In Part 2 of 3 Dr Tan talks about his motivations for wanting to be a presidential candidate as well as his views on the powers of the Elected President.
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Yamagata’s post is probably a tongue in cheek comment, a satire.
Everbody knows Nathan is the worst president, put in there to avoid another OTC
Thomas Tan,
If that’s the case, then MIWs are not sincere and just paying lip service to the promise of change after the recent GE
abc 20 June 2011
@ kukujumuku
i don’t know which country you are from. Fyi, ruling party are elected by the people of Singapore and DR Tan is championing for the coming EP, like any other EP candidates.
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Like i say, the EP is nothing but a talk cock, unless he can or have the power to sack all the freaking ministers.
Do you need a talk cock, and pay millions for talking cock ???
Someone said, locals borders on “stupid”
it is clear from various mouths that ep has no executive power and cannot initiate decisions and policies. he must also act on the advice from the cabin crews. ep looks like a bundled-up crab sold in the market. so, how is the ep able to unite the citizens, when clearly the disunity is caused by unpopular policies and poor planning rather than from the office of the ep? you cannot promote unity without mentioning how to eradicate the root causes of disunity. talking doesn’t solve problem. ep has to move things but how he is able to do that when he cannot initiate any agenda?
recent polling on yahoo shows tt as the front runner. there is a miscue. tt and srn can’t be in the same contest. srn is probably waiting for tt to say yes before saying no. since, tt cannot be together with srn, so the poll is not entirely correct. and this poll is restricted to opinions online, offline? however, this does hint that tt is the front runner by a mile, before/after distributing srn votes evenly. tt, with his past political assets [baggage], may have an edge. should the laggers give up? there isn’t much time to close such big gap. pray?
in both cases, there are indications of soft power at work. soft power is hard to define. one definition is an image formed by being benign, brilliance and beautiful (3b). soft power does move things but in a different manners. of the three candidates, tt seems to ooze the most soft power, especially on the brilliance aspect. we can look at the recent ge as an example on the accumulation and effect of soft power.
supernova pops out of nowhere to shine with high brightness. her traits in general, match the 3b. she is approachable and at ease in front of the media. she is articulated and thinks well on her feet, and attractive (3a) [the toilet papers even show the way she perspires, yuck!]. her soft power grows exponentially after a couple of videos and she went viral. in a short time, she attracted likes as many as the old man collected in 50. of course, a contrasting comparison with the black hole that sucks in truck loads of shits helps too. let’s elaborate further.
- being approachable, people are comfortable in your companionship and willingly come forward, along with it, the vote. ep [or political parties alike] can draw voters and helpers [talents] through being humble and helpful [add harmless]. like santa claus, like teddy bear, that girl next door, my goddaughter, the fatherly looks, that cute smile, the bear-hug, the firm grip, the relaxation. like the nutrients brought by river fertilizes only the lower, humble land. people will magnify your good and miss your bad. it is nature. black hole comes across as opposite. she gathered huge soft power too, but the anti-matters ones and she imploded.
- intelligent can be a magnet. people listen to wise man more attentively. it is difficult to be intelligent overnight, but being more articulate allows ones to answer questions appropriately. education in singapore is inexpensive. i don’t think there is any policy that needs to change. i don’t know what to say. i exist because you have a problem. think of crisis, think of what i did, connects the two. why need me? what happen at the park? those goodies i have done. yes we can. election is about spreading your goodness to the ground. the ground has to feel good. how you talk, that arrogant tone, the shaky voice, that body language will reinforce the spoken words. do you sound convincing and sincere? do you talk intelligently? which stellar object does it better?
- we do know that jaw-dropping beauty has an edge. charisma is a chemistry and difficult to emulate. why? don’t know. it just it. luckily black hole has a bit of look. if black hole looks like mushroom, her soft power will punch through the floor [imagine mushroom stomping feet]. be presidential, it is no coincident that us presidents are of certain height. dress appropriately, it is an image that one needs to project [notice the white blouse, not button all the way up, what more can you ask? half ball?].
these are some challenges facing the nation today.
globalisation, rich country poor citizens, wealth distribution, deaf leaders, lack of loudhailers, too many foreigners, diluted identity, beach house, congestion, stress, low sex drive, tuition after tuition, second language, brittle rice bowls, professor cabbies, job exploitation, residents = singaporeans + pr, static pay, high ministers’ salary, escalating cost, $880k, $8, low interest rate, reserve management, flood, mismatch of visions, i want to go to changi you drive to jurong.
when the late president otc ran for ep, he selected the heart to represent his presidency, his legacy, his campaign. this is charity. an under-developed area back then that received scant attention from the government. non-confrontational. smart choice. what will be the appropriate symbol this time that resonates with the 40/60 and walks a small steps towards unity? which area is under-developed that required promoting and advertising using the soft power than comes with the presidency and the personality? how about using the ear? how about loudhailer or a simple balance? a photo-shot with the ep in the market is not the same photo-shot in his bedroom. ah beng cutting ribbons is not the same as ep cutting cheecheongfun. this soft power that accompanies the institution can be use to effect. soft power does not gather easily but the results can be instantaneous and lasts longer. how about late president wkw walking up to the soldier during ndp? a first of its kind, a lasting impression.
although ep does not have a lot of latitude in hard maneuverings, he can show his support, endorsement, preference, for whatever close to his heart. buy hammer brand shampoo, rekindle the supernova effect to attract donations, wearing pink, eat colourful mushrooms, hug trees, online/offline/noline, smart phone apps, etc. little gestures to nudge things in the direction deems fit and develop the under-developed. people do not remember the bad only, they also remember the good. people still remember the presidents of old. they left behind legacies. they can’t change things within their term, they leave behind momentum of change. what did the late president otc said that was still discussed in earnest today?
unfortunately, like branding, soft power takes time to build up, mostly unintentionally. but in that galactic battle, we can see that situation changed quickly in today’s new media. whoever harnesses the new media and captures the hearts has an edge. the neutral stand, the good things done, the determination, that decisiveness, the calm, the benevolent, the assurance, the zen, the body leaning forward, are all magnified. even a shoe thrown into the bush becomes popular. a few interviews are all it took to build up the power base [if you have very favourable 3b]. the opposite holds true also [as in the fb donation case]. a wrong move, a slip of the tongue, an uneasy answer, an angry stare, an agitated look, can turn the table quickly [ask dr big-small eye]. it pays to build up soft power. it transmits messages in another way. it says something without speaking. it moves without moving.
it looks like a dream that soft power can be build up so easy, virtually overnight, drop from the sky. but there is recent example to show that it is possible. it may be inborn, it could be trained, but it cannot be ignored.
What makes Dr Tan Cheng Bock think that Singaporeans need a “unifying force”???
Perhaps Singaporeans are already UNITED in wanting more transparent and accountable checks-and-balances in:
(a) Parliament (Legislature);
(b) Civil Service;
(c) Judiciary;
(d) Mass Media.
We need a President who can stand up to the ruling govt as the final gate in case a rogue govt turns against the people.
Hence, all the more, the presidential candidates must NOT be endorsed or affiliated with the ruling party.
Otherwise, it poses a systemic risk to Singapore and Singaporeans!
I find Dr. Tan Cheng Bock TOTALLY DOUBTFUL and UNRELIABLE. Even just as a candidate for EP! Why? Because,
1. Dr. Tan Cheng Bock’s resignation from then renamed Jurong Hospital to Ng Teng Fong Hospital was because the late Ng’s Co. & Foundation only gave $100M which is not enough for it be given the name of Ng Teng Fong. But then he mooted his intention for EP to sell himself as there is any 9 days campaigning is there! So, isn’t not sounding like an ENTRENCHED Lee Kuan Yew-PAP of a thinker well known BY NOW! And no this type of PLOY for his PAP affiliation to get SYMPATHY and SIMPLISTIC MINDED votes for Presidency? Very low down if it is and looks very much so to me and some DEEP THINKERS who have spoken to me about it too!
2. If not. why then has he said that he “Will bridge the PAP and the people” and then talks too of a “Unifying Force” in his “sense” of able to ” think independently? Dr. Tan Cheng Bock, you may be able to think independently as EP – BUT CAN YOU ACT INDEPENDENTLY TOO AS EP?
2. If you have not realized this yet, you then EITHER a LKY-LHL-PAP PLOY FOR CONTINUATION AT SINGAPOREANS EXPENSE after SR Nathan. OR you HAVEN’T GOT IT to tackle LKY type of schemes for his continuity!
3. You will then be just like Ong Teng Cheong as EP BUT an Ex-Lee Kuan Yew man FOR TRAMPLING ON!!! THIS – IS THE NAKED TRUTH! OTC failed not because he wasn’t good enough. BUT BECAUSE he was NO MORE A LKY_PAP type of thinker who wants to be independent uder the LKY arena of CONFINEMENT EP Laws to be beholden to him Harry Lee Kuan Yew, his PAP son made PM and the cabinet cabin crew!
4. When you & I know what OTC must obviously know what and how it happened to CV Devan Nair and anyone who went against the PAP stalwart, you WILL curtail yourself as Singaporeans’ EP and become beholden to PAP instead! YOUR OWN personal safety will then take precedence over OURS and thus state interests won’t you?
5. All of your expressions has shown that you ARE STILL NO LESS OF a Harry Lee Kuan Yew type of a believer – NO MORE NO LESS Dr. Tan Cheng Bock! So – KNOW THAT “You can fool some of the people all of the time, some of the people all of the time, BUT NOT ALL OF THE PEOPLE ALL OF THE TIME”!
6.
Contn…
6. And of the SWF Reserves. you Dr. Tan Cheng said of external considerations not to let outsiders know of how much we have? Why? TO BE A HIDDEN TRUTH TO SINGAPOREANS IS BETTER?
Isn’t the TOP THREE RICHEST MEN IN THE WORLD WELL KNOWN ALL OVER THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD? And what dangers has this brought to their INVESTMENTS? Didn’t their WEALTH GROW EVEN MORE and they gave to Charity too? And any decrease in their personal and families’ safety too? ARE YOU NOT TALKING Harry Lee Kuan Yew type of “TALKING COCK BIG TIME TO CON FOR YOUR HYPOCRITE MINDSETS”? I didn’t say idiot, fool or even nerd did I! WHY?
For more than 20 years, as a member of the PAP, Dr Tan Cheng Bock was not able to bridge the PAP and the People.
He was only an MP in Jurong and a Backbencher in Parliament. He could not even be qualified to be a PAP Minister then.
Now he says he wants to be that bridge between the PAP and the People?
Come on, who will be so easily fooled by such talks? Don’t be so naive.
When PAP is going on and on with divisive policies and schemes, Dr Tan Cheng Bock wants to unify the country and its people with the ruling party?
When Dr Tan Chenge Bock can’t even unify within the PAP, can he really unify the country which is already so divided between the rich and the poor, between the ivory-tower ruling elites and the suffering working people, between the PAP and the Other Political Parties???
All the PAP leaders wanted is an obedient mute and mumb President to pretend to hold whatever second key to the Only-Gods-know-what National Reserves. And in return, he is paid $4.25 million a year with hundreds of millions at his disposal to spend.
What sinful waste of taxpayers’ hard-earned sweat and blood money!
Thank very much Dear Annnie 2 June 2011 for rounding up so factally nice and superbly right after my comments!
WE HAVE SHOWN shrinking old foxy harry lee kuan yew that he we ain’t daft as he in treason said of us to International Publisher National Geographic!!!
harry has been and still is the bump behind all the nepotic and non-circumspect, non-researched without porper planning policies when the late Dr. Goh Keng Swee and his 1st cohort of truly able and visionary MINISTER ACHIEVED FOR US NATIVES! But ended up for harry lee nearer to be biting the dust than most of us TO PROCLAIM IN ALL SHAMELESS ENTITIES THAT “he did it” just because he was the PM then. But then right after 1984 his past failures and new one began to show he reall lack of talent while he bragged repeated of paying devilish salaries for “talent” and “talent” what that we now know what!!! Good riddance to bad rubbish!
Sorry… it should be “for rounding up so factUally…”.
@Singapore Voter 22 June 2011
“For more than 20 years, as a member of the PAP, Dr Tan Cheng Bock was not able to bridge the PAP and the People.
He was only an MP in Jurong and a Backbencher in Parliament. He could not even be qualified to be a PAP Minister then.
Now he says he wants to be that bridge between the PAP and the People?
Come on, who will be so easily fooled by such talks? Don’t be so naive.”
Don’t say readers here are naive when you yourself shows ignorance.
From Wikipedia:
“Political Career
Tan was elected the Member of Parliament for Ayer Rajah at the 1980 general election. He was re-elected five times (in 1984, 1988, 1991, 1997 and 2001) winning by an average majority of 77%.[1][2] His 88 per cent share of the vote in the 2001 parliamentary elections was the PAP’s best score in 31 years.
While in Parliament, he served as the Chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committees (GPCs) for Education (1987–90), National Development (1991–95) and the Environment (1995–97), and was the Co-ordinating Chairman for all GPCs from 1987-88. He was also a member of the GPCs for Communications (1997–2000) and Defence & Foreign Affairs (2001–06). Tan was the Leader of the Singapore-European Parliamentary Group between 1991 – 1996 and Singapore-SEA Parliamentary Group between 1997 – 2006. From 1987 – 1996, he was an elected member of the PAP Central Executive Committee[3], the highest ruling committee within the PAP. Tan stepped down as a Member of Parliament at the 2006 general election. He also served as Chairman of the Jurong East Town Council from 1989–91, Chairman of the West Coast-Ayer Rajah Town Council from 2001–04, Chairman of the Bukit Timah Community Development Council from 1997–2000, and Chairman of the Feedback Unit at the Ministry of Community Development from 1985-89.
[edit] Presidential Elections”
Dr. Tan Cheng Bock is a person with an illustrious career and a man of stature. Much better than someone who is good in usuary, who did nothing great during his 30 years in NTUC.
If you read carefully what tcb is saying… he basically has no projects in mind to assist the people in correcting the excesses of the PAP regime.
He thought it was all a miscommunications.
Really?
I don’t find him interesting or credible.
After seeing his video, I find it hard to be convinced with his words. So, he is agreeing with hiding our reserves, agreeing with PAP all the time and QUIETLY do his job when elected.
Sorry, Dr. Tan, I have lose faith with you if this is what you intend to do as a president.
Please ask yourself this question before you talked about UNIFYING Singaporeans. Why is there such great ANGER among citizens toward the PAP? All the problems was created by the PAP in the first place! Why did a ex-PAP supporter like me 20 years ago turn against the PAP?
Are you also deaf like a frog to what had happen during the last 5 years of abuse of power by the PAP?
We don’t need the unify if PAP is truly reforming to the better which is yet to see. If they don’t change, I think you don’t have to waste your time, because they might be voted out in the next election!
How to unite and to heal?
Alleged to violate cooling off day ruling in GE2016 (new ruling and one would expect violator would be immediately investigated and dealt with instantly according to that stipulated in the regulations) and ignoring the supposedly investigation in progress the alleged violator is appointed to GRC for HA and LGP.
Tell us how are you going to heal and unite the people. Even the 60% Singaporeans are disillusioned. MY GOD REALLY TREATED LIKE LOCAL GABBAGE!