime, this time round, the fallen ones are the big guys also ! It’s an organised crime at the highest level with massive fraud globally starting from USA. Remember, DBS, OUB etc had to divest their interest in property development and insurance businesses which should not have been in the States and Canada ?
FC
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Dear Mr. Tan,
I used to believe in the PAP system. But not today. Reason is simple. I find it difficult to connect with the Govt pursuit of accumulating money (through various forms of taxes, tariff) at the expense of folks welfare and investing those money overseas as oppose to using it to lighten the burden of its citizens in such area as health care (and its insurance rather than us, retirees paying with medisave), social help, lower utilities etc.,
Left over budget from the various ministries or statutory boards should be channel back to the finance ministry as oppose to the each ministries/board investing in overseas funds etc.
Whilst I am not affected by the recent fiasco of Minibond, High Notes or Pinnancles, I make it a point to visit HongLim, to provide moral support to your effort and that of Andrew and his host of volunteers as well as the unfortunate folks who lost their hard earn saving.
Go, Mr. Tan, if you think that the Presidency is the right step for you. I wish you and your family well.
KT
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Dear Mr Tan
I am totally disgusted with the way politics are executed here. You don’t have to join the Opposition parties, to get elected. In fact, we need a whole team of you to effectively make a strong voice in parliament.
I agreed with what you have said. Our leaders have lost touch with the people on the ground. They have sung the same song, in the last 30 odds years, achievements which are encased in our history of national building.
But one cannot always sing to the tune of past achievements while covering up for present mistakes (and future ones too).
We, as Singaporeans have seen many of such policies that went unchallenged in Parliament. In this year alone, We have seen so many major incidents, escaped terrorist from detention, mini-bonds issues, foreign talents that took away jobs (which government claims, Singaporeans would not want to do), public transportation system jammed and packed and stretched to breaking point, Town Council wasting public funds, all these are 100% attributed directly or indirectly to certain government policies or statutory boards.
If the US can elect the 1st African-American Senator as President, Singaporeans can vote for an independent into Parliament too. Be daring and go forth. You have my support.
KK
Sembawang, Singapore
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Hello, Mr. Tan,
http://news.asiaone.com/News/the%2BStraits%2BTimes/Story/A1Story20081123-102695.html
I believe this is not the 1st mail u would had got….I seriously admire and respect what you doing for the people. I believe we need more of you this kind of people.
For the elected president will be very very good if you can make it. But if it is next general election, may if I could suggest you could take up Potong Pasir, since Mr. Chiam is getting old now. Road will be tough if you took either way ….. but I am sure wil can make it.
MN
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Panter92 (#46),
If what you are saying is true, then I am probably one of the rare fortunate individuals whose offline social network is well connected to the PAP. My family has been in the PAP for 2 generations. However, the PAP ideology has yet to rub on me because I started to see more and more cracks on the PAP image as soon as I started to examine the surface.
I implore netizens on TOC to use the term Loyal Opposition instead Opposition online and offline because to hail for change for our country, it is time for us to un-demonise Opposition politics in Singapore. Opposition politics has as much potential as the PAP in nation building and that Opposition politicians are not less loyal to our country than PAP politicians. We need a shift in mindset to welcome non-PAP politicians and encourage people to stand for GE as non-PAP candidates.
Mr Tan,
I think Mr. Obama has set a fine example of someone who leverage on the new medium – Internet, social networking, instant messaging to garner support for his cause. You can do the same too.
You are a brave man and I will support your cause and as my President, especially when you are fighting for the truth and justice, honour and integrity and most importantly for the people of Singapore.
You shall go forth and conquer, Sir!
Seriously I don’t buy this at all..
For the reasons below..
a) I don’t trust any Insurance cum Investment guy who comes along saying he got solutions to Singapore’s pblms.
b) I cannot agree that by being president, you can have your way in dealing with change…We don’t see our president doing major budget changes, making amendments or involve in defence strategies.. I mean..GET REAL!
c) PAP is a strong party with roots deeply entrenched in every level on Singaporean society. Knocking them of their policy takes time..like gazillion years!
No disrespecting you Mr Tan KL.. Appreciate what you intend on doing and emulating your version of Obama’s Audacity of Hope…But I’m a skeptic.
This is one big problem with many singaporeans mentality, always say die die lah, what can we do, even if I don’t like them but they are so powerful so be it lo. . . . very kia see, kia su, kia bo, how to change if all feel like that? this is exactly what our elites would love to hear so they can screw you people up through and through all these years, and many more years to come if they have the chance to do so.
3) sarek_home on November 24th, 2008 10.53 am 2) Nutthan Nai on November 24th, 2008 10.18 am
if TOC people do not join WP, singapore opposition will lose out making some other party win bigger.
Fail to see your reasons. Hope you can explain.
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Hi Sarek_home, maybe this is redundant reply but you are welcome to comment on my reply to A Tan (post #18).
by the way Sarek_home, I also support TKL if he bids. Nevertheless, I have my that concern. Even if alternate parties may not compete headon , there may be unforeseen and undesirable disruptive effect on the CAUSE and Momentum.
We support you Mr. Tan Kian Lian whether your bid is for President or Alternative Party ! We believe you will better represent the people of the heartlands. Our current gahmen are only looking after their million dollar salaries and do not care about the plight of the ordinary folks. They will ruin Singapore in time to come !
55) nutthan nai on November 24th, 2008 11.18 pm
………… there may be unforeseen and undesirable disruptive effect on the CAUSE and Momentum.
That is nature of life. Those who want to lead the country should have the talent and wisdom to overcome such matters.
Nature of democracy is competing / appealing public support for that CAUSE and Momentum.
No disrespecting you Mr Tan KL.. Appreciate what you intend on doing and emulating your version of Obama’s Audacity of Hope…But I’m a skeptic. – jeff0901 (#52)
Yes, it takes a long time to engage PAP to produce any measurable change. But if nobody starts, it will never happen. Change and progress comes at a price, and there is no guarantee it will produce the results you intended within the time frame you intended. Hence, it is important for Tan Kin Lian to stand for public office, Singaporeans must show that they are committed to change too.
I support you wholeheartedly in your endeavour to be our president.
Hi RED_man (#47)
I agree with the term “Alternative” party instead of “opposition” party. I have been using this term “alternative party” for some time. I am glad to see that this term is now commonly used in this blog.
Thank you Mr. Tan, all these years PAP had been cashing on the term “opposition” to strike fear into each and single singaporean that when the opposition come into power, it will be end of day for singapore!
It is time for a change! And no I don’t agree with one of the speaker here that it will take many years to uproot PAP. They are digging their grave now policy by policy! From what I see on the positive light where they have cut the pay. Is that, the people power has start to work itself and bringing fear to the PAP that they will lose the next GE! I hereby declare a small victory for TOC and many more battles to come.
Question is, are you guys here game enough to go all the way? Are you keen to see changes?! I will fight this war because I hope to see a better future for my little baby daughter. I don’t want her to be the slave to HDB, medical care, career and eventually numb to whatever the ruling party throw onto her face! I want her to be proud as a Singaporean and be it a second independent from the hold of PAP that make this country a family business! We became cheap labour for the Elites!
Dear Tan Kin Lian,
With due respect, sir, I believe that you are not ready for politics yet. Though you have been a PAP member for 30 years, you have not been engaged in any grassroots work in the last 20 years. You also have no experience in electioneering. You do not have a dedicated or well-organised support structure around you.
People know you to be a long-time CEO of NTUC Income for 30 years; recently as an on-line protester against insurance bonus cuts; and lately, as a champion of burnt financial product investors. I’m afraid that’s not enough to gain credibility as the next big thing in alternative politics. People need to know your stand, views and ideas on a full spectrum of political issues articulated consistently over a significant period of time. They need to see proof of a wider range of leadership qualities required in political office.
Of course, please do not misconstrue that I’m trying to discourage you.
But the 100,000 signatures that this article is calling for is in my view totally irrelevant. True politicians do not ask for a show of hands before entering the fray – they offer themselves as instruments for their beliefs and willingly submit themselves to the caprice of public opinion. That is, you do not ask for support before you commit, but you should commit first and see if you’re getting any support. If you are not ready for this uncertainty, then it speaks volumes about your dedication to your political cause.
Lee kuan yew won Singapore by the people of Singapore. In my humble opinion, it is time the people take back this power from him and his family that lost so much tax payer money to the foreigners!
If they are Elites, go out to bring more money back and start giving more subsidies to the people! There, I will vote for PAP forever! If not, shut the hell up and ask your daughter in law to be strikes off from the Elites list!
for what history had tell us, LKY is destroying his own good name down the road for his family gain! The British asked Gandhi, if we were to leave India, do you think your country men know how to run this country? Compared to LKY mentioned: if opposition took over the country, do you think they know how to run this country?
I think LKY do learnt a lot from the British! And he do rule us like one of his subject now! Except for the fact that he forgot he is a Singaporean not British! Do you need otherwise to see where the future of Singapore would be if continue under the Elite rule? You will be the subject of your own country and anytime, dozen of foreigners can come in to replace you! We already have foreigner made Singaporean within our ministers don’t we? What is Singaporean mean to Singapore now? Not subject?
Hi smallvice585 (#63)
You are correct. I am not “ready” for politics …. in the conventional way. There are many examples of more capable people who came into politics during the past 20 years. Most of them did not survive. Only two did, and they have a lot of difficulty in building up their base of support.
You are also correct about the lack of a political machinery. It takes more than this political machinery for an alternative party to succeed- as it has to compete with the incumbent that has more resources beyond than its own political machinery..
I wanted to take a different approach – to create awareness, to educate the public. The revent event involving the 10,700 invsetors of the credit linked notes show how bad things can be – that the government can just ignore the call to “do the right thing” and enforce the law.
If more people come forward to voice their views, it may wake up the current leaders and create the change that is desriable and good for the country. An important change is to recognise that the elected leaders should represent the people, and that a free contest is for the good of the country.
Many people said that an alternative party needs more than one person. How do you expect other people to come forward? They are not willing to sacrifice their career. They will be subject to discrimination. Maybe 100,000 signatures will change their mind.
Will my approach work? Some people think so. Others are sceptical. I am willing to give it a try. If it does not, I can go back and retire.
I am not smallvoice585
#37
My beef with WP leadership is that they always talk of waiting for an “event”.
The event was the toxic products saga — it could have been WP that got 1000 people out at HL Green, and using their grassroots team to organise the masses, on something that affects at least 100,000 S’poreand directly and indirectly.
As to questions in Parly, fine line between asking redundant questions and silence. But remember — Parly is Wayang. So MPs got to sing and dance.
I think it is too tedious for the ordinary man to have to produce individual letters of support. It is also environmentally unfriendly to use so much paper unnecessarily. We can gather signatures electronically in a petition-style format.
I hope someone will take the lead by drafting out an open letter to the Presidential Advisory Council to permit Mr TKL to stand for President if he so chooses, so that we are sure he will not be disqualified by the Council.
The petition should point out clearly that in the opinion of the signatories Mr TKL more than fulfills the minimum qualification needed to stand as a presidential candidate.
If this petition carries as much as 100000 signatures, then I think it would be very hard for the Council to deny him his rights to stand for the election, as was previously imposed on poor Andrew Kuan.
Time is also of the essence as we do not want a sudden snap election for the new President to be called before we can collect enough signatures.
I think it is too tedious for the ordinary man to have to print out his own support letter. It is also environmentally unfriendly to use up so much printed paper. We can do it equally effectively in an electronic petition-style form. The petition should be submitted to the Presidential Advisory Council demanding that Mr TKL be allowed to stand for election for President if he so chooses. The petition should also point out clearly that Mr TKL’s past position as NTUC Income CEO fully fulfills the minimum requirement needed to be President. If we can collect as much as 100000 signatories in the petition then I think it would be very hard for the Council to deny Mr TKL his rights to stand for the office of President, as was previously imposed on poor Andrew Kuan.
My posting (#66) is in reply to smallvoice585. I referred to smallvice585 (who is a different person) by mistake. Sorry.
I like to thank smallvice585 for your positive words on other issues.
Dear Mr. Tan
I believe what you are doing to is politically wise to collect the people signatures. However, what coming ahead of you when you enter the circle of politic, you are likely to face your ex-collegues, employer that most likely not would be with kind intentions. This I do believe you have to be prepared.
That is also the reason why I feel having a alternate party will bring you comfort and consistently remind you that you are not alone in this quest. Rather than facing your adversory alone as a President. Everyone of us will come. To have doubts about himself when situations are bad. In a group, it does make life alot easier to bare in difficults time.
Like I said, no matter how strong Mr. Chiam had seem, I do believe he is burnt out and failed to followup with the current society political trends. I do foresee that he might even have problem securing his strong hold if another alternate party do not come out in time to give that extra push. The current alternate parties may not want to admit that all parties (except PAP) are linked dispite their differences. Therefore each party action do produce a chain reaction of “support” or “destruction”. CSJ cause might be just but it had been hurting the other parties simply because he failed to realize that Singaporean is not mature enough to embrace his way of fighting. Mr. Chiam care about only to secure his fortress and forgot that when the other opposition down, he would be crushed because all Singaporean will find it hopeless to fight on. WP can only remind much of a passive, given the only voice on the house and it is shrinking as we speak. Singapore do need another alternate party to balance the poltical scene if avoidance to complete extinction of the alternate party is what everyone has in mind.
Hi RED-man (#71)
Please send an email to me at kinlian@gmail.com. We can have a chat over the telephone.
You want to be the alternative voice, better be as clean as a white sheet, no dirty linen to hang out by the ruling party.
Hi PAP (#74)
I am not so clean, like everybody else. I commit traffic, and other offenses, even a tax offense. I lose my temper and scold people, sometimes.
So what!
Recently, IRAS found that I overlooked to declare the rental income on a rented property a few years ago. It was an oversight – as I had declared the rental income every year on the same property, including the year before and afterwards. My overight was due to difficulty in entering the computer system and failing to check the return during that year.
IRAS asked me to go back all the 10 years of income tax statements and confirm that all my income were declared. It was quite tough as my records were not kept properly. They want to charge me $x to get a copy of each pst year’s statement. More revenue for the IRAS
The tax on the overlooked undeclared income was maybe $10,000, maybe less. I reminded the tax officer that I paid more than $1 million in taxes over the past 10 years. I paid the tax in full on my income as I did not have time to look into ways to minimise my tax or to claim all the reliefs that I am eligible to. I am happy to pay my tax in full, as it means that I had a good income.
The kind tax officer finally agreed not to impose the three times penalty on my oversight but I got a stern warning. Good for our bureaucrats.
There will be other dirty linen. Right now, i don’t know where they are kept. If they are found out to be aired, so be it. Good for Singapore!
73) Tan Kin Lian on November 25th, 2008 9.49 am Hi RED-man (#71)
Please send an email to me at kinlian@gmail.com. We can have a chat over the telephone.
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Sorry, I don’t mean to be funny but I heard from TW tv stations that there are ‘total privacy’ phones available there in TW used by those who can afford. kind of like full encryption mobile like Swiss bank level of security. ideally meet in person at home.
What am i alluding? nothing. Just trying to suggest a way boost the economy by either spending on such phones or saving the earth by not using too much phone and meet in person. That all.
You got my vote Mr Tan, signatory 339.
Good luck.
RedMan:
Ya I agreed with you also on the lack of alternative party in Singapore. This is the gravest situation facing Singapore now. It is already manifesting in an overbearing governance that fails to understand the ground and seizing every advantage to consolidate their power base to the detriment of the country.
How can one party politics be good for Singapore? Even auntie and uncle know that too well. If the PM can advocate that, it is indeed both a shame and a shock to say the least.
I agreed also that TKL is better as an alternate voice speaking for the commoners. He has the charisma and fearlessness to do it. I do hope that he will even start a political party staffed by a lot of good men who want to do great stuff for the country.
I feel that many talented people want to do something in such grave situation but do not know where to go to. Do they join WP? SDP? Or worse PAP?
You might be surprised how many people are hungry for change and want to stand out from the masses to have a stake in the country.
TKL hopefully is the start of something revolutionary for Singapore in a good sense.
How about forming a REALLY SOLID alternative GRC? You have Mr. TKL and Eunice Olsen, just need 3 more from this group at TOC to form a viable ansd credible opposition. Forget about the other 2 opposition, quiet like a mouse. I truly like the way Eunice questioned the party on some matters. At TKL, we have experience, Eunice, youth and intelligence and also up-to-date, Mr. Leong great analylatical mind, Sylvia??? There we have an alternative and by the way, run for Aljunied GRC, think the time is right for the picking.
Why does Mr Tan want to run? Is he nursing political ambition after being forced to step down as CEO from NTUC income a while back? Personally, I think he is a good CEO who has contributed a lot to NTUC’s income and is still to young to leave.
Mr Tan, you have my best wishes but you better be prepared to lose your fortune, family, friends and perhaps freedom/live if you want to go against the PAP machinery (see what happen to JBJ). Be prepared for some old man to bring his mastery of rhetoric and his control of political machinery to give you a hammering. Be prepared to be libeled and not being able to fight back. Be prepared for the PAP to dig up and dish out all dirts and dirty laundries (do you have any?) against you.
Good luck.
Hello Mr Tan,
I understand you may not actually qualify to contest the EP post,having been neither an ex-Perm Sec/Minister or CEO of a public listed company with revenue exceeding XX millions ( NTUC is a co-op and not a public listed entity ) ; nor CEO of a scheduled 5 Stat Board. Best bet is to stand as an opposition candidate.
Cheers
Dear Mr Tan Kin Lian,
Thanks for your reply (#66).
If you allow me to summarise YOUR reasons for the need of the 100,000 signatures:
(1) Because of your lack of readiness and resources to practise politics in the conventional way;
(2) Because it is a good way to create awareness and educate the public about the Govt’s lack of responsiveness to citizen voices;
(3) Because the political noise created by the collection of signatures may force the Govt to re-cast their role as being the true representatives of the people and permit freer elections;
(4) Because when people find that there are so many other non-PAP sympathisers, they are more likely to throw in their lot with you.
I hope the potential 100,000 people who are busy signing up will take note of these reasons.
In my humble opinion, none of these reasons are valid. Reason (1) is a poor excuse for your lack of preparation. Reason (2) is to over-simplify the very challenging task of educating our people politically. Reason (3) is pure wishful thinking. And reason (4) shows a lack of understanding of the underlying reason why most people do not join the opposition but vote for the PAP for the last 43 years.
To cut a long story short, political contests are actually not won at the ballot box! Before the political/election battle, there is an intellectual or ideological battle. PAP’s philosophy is to provide prosperity and security through pragmatic policies. Thus far, the opposition/non-PAP”s subconscious ideology is the negation of isolated instances of perceived injustice that they nitpick out of PAP policies.
That kind of ideology is bound to fail. The big question is – can you formulate a much grander and more inspiring ideology that can capture the imagination of the people? If you can, throw yourself headlong into it, and people will surely follow you.
“I am not so clean, like everybody else. I commit traffic, and other offenses, even a tax offense. I lose my temper and scold people, sometimes.
So what!”
That is the kind of honesty and non-saving face remark that deeply lacking in our expensive gahmen !
Indeed, people who want to save-face and “love-face” shouldn’t enjoy politics, if they want enter politics then there is no such thing as doing coverup and move-on for face saving. Countless coverup have been done much to detrimental of intransparent governance.
TKL, you done right for being outright honest, otherwise I’m sure the gov will make every effort to accuse you of tax evasion in MSM even though you did not have those intention in the first place. Countless people who challenge the gov have the gov discredited them through tax evasion no matter how minor and insignificant because it is the most easiest target to start from. Any slight mistake will be amplified by MSM to mean total lack of integrity, and such is the behaviour of MSM and gov.
TKL,
should you contest for presidency, I should be glad to donate some money for your contest (One need to pay $10,000 for presidency contest ?). I think everyone of those 100,000 should donate money for contest be it $1 or more. TKL will do his part and the citizen who vote for presidency should do their part do. Together it will be easy to accumulate these monies. TKL may be able to come out his own money but no money should be as “meaningful” as those coming directly from the citizen who may not be acquainted with TKL but know of his good deed and personality. If TKL did not get to be elected as president, these money can be used to create financial education and awareness.
Obama has shown that citizen are willing to help out and donate money for their future president out of hope and support. Singapore citizen should do likewise to support those who offer to change their being and future for the better.
Please Singaporeans, please come to Aljunied GRC .
dear smallvoice585 (#83),
1. I think Mr Tan KL’s ‘ideology’ is quite apparent (to me at least) in his most recent action of collectivizing people who have been rendered ‘voiceless’ in the mini-bonds saga, and activating for a more equitable response from institutional powers such as the gahmen, financial & judiciary institutions which should not take Citizens for a ride.
2. ‘Pragmatism’ is real-politik is pragmatism…it does not belong to any one party or to anyone if that’s what I understand by the term. And I think it’s not necessary to articulate a radically different ‘ideology’ unless its a classroom exercise on intellectual history, political philosophy etc.
3. Personally, what Mr Tan stands for or symbolizes to me is a test for kopitiam Joes’ like U and I, to be able to stand-up and be reckoned as human beings rather than be caricaturized, de-politicized & managed like economic slaves, kiasu/kiasi/kia-zhenghu ignorant Sinaporeans who have been manipulated to justify an ‘elite’ gahmen, ‘firm leadership’ and/or ‘single-party rule’.
4. Mr Tan is not Kuanyin-ma, for if he gets into office it is only because I as a Singaporean, am able to make a conscious choice and effort to put him there, and that there are constitutional mechanisms to make that happen. Otherwise the rules need to be changed and till then perhaps we can discuss more about ‘ideology’ – reformasi and revolusi maybe? And I hope not.
Hi,
I am not sure your plan to contest an election as an independent MP is a good idea.The number of single constituencies are limited,and surely you don’t wish to see a 3-cornered fight in these.So what are the options?
a) Form a small party and contest in a GRC.
b) Join an existing party .
In either case,you will no longer be independent.
I heard from someone that you once told a large gathering of your employees that the best way to reduce unemployment in Singapore is to ship our unemployed overseas to places like Indonesia by the thousands. Is this true?
I understand also that said that the government could provide a small salary for these unemployed while they are in Indonesia to survive on. Your rationale was that the cost of living is not as high there so they do not need much money to live on. Is this true?
I also understand that you did share this idea of yours with the government and they did not think it was a good idea. Why do you want to ship the unemployed away?
I heard from someone that you once told a large gathering of your employees that the best way to reduce unemployment in Singapore is to ship our unemployed overseas to places like Indonesia by the thousands. Is this true? – Malt (#90)
Stop engaging in libel, character assassination and spreading false rumours.
Elites must be getting worried now…..sending in their snipers so early and using their usual ‘let’s take a closer look in your closet’ tactics.
Let’s see if such tactics will still work for them here in cyberspace without their 134th. =)
90) Malt on December 3rd, 2008 11.39 pm
………the best way to reduce unemployment in Singapore is to ship our unemployed overseas to places like Indonesia by the thousands. Is this true?
Remember Health Minister Khaw said about shipping retirees overseas for similar reasons as mentioned by this Malt? Malt might have mixed facts and identity. Who know?
89) Malt on December 3rd, 2008 11.39 pm
I heard from someone that you once told a large gathering of your employees..
I think you have the obligation to check with that someone when and where the alleged remark was made verify with others in the gathering regarding this alleged remark.
It is only fair that you verify the alleged remark first before asking questions.
Be a fair and responsible person.
It would speak volumn if Mr KL Tan can propose to donate a certain percentage, say between 30-85% of the income he derives from being the President (if he contest the EP, and wins) to charity, it would certainly be a slap in the face of those who fervently defend the need for high pay for service to the nation. With this made known, I’m very certain he will get lots of support from the people. I strongly believe he is not after the pay, are you Mr Tan? Everything is provided for by being a EP. The pay issue is just a justification for stratosphere pay for office bearer.
ELECTION