by: Jen Tai/
Photos: Shawn Danker/
There are many things that are Uniquely Singapore, some of which are not positive. One of these things is taking part in highly unsatisfactory elections. For many Singaporeans, we didn’t get to vote for years/decades till May 2011 and even then it was most unsatisfactory as residents in Tanjong Pagar still didn’t get to vote due to a technical 3-second legality. And for many who did vote, they had to vote for GRC teams, some of which comprised members whom the voters did not like nor want to support.
This Presidential Election is turning out to be even more unsatisfactory and almost farcical. The time given for Singaporeans to really know the Presidential candidates is much too short (yet again) and this is doing a great disservice to the electorate. In this space of time, we have been left feeling confused and dissatisfied, which may have been the intent of the political strategists.
Given the situation and the slate of candidates, the elections is fast becoming a case of voting for who we object to least rather than who we really want for many Singaporeans.
Putting aside the camps that are devoted PAP/Tony Tan supporters, and the respective supporters of Tan Jee Say, Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Kin Lian, it seems clear that a significant number of voters still do not know who they want to vote for.
For this group of the “undecideds”, many are united on one thing – they do not want Tony Tan who is proving, with every electioneering comment that he makes, that he is totally pro-government, steeped in old-school PAP arrogance and is likely to protect and maintain the status quo if elected President.
Choosing one of the remaining three Tans is a dilemma as all three have clear flaws which have been pointed out in other commentaries and in online forums. But all three do show genuine sincerity and passion in wanting to make changes that are better for Singaporeans.
Meantime as one of the “undecideds” I only know what I don’t want in our President:
- Someone who does not have the stature of a President to represent Singapore.
- Someone who makes us feel queasy when we look upon Presidential wall photos.
- Someone who is inarticulate and speaks broken English.
- Someone who does not have the morals, conviction and compassion to do what is right for Singaporeans.
- Someone who is bent on protecting the ruling party’s power base.
- Someone who does not have the guts to speak up and the stamina to stay the course for Singaporeans.
- Someone who lacks the EQ to understand the people and how to work with the ruling party.
- Someone with a questionable history of cockiness and past behavior.
Going by some of the criteria eliminates one of the candidates for me – Tan Kin Lian. As for Tan Jee Say, he has the guts and has raised good issues, but he comes across as overly aggressive.
As for Tan Cheng Bock, he remains a mystery to me as to who he really is and I wonder how far he will go to do the right thing in protecting our country’s reserves and in speaking up for Singaporeans. But interestingly, he may turn out to be the “safe” vote for many people.
So what are we “undecideds” going to do come August 27? Many are waiting to see which of the non pro-establishment Tans is leading in the race by end of this week. The game plan, it seems, is to vote for the leading candidate to boost his chances of winning. How they will know which of these three Tans to bet on is going to be challenging.
What is clear though, is that this election is turning out to be one that is not by choice but by elimination for many voters. And that is totally unsatisfactory and unbecoming for a Presidential Election.
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TKL and TCB meek? TT insincere? It is being calm, careful and collected. IMHO, this is the most important characteristics for a person running for elected office. So I am pretty sure I do not want a president who reacts instantly to a slight. Passion can only bring you this far… and I am not convinced that TJS is not putting up an act…
How is TCB a “safe vote” when “he reminds a mystery”? He has so far proven to err on the side of not rocking the boat, so I have my doubts about he standing up for the people when called to do so.
I want to say this, TCB is a friend you would like to have, me too. But today situation he is not suitable. Very simple test even you tell the world that he has track record but it is not good enough.
Donate portion of pay to charity, he considered it vote buying, this I believe is based on his conscience. But what about upgrading of lift? he was in PAP for so many years, did he go against it? he allows the wrong doing to pass through his conscience. This I think he failed miserably. I am sorry to say that. In today situation we want some one with the drive and guts to stand for Singaporean
Tgis PE is indeed a difficult time for all singaporeans.Like a multiple-question examination paper we have to choose the best answer out of the 4.For those of you who were priviledged like me to cast our vote the last time when PE was contested, 46% of us casted for Chua Kim Yeow. OTC got only 54%. Why did we do that? My reason was we do not want another PAP man as EP. They are already the major MAJORITY,so we do not need another one.So were singaporeans ‘daft’then? Those who were not around then to vote at the last PE do you know what happened from that time till now?(at least 2 decades). so please my fellow true-blue singaporeans vote not for your future but your children’s future and for this tiny dot we call home.This is the last straw I am clutching on as we have lost the power to change laws when 60% of us voted for PAP to be in power again ( 6 v 81- how to debate and change constitution at Parliament. Least we forget- only laws can be changes at pariiamentary level not by the PE).
President has well defined Constitutional duties with veto power but can be reversed with 2/3 parliament vote. Undefined role becomes a debatable issue depending on the perception of the relationship between the President and the electorate who is responsible for putting him in the Office. Since this depends on the individual perception (generally loaded towards as a voice for the people) and group perception (biased towards the interests of the group), confusion is expected largely due to group perception. As I see it, whatever the President does outside his well defined Constitutional role, if he does it in the interest and the welfare of the People, ratioally he shouldn’t be faulted especially by the Constitution since the basic premise of the Constitution is the interest, welfare and protection of the People. In other words, the President’s action should basically be judged on the very premise upon which the Constitution is based ie the interests, welfare and protection of the People. Based on this perception of what a President Elect can or cannot do, the criteria of selection becomes simpler, namely he should be a person who has the courage to stand up and defend the voice of the people if all normal channels fail and the only peaceful last resort to get the voice heard is through the Constitutional Head of State ie the President Elect. As far as his ability to fulfil his well defined Constitutional duties (National Reserve and Appointments) effectively, the criteria under which the Certificate of Eligibility is awarded ensure the minimum requirements. Besides he has the help of the Presidential Council to assist him to garner any additional helps he needs. Beside courage and dedication to serve, a candidate’s past records especially those related parliamentary work as member or cabinet minister (ie in the case of Drs TCB and TT) is an important concern and criterion because it is likely that the same mannerism of operation as MP or Cabinet Minister will most probably continue. What is important will be his past records with respect to the degree of transparency and compliancy, his concern for the welfare and interests of the people during the debate on policy, his ways of handling the queries of the people with respect to transparency and mannerism, his disposition to the electorate and to the privileged, his compassion and his capability of understanding the underprivileged etc… With these selection criteria and the available information disclosed thus far, I would say Dr TCB is preferable to Dr TT. TCB’s parliamentary records of not seeing through what he has objected is a worry if he adopts the same manner of operation when he becomes the President. Now it remains Mr TKS and TJS. TJS comes through with a stronger personality for the job but is untested though his humble background and his education are points to be considered. The selection between among the three candidates really depends on personal perception on trust, kind, sincerity, vigour and goodness.
You, sir/mdm, is the true voice of Singapore in this Presidential Elections!
I believe most of the Singaporean want have change for a better future. Now is the time to fight for our dream to come true. Vote for Tan Jee Say not to think to much go head now
“What is clear though, is that this election is turning out to be one that is not by choice but by elimination for many voters…”
This is probably what Americans have face every 4 years. Welcome to “true” democracy.
This election shows again shows something that 90% of home grown singaporeans are aware or not aware of ….that is pap candidates won not because of home grown singaporeans vote but foreigners who became citizens over the last ten or 30 years … very simple calculations… just take the number of foreigners who became citizens over the last 10 to 30 years …. look at singapore population growth from 2 or 3 million 30 years back to what it is now (4 or 5 million?) …. look at all the margins or number of votes…look at public opinion among home grown singaporeans inclination & yet pap still wins … simple fact … if i were a foreigner and i became citizen of a certain country due to its policy benefiting me …wouldn’t i support that govt ? …. that is where our govt gets its 99.9% sure votes … so if you have 200,000 so called foreign talents over the last 30 years … you can count on this to vote for pap ….& the govt knows this ..except some of the ordinary citizens. that’s why over the years singapore is one country that the govt openly praised its foreign born citizens …you sit and reflect ….like this recent PE election 2011 … Tan Cheng Bock lost by 7,000 + votes …. easily very much more than 7,000 foreign born new citizens vote for tony tan ….hahahha … home grown citizens will never win as long as some home grown citizens support the pap ….simple …hahahahahah
This election shows again shows something that 90% of home grown singaporeans are aware or not aware of ….that is pap candidates won not because of home grown singaporeans vote but foreigners who became citizens over the last ten or 30 years … very simple calculations… just take the number of foreigners who became citizens over the last 10 to 30 years …. look at singapore population growth from 2 or 3 million 30 years back to what it is now (4 or 5 million?) …. look at all the margins or number of votes…look at public opinion among home grown singaporeans inclination & yet pap still wins … simple fact … if i were a foreigner and i became citizen of a certain country due to its policy benefiting me …wouldn’t i support that govt ? …. that is where our govt gets its 99.9% sure votes … so if you have 200,000 so called foreign talents over the last 30 years … you can count on this to vote for pap ….& the govt knows this ..except some of the ordinary citizens. that’s why over the years singapore is one country that the govt openly praised its foreign born citizens …you sit and reflect ….like this recent PE election 2011 … Tan Cheng Bock lost by 7,000 + votes …. easily very much more than 7,000 foreign born new citizens vote for tony tan ….hahahha … home grown citizens will never win as long as some home grown citizens support the pap ….simple …hahahahahah
Just to explain further …. this foreign born new citizens is a good buffer for any govt …..but the bottom line is still to count on home grown citizens to support the govt….that’s why any good govt will take note and prevent whatever errosion of support ….logical ?