The following article was first published on leongszehian.com
__________________________
~By Alex Lew~
~Photography by Shawn Danker~
I refer to Mr. Belmont Lay’s article describing the failures of the recent Presidential Election Candidate Mr. Tan Kin Lian’s campaign. The writer has given some strong opinions about Mr. Tan’s campaign. As such. I thought it was relevant for me to to share my personal opinion of Mr. Tan Kin Lian and his campaign in the recent elections.
It was in the midst of 2009 when Singaporeans experienced worst of the subprime crisis. At that time, Lehman Brothers had just collapsed. Products with counter-party risk related to the investment bank were on the verge of default. It was noteworthy that many Singaporeans were exposed to such products. There were consensus that Singaporeans were sold this products without clear disclosure of the products’ risk. Some Singaporeans were not able to grapple with the risk of default.
As the crisis worsened, Singaporeans were lost in terms of the future course of action. Many questions were asked but no one could answer them. What were the avenues to recover their investments? Who could the investors speak to? Why were the Lehman Brothers counterparty arrangements not disclosed to investors? How was it that senior citizens who could not understand any financial terms were sold such complex products?
During this time, no one within the establishment provided the necessary leadership. One man stood up to lead the affected Singaporeans. Mr. Tan Kin Lian volunteered to front the issues. I remembered in one afternoon, Mr. Leong Sze Hian and I joined the crowd in Hong Lim Park. Mr. Tan Kin Lian stood up under the blazing sun and delivered his speech. He made his speech slowly but steadily, giving enough time for Mr. Goh Meng Seng to translate the speech in Mandarin.
Thousands of Singaporeans looked towards Mr. Tan for directions. There was chaos all over. This man had brought faith and gave hope the affected investors in Singapore. Mr. Tan Kin Lian remained consistent in his belief that he could help his fellow countryman.
For the next few months, this man garnered enough administrative and legal help in an attempt to bring the many potential mis-selling cases to light. It was during this time that talks of Mr. Tan Kin Lian as the next President of Singapore emerged. Several volunteers requested Mr. Tan Kin Lian to step up and run for the President’s office.
All these time, no other Singaporeans indicated their willingness to stand up for Singaporeans. After Mr. Tan’s declaration that he would run for the President’s office, many worthy Candidates stepped out of their comfort zone to submit their applications to run for the role of President.
It is a fact that only 4.9% of the electorate voted for Mr. Tan Kin Lian. While many Singaporeans rush in to comment on his campaign’s failure and how many mistakes he had committed. I represent the group of Singaporeans that would like to thank Mr. Tan Kin Lian for his service to Singaporeans. I applaud his bravery for standing up for us during the crisis and for giving the courage to other candidates to run for the role of President.
_________________________________
The writer is a Certified Fraud Examiner and Wharton Fellow
_________________________________
TKL said he is non-partisan. Does this mean he could or would only run for the next PE and not for mp under a party or he may run for mp as an INDEPENDENT?
Regardless, i think we all should be grateful for stepping forward, speaking publicly as Voice of the people and spending all the time and energy and resources.
Several qualified citizens chose not to step forward for the 40%.
This is evidence that :
1. TKL is already 1 in a million.
2. A capable person need not be Kind, Considerate for the people, righteous minded, confident and willing and compassionate.
3. 35% of the people find that tt is the best choice for Checking the accounts even when he was the gic dy chairman etc.
TKL should never feel he lost anything.
He name is in history books and his heart and effort is demonstrated to the people.
So , our effort will be futile because the 35% or 60% have proven repeatedly WHERE THEY STAND.
We shall forever be denied as long as they exist.
I must admit that I have made a mistake to rely on TRE & TOC’s articles to vote for TJS in order to have a People’s President with a heart.
I have posted the following article on TRE on 21/8/11.
“We, citizens of Singapore need to work harder to consolidate our votes to TJS, TKL or TCB otherwise I foresee TT will be elected as the PAP’s President.
I have attended a 7th month festival dinner yesterday, my 2nd brother aged 58, mentioned that he will vote for TT. My 2nd brother will vote for TCB, my 2nd sister who just came back from holiday is voting for TT. My youngest brother is voting for TKL and my eldest sis endorsed TJS. After we presented our reasoning, all votes stand except for my eldest sis who may be swayed to vote for TKL, TCB or TJS instead of TT.
Above scenario is a true fact, unless we are united and can work out among the 3 Tans; TJS, TKL and TCB to unite their supporters to consolidate all votes for one & only Tan, otherwise no matter how, our votes will be diluted which means to say TT will be definitely be the PAP’s President!
Can TCB, TJS and TKL come together and work out a consensus and may be to draw lots openly and get the other 2 to back out so that the “People’s President” will only have one candidate against TT.
To be fair for the other 2 President candidates who are stepping down, a donation drive can be organised to repay their deposits forfeited, or if a “People’s President” is elected; the President could use part of his salary to pay for the deposit and election expenses. In addition, the People’s President, if elected, must appoint the other 2 President candidates as Main Advisors and pay them a monthly salary of $40,000 to 50,000 each. This is a win-win situation for all!
This can only assure a straight fight, otherwise please accept the fact that if we are not united, we will definitely lose. 团结就是力量! Unity is force!
This is just my personal opinion and my family will vote for TJS if above is not feasible.
Hopefully some wise man can advice us what we need to do to ensure that we are given a good chance to contest against the PAP president candidate, TT.”
We lack a unifying force to rally more Singaporeans to make the right choice for PE 2011.
I hope we will not repeat the same mistake for GE 2016 !!!
We should all congrat tt for garnering such an impeessive victory of 35% mandate. and i have not even mentioned the additional decimals.
A EP respected by all, i am sure.
He deserve the highest salary, thanks to No Body No Body but the people. Without the hardcore support tt could not have won.
Yours
SD Wee
Broadminded
You are not alone. Me too urged the same.
Mathematically our strategy is correct. But humanistically we cannot UNITE the people.
We are missing a LEADER.
Oh i forgot we now have tony tan, the most electrifying Unifyer of all time with 35% strong mandate.
Jacq31 August 2011
@doppelganger, TJS is a copycat who misled all the opposition supporters. He betrayed and copied practically most of TKL’s campaign message.
……………………
sure man liked you said..
1/2 a million supporters is wrong
your tan kimlian is right
who is goin to get back my cpf’s savin$
YOU?
so ow should i insult you?
a s shole or ninkumput?
Not bad. Someone is willing to speak up for TKL. I will give serious consideration what he chooses to do from now on.
He still doesn’t have the gravitas for President…should have practised his speech more.
TKL was a non starter from day one.Losing his deposit instead of giving to the poor is something he should have done knowing his chances after the poor turnout at his rally.
“Courage” or service to the nation was a duty that only the brave will do and step up to be counted.
Service and “courage” to the nation starts in parliament and not the HIGHEST office of the Nation.(More ceremonial than service plus money and ego feeding is good)
Was TKL brave or opportunistic? let historians and the public decide.
JR
Was TKL brave or opportunistic? let historians and the public decide.
……………
i already decide tan kimlian didn’t do his homework……….
credit to fortune magazine below
=============================
Now we learn from the August 15, 2011 issue of Fortune Magazine that Singapore has no sovereign wealth.
Instead it has a sovereign debt of US$254 billion, which is 95% of Singapore’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This puts Singapore at 8th position as one of the world’s most indebted nations. Singapore is near the bottom of the pile; only seven developed countries are more in debt, in terms of GDP.
Apparently, Singapore has borrowed heavily from its own Central Provident Fund (CPF) which holds the retirement funds of Singaporeans. This explains why Singapore is not only raising the retirement age, but making it more difficult for Singaporeans to get their retirement funds even when they reach that age.
……………
thank you tankimlian..now it seem that my cpf$ $avin$ is in DEBT$…
now i owed the world bank of what balance in MINE cpf$
DOLLARS 4 DOLLARS
$
Whether or not all four Presidential candidates are linked to the PAP is a matter of definition and timing. Maybe only two can be called truly of the PAP. Nevertheless it shows a dearth of political experience dished out to Singaporeans. It certainly is not a healthy state of affairs as indeed we the citizenry are feeling the heat of two million new bodies brought into our country, choking our jobs, transport , housing, medical , educational services.The PAP has sold our country with us as sitting tenants. All because there is no effective voice in Parliament to oppose such moves and moves to enrich themselves by gross overpayment of remuneration and sucking the juice out of the honey pots of the country. The ISD is a sentinel watching over the population for any challenge against the centre of power and the judges will do everything asked of them to quash any dissenters. To ensure that the PAP is not the sole dish on offer we have to oppose the centre of power’s power and that is the PAP version of the Rule of Law. How to do this? That is the question. There seems to be no answers which are safe and easy.
The PE is not supposed to be a political event, but the electorate made it to be one. TKL was the only candidate trying to make the event non-political and non-partisan, but that did not go down well with the voters. He wanted to rise above politics (as what the EP should be) but the voters did not want any of it. That is a contributing factor to his poor performance.
Sg has a long way to go to understand the difference between partisan and non-partisan governance.
TKL said he would stand in PE2011 if 100,000 Singaporeans signed an online petition.Only a handful did.TKL was therefore honour-bound not to stand.
Mr Tan KL’s 4.9% vote share is earned, for that he deserves some amount of respect for effort. although a lose is a lose, Mr Tan KL should be comforted there are people who truely supported him during the short campaign period.
as for Mr Tan JS’s entry into the fray, it could be PAP’s way of winning some, loosing some. a strategic move to gauge public sentiments to prepare for GE 2016. by letting Mr Tan JS contest, PAP can gauge in absolute numbers the discontent with the current gahmen, down to hard numbers- stats. numbers are what this gahmen likes to work with as is quantifiable.
stats are often used to back up their position, or the lack of it.
voting can be seen as an exercise of choice. & garnering of votes, a strategy. its not wrong to debate what could tilt the vote either way. MIW have extensive reach & their vaste machinery on their side, it does no mean there is no way to win them in their own game.
the strategy is public education. on what? how to make (the best) decisions when one does not have all the info. that is something maybe even the MIWs are not good at. that is why they always demand to know everything when faced with an alternative idea or solution. that is their Archille’s heal, they seem so paralysed when faced when unknowns. they demand to know all the details, will not move till they do, like waiting for the stars to align liddat. but time doesn’t wait for them, it wun.
is 5 years long enough for TOC & other alternative online sites to educate to masses? have to try to know loh…
I was a victim of a DBS marketed structured financial product called H2 which lost over 80% in value when Lehman bank collapsed. I invested $100,000, a substantial part of my retirement on this product thanks to the misleading pitch by the DBS relationship manager. If it were not TKL’s persistent representation of our interests to DBS and MAS, I would have lost my entire $100,000.
While TKL may not be an impressive speaker, nor photogenic, I am still grateful to him. Now, I feel guilty for voting TJS, having been conned by TRE’s relentless promotion of TJS, and lampooning of TKL.
@Goh Meng Seng [Quote]
>>Tan Kin Lian was asked a question and answered it, with true honesty.
I do know more about this event because both TJS and TKL are my friends. TKL has stood up on both my rally stage as well as TJS’s SDP rally stage to lend his support during GE2011. Naturally, in true spirit of Asian Values which I believe all of us hold so dearly, I will help him out as and when it is necessary.
When TJS told me he may go and get the forms for PE, I had a bit of reservations and I told him this will affect TKL’s campaign if both of them contest. TJS reasoned that he is afraid that BOTH TCB and TKL may be disqualified and his application will force the PAP not to do that. He said if all of them got the certificates, he will negotiate with both TCB and TKL to come up with a consensus on who is the best candidate to stand for PE.
But when TJS gets his certificate and I called him from HK, he said that he is definitely going to stand for PE because he is the “most independent”. I told him, he is NOT independent because he will always be viewed as opposition member. Anyway, since he insists on contesting and not going along what was initially thought of negotiation, there is nothing much I can do.
These are true facts. Nothing more nothing less.
It is not about opposition profile that matters and it just goes to show that he want to contest with that aura of being an opposition member. As I have explained, I do not wish the system to be abused by PAP in the event of them losing power, take Presidency as a springboard to cripple the next government. Similarly, I do not wish to see the same happening right now as well because with a crippled government, the whole Nation will suffer.
What we need is an independent and politically neutral President. Ever since PE is installed in 1991, PAP has been putting up their own kaki to be the Presidential candidate. This is very unhealthy and greatly expose their motive of using the Presidency as the second safeguard of losing power. This means that they are making decisions based on their own political interest considerations.
IF we want to break this, we need to vote in a truly politically independent President.
I think TKL mentioned about that but does it really matter? TJS agreed and attended one of the meetings.
I am also disturbed that at the second part of the campaign, it seems that TJS’s campaign has turned into almost copying wholesale all the ideas that TKL has put up.
TJS was non-committal on the Presidential salary during the Round Table discussion while TKL has stated right from the start that he is going to donate at least half of his Presidential salary to charity, particularly to help the poor students and aged. Then just a day later, TJS talked about the $500K salary and even joked about the $1 salary. It really looks like the 7 Month dinner auction but just that the bidding is to see who has lower bid on the salary!
TKL has put up the plan of coming up with an Annual Presidential Report on the reserve management right from the beginning of the campaign. TJS also follows up with that too in the later part of the campaign.
TKL first used the slogan Voice of the People but look, TJS’s campaign started to add that Voice of the People right at the back of his initial slogan! Even slogan he wants to grab!
Thus, with all objectivity, I really think that it is TJS’s campaign which is going all out to mimick TKL and trying to undermine TKL’s campaign. I am really truly puzzled by it.
Goh Meng Seng
Ex Secretary General of NSP<<
But when TJS gets his certificate and I called him from HK, he said that he is definitely going to stand for PE because he is the “most independent”. I told him, he is NOT independent because he will always be viewed as opposition member. Anyway, since he insists on contesting and not going along what was initially thought of negotiation, there is nothing much I can do.
These are true facts. Nothing more nothing less
……………
dear gohmengseng from your previous erections in angmokio where you garner more than 33% against techgheephuat
please RETIRED @ that
this is the BEST you can performed
as for your support on tankimlian
mr 4.91% is the answers..no further xcuses/xplanation needed
that is all i asked
humbily yours
Dear Mr. Goh Meng Seng
People must thank Mr. Tan Kin Lian for his efforts in standing up for the people in this presidential election.
But as you know, not everyone can say for sure his candidacy is more worthy than another.
The choice is with the voters. So let us not try to give an impression who is a more charismatic and has greater abilities than another.
As events turned out, Mr. Tan Jee Say has proven to be a more popular candidate than Tan Kin Lian. So be it. Make up and look forward to GE2016. Why wash dirty linen in public.
dear Robert Teh,
i believe its better for frustrations to be expressed now than later. let those who feel certain ways voice out the grievances now & the fair minded step in to correct any mis-conception when needed.
there are those who will always be pointing fingers, no one likes that sinking feeling of losing, more so for Mr Tan KL & their supporters for the dismal results. let’s not sweep it under the carpet just because its not a pleasant feeling.
just keep a lookout for those who are out to sow the seeds of discord (PAP supporters?) to divide to conquer. some may be doing just that to rub on old wounds come GE 2016.
cheers.
Dear Mice is nice
Yes, candor is important. As you said, all oppositions must close rank and not sow discord among themselves to hurt their own and people’s cause – stand up for rights of people and not be taken for granted by an elitist and arrogant power-crazed government.
TKL was never trained as a politician. How many people can have won more than 100k votes? I would support TKL if he continues to run for elections as independent candidate.
Others have been groomed for very long time to be politician . TKL never have such grooming.
He is impressive. He never heli-insert.
I have to admit, Tan Kin Lian’s campaign was a failure because he came across as very one-liners. Almost all his answers to questions are about being the Voice of the people. Even if genuine, it comes across as flat and lacking in substance. But yes, I still would give credit and applause to anyone who ran in this Presidential Elections for it takes courage (lots of it) to stadn up to public scrutiny and lots of politics from everyone else to run for such an energised elections. Bravo to all and to Tan Kin Lian. hope we see more of these energised elections in future.
I trust TKL has a kind heart and will stand up for Singaporeans when we are in need. A proven case as seen in mini bond saga. A friend in need is a friend indeed!
I feel apologetic towards TKL because after hearing Leong Sze Hian & Ivy Singh Lim’s speeches at TKL rally which were very impactful, I was contemplating to vote either TJS or TKL.
After evaluating TKL winning chances for PE, I consolidated my family’s votes for TJS.
Whatever it is, putting aside all differences, whether it is the ruling party, opposition parties, TT, TCB, TJS, TKL, GE & PE is over now; we need to close ranks, move on and unite together to focus on making Singaporeans’ lives better and reduce unhappiness on the ground.
By 2016, we will evaluate the performance of all & hopefully life will be better for all our beloved Singaporeans!
At the end of the day, we will still need more credible opposition parties to introduce competition and prevent those arrogant MIW from being complacent or “talk to them & slap them” if they drive off course.
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri to all our Muslims brothers & sisters!
dear Robert Teh,
it may seem counter-productive or even destructive. but after the storm, the skies will clear.
only then will unity be robust. alternative parties can ill afford to hang together by the thread.
those who sow discord may well be from the pro-PAP camp, they have much to gain from it. but for those not from the pro-PAP camp, their leadership of choice will have to set a good example by ironing out their differences.
GE2011 showed they indeed can work consessions out, given the difficult situation then. quite clear to me which team can weather a storm better.
:)
Dear Tony,I hope you don’t mind me calling you Tony. I am sure being
fresh fromcampaigning, you are still in a backslapping, informal, mix with
thecommoners mood and don’t mind my being informal.I am not sure if you
are presently basking in the after-glow of yourvictory. But it must be
difficult for you to accept that the majority ofSingaporeans did not vote
for you and in fact view your victory with dismay..Your victory must
have been a big relief to you given the very slim majorityyou won. Put in
another way, you almost lost. If just 20% of the spoiltvotes had gone to
TCB, it would have
happened. To paraphase WinstonChurchill, “never has so much depended on so
few”, 7,269 voters to beprecise.I am sure you read Malcolm Gladwell’s
book “Outliers” where the element ofluck was highlighted in “Success”. You
were extremely lucky in having 3other candidates and they were certified fit
to contest and the votes weretherefore split.You were lucky to have two
fairly strong contenders who to some extentdiluted the votes among
themselves. If it was a straight fight between youand TCB or you and TJS, I
daresay the outcome may have been different.You were also lucky that TKL
entered the fray and proved to be stubbornuntil the end. He could have
surrendered early in the campaign when it wasapparent that his was a lost
cause and asked his supporters to back TCB orTJS. This
could have endeared him to Singaporeans. Instead he perseveredin his self
delusion that he had a chance and is the one who made itpossible for you to
win. Singaporeans will remember him for that.I need to be upfront with
you and say I did not vote for you.I did not vote for you as I thought
you would not be independent being sointimately tied up with the Government
and the management of the reservesonly up to two months ago. I wanted
somebody who was much more independentand not afraid to speak up. You did
not fit my requirements.I was also very disappointed and angry at the
continued silence over yoursons’ NS. Why is it so difficult for you and your
sons to provideinformation on what they did during their NS and refute all
the variousallegations? If your sons are proud of their NS record, then why
be so coyabout telling more.Surely with your background as a banker and
a top politican, as you yourselfstated, it is important not only to be
principled and fair but to be seen tobe so. You surely know better than to
place yourself in a position whereyour actions and motives can be
questioned. People will always wonder andquestion. Continued silence will
just leave this sore festering and blightyour Presidency. Who knows when
and under what circumstances thiscontroversy will resurface and this could
even affect the PAP in
futureelections?Given your actions during this campaign, I will not
hold my breath waitingfor clarification and I think Singaporeans will never
know unless theinformation is forced and pried out somehow.We had
previously a President, who was not elected by any Singaporean voter,and who
served for 12 years. A Presidency best distinguished for being thehighest
paid political office in Singapore much more than
even the PrimeMinister himself). Now we have a President chosen by one out
of 3Singaporeans. So there has been some progress after all.Could I
suggest you start off your Presidency on a high note? How aboutdonating your
entire President’s pay to charity? TKL and TJS were willingto part with
some of the pay. TCB thought it was
tantamount to buyingvotes. You said nothing. Since you already won the
elections, you can startoff your Presidency with this magnanimous gesture.
This will be a powerfulsymbolic move to put your Presidency on solid moral
ground right from thestart and emphasise your commitment to public service
for all Singaporeans.Iam sure you can spare the few millions involved.
This will make itexceedingly difficult for future potential candidates to
challenge you thenext round.I am afraid I cannot give you much
advice right now on what else you can do..Although you have won, you know
that the majority of Singaporeans aredisappointed that this happened. But a
win is a win and is better thanlosing. You are now in the saddle. I am sure
your advisors will bebrainstorming with you over the coming months on how
you will define andmanage your Presidency.The PAP itself probably
also was very relieved that you had won but willhave to reexamine the
reasons for your poor performance and learn from thisepisode.For the
future, I just want to say that although we may stand as a sign ofrespect
when you officiate at functions, do not mistake this as anythingelse than a
sign of respect to the office that you hold.Just remember that what is
worse than an unloved President is a Presidentthat we do not respect.
Respect must be earned. Please don’t take thewhole of 6 years to do
this.I wish you luck and success.In the end, we are all
Singaporeans.Majulah Singapore.Yours
sincerely,Ah Sook
Thanks for supporting Mr. Tan Kin Lian
The EP was a ploy to create as much trouble for any party rather than the incumbent assuming power. The logic is simple (as it turns out too simplistic). One big gun will stand a better chance of being elected if the supporting team can’t lift its game. This EP saw this very gambit being employed. The end result was a disaster. It took full mobilization of the political engine of the incumbent power to push its candidate over the line.
The fault of any disunity arising from the PE debacle lies squarely on the individuals who cooked up the ploy in the first place. Let us keep that in perspective. A P who is non-partisan can only be appointed and has no power given by the ballot box.
For all his shortcomings in presentation
in his campaign (T-shirt, hi-five)which
to to many didn’t look presidential, we
need to give due credit to TKL for his
sincerity,honesty and courage.
At least he’s there to give us a choice and all these talks about him and TJS siphoning votes away from TCB are hypothetical.
And if TCB and TJS didn’t join the fray after the GE, wouldn’t there be another
walkover for the Govt candidate if TKL wasn’t the first to anounce his intention to contest
If we look through the forums, his answers to questions were most direct to the point, not evasive and building around the bush replies like some of the candidates.
So instead of deriding the man, we should cheer that we have citizens like him
@lee,
Haven’t you realised? Many people don’t care about direct answers. They focus on ‘looks’, and the blinking put them off, so they vote the other way. A reflection of the maturity of voters…
hey ppl, do u think TOC n TRE mislead people by painting a misleading ground support for TJS in it’s articles n survey? do u ppl think TOC and TRE must take responsibility for splitting the votes to TJS since we now know TCB is more likely than TJS in blocking TT.So y did TOC n TRE promote a split in the votes.What is TOC n TRE true motives or is their a hidden motive?TOC n TRE owe the ppl an answer.
@rick
The only responsibility lies with the readers. Neither of them ever claimed to be objective, so it was and always will be that YOU yourself to take responsibility for whatever you do after reading from them.
He gave them courage, really? What did he do, gave them each 100,000 signatures?
There is an indian guy keep following tkl during campaign. Is he …. ?
yes, stand again next time. maybe u can give our reserve another $48k up? that make u the only one to lose deposit twice, u are a winner!
48K is chum change. I voted TCB, although I don’t know about him.Usually I’ll vote TT, but I realized that the past policies they implemented resulted in my situation, and many other true blue Singaporeans are disadvantaged by FTs.
Today my insurance agent called me. She’s from prudential.Fxk the last time she persuaded me to buy and then I get another one from her,Several years later I realized that I can’t afford and cut one, but she said leave some money behind, the policy is still in effect, while the money runs out. then today, she suggest me to reinstate that policy. 4%$#@. I do not trust insurance agents. They are up to something,and are go getters. I actually also have NTUC some kind of insurance, but I get bonus sometimes, a few hundreds. Gonna get a lump sum soon as the policy has matured. Mr Tan is the head of insurance agents. and he was suggesting something about unemployment insurance.
Not winning an erlection is nothing to be ashamed of.
The winner is solely based on the most votes.
Do all voters really know who tt is ? Who tjs or tkl are?
Only their friends n relatives or acquaintances know.
Its all a Perception game.
An interviewer may choose a candidate for a job but he cannot guarantee his judgement is always right. Given 4 valid candidates he may not have chosen the right man for the job.
He may have chosen based on perception.
You cannot sniff the brain.
Its a popularity contest.
Put 5 ot 8 candidates in , the winner gets even lesser mandate.
My honest view is that TKL was too APPOLOGETIC maciam like Mrs Chiam when she appeared on tv before the ge. As predicted, they all lost.
I can almost feel a deep sense of fear oozing from TKL mouth everytime he responded to questions.
He can choose to improve on this.
Still i kudos him for walking the talk of his 5 values.
TKL stood up for those people who lost their pants in the structured products. What did SIAS do. Sweet nothing. Why? The joker up there, Geraldine, chickened out. TKL is a real Singapore folk hero but the guy who got the Clob shares back to Singapore is a ‘has been’ folk hero. He was a great hero when he campaigned to get the Clob shares back. Now that he has a cushy job, probably paid by the companies that want him to keep quiet and the salary is around 7,000 Sing dollars per month. So, it is easy to get even a folk hero to become quiet. All the other presidential candidates who said they will give their all to the poor and downtrodden Singaporeans did nothing for the structured products victims. Trust them? PAppy in power again. The winner was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He knows nothing about the poor and their sufferings. Yes, he is going to help the poor. Wait and see.
I look forward to Mr Tan Kin Lian forming his group of Presidential Council of Advisors and grassroots team to listen to the people’s voices and future charity causes.
Dear Goh Meng Seng,
This is my reply to your and other comments in this thread.
Either you are seriously misplaced on Tan Jee Say or has a hidden agenda right from the start as a PAP/NSP mole against him.
Instead of criticising TJS for TKL loss of his presidency and the $48k deposit (the vote was never there for TKL), you should thank TJS for making it possible for both TKL and TCB to obtain their COE and the opportunity to participate in the contest.
Why are you so ridiculously blind? The PAP was determined to make Tony Tan the PE victor by hook or by crook for GIC reasons known to all. There was Plan A – meaning a walkover strategy for TT as both TKL (co-operative, not registered company) and TCB (non-executive chairman) would be disqualified by the PEC.
But after TJS entered the fray amid the growing NS-scandal of TT’s son with more damaging revelations, the PAP leadership fearing world condemnation for its political immorality and autocratic deceitfulness decided to activate Plan B – the dilution strategy by allowing all marginal Tan applicants their COE so Singapore could show the world that democracy was at work.
So TJS has done his part to benefit both TKL and TCB with the COE. His entry has made it possible for TCB and TKL to partake in the contest. In fact, TT with all his growing scandals and stained integrity should thank TJS of allowing the PAP to do a probable but easier last-minute rigging of the final vote for TT (TCB said that after the vote has been counted 80%, he was still leading TT in popularity counts)! OMG, TJS is the Messiah to all three candidates.
But why should TJS risk and suffer the smear on him (he rebutted fully at 17 August press conference and 23 August Toa Payoh rally speech, point by point, to the @Real Truth although this was not fully reported by the Straits Times and the MSM) with his previous understanding with you GMS especially when he knew from his PPS days and later with hard info that TKL could never win? Indeed, LKY would never tolerate TCB or TKL as president. TJS was doing TCB and TKL a favour. Had TCB and TKL quit on Nomination Day to return his favour, TJS could have won in a neck-to-neck race with TT. Ungrateful ignoramus or a blatant liar, as Dr Lim Hock Siew would put it!
Maybe TJS is a gentleman that he will ignore your criticism. But if he doesn’t, even a mild rebuke from him will send you scarily to the dustbin of history.
GMS, TJS is more honourable than you!
TJS has stated all along that he would still want to be involved in parliamentary politics even if he failed to win the non-partisan presidency. In fact, he never thought that he could win the presidency in the first place and be ceremoniously caged in at the Istana for the next 6 years unless he could extend his moral authority to benefit the people which under the Constitution is an impossible task. That was why he declared victory on the eve of the Cooling-off Day – in 3 of the 4 objectives he set out when he first filed for the PE2011 contest. Winning PE2011 was only an option, a bonus.
In fact, one reporter asked him on 28 August wee hour morning whether he would want to declare himself henceforth the de facto Opposition Leader. He modestly replied matter-of-fact that it would be up to the Opposition parties to say so, not wanting to offend WP Low Thia Khiang or civil-disobedience champion SDP CSJ.
Come to think of it. One netizen commented that Tan Jee Say was the biggest momentum winner in PE2011. TT and TCB took 32 and 31 years, respectively, as highly publicised PAP MP to garner only 35% and 34% of popularity votes. TKL took 30 years as grass-root leaders to Lehman Minibond saga in 2009 to secure only a dismal 4.91% losing also his $48k deposit. But Tan Jee Say took only 4 months after joining SDP and quiting it to contest PE2011 securing a significant 25% popularity votes – almost the entire anti-PAP basic core votes.
The netizen asked rhetorically: Who was the best performer in PE2011? You got the answer.
TJS must continue the impressive momentum built-up thus far. Despite the nasty office politics of envy during his many career sojourns, his meteoric rise first in the Civil Service and then in the Finance & Banking industry, will now be followed and matched by his impressive rise in politics to GE2016 and yonder!
But lastly GMS, knowing what I know of the PAP Government, the kiasu civil service would want someone’s deposit to be confiscated so as to help defray the PE2011 cost of the Elections Department. Wasn’t your friend TKL a fool to fall into the trap? And you a greater fool to advise him to fight on!
Regards.
Dear Dr Wong Wee Nam,
It was a surprise that you had not mentioned any PE2011 presidential candidate by name in your article. Are you on the move again, away from the SDP discomfort zone? This may be an ultimate good thing!
This morning a reporter in Zaobao raised the possibility of Tan Cheng Bock mulling his return to parliamentary politics by either forming his own party or joining the WP.
I suppose if it were true, Tan Cheng Bock is in an abject state of delusion. If he thought that the 34.85% he had in PE2011 would be solidly behind him in the coming GE2016, he would be dead wrong. The 34.85% votes were the combined 25% swing pro-PAP votes and 9.85% anti-PAP votes (from GE2011) that had united and swung over to TCB just to deny Tony Tan the elected presidency. These swing voters would fissile out in GE2016 to practically below 5% – because the disgruntled voters would not have TT to kick around anymore.
Do you think that TCB by joining WP or forming a united front with it would do TCB any better than his past PAP MP-ship? WP Low Thia Khiang would feel uncomfortable with TCB not simply because TLK was not prepared to form the next or any Government but more so because he would steadfastly want to survive as the overlord of the Opposition league given that he was acutely aware that he has no caliber, according to LKY, to become PM but just a satisfactory local bandit chief in the mold of Song Jiang in Feudal China.
Indeed, TCB would be better off by making a pact with Tan Jee Say – TCB would throw his support for TJS in GE2016 and TJS would reciprocate by not contesting PE2017 against him. The chance of TJS becoming an MP in GE2016 has become increasingly likely and this would offset his candidacy for PE2017.
So Dr Wong, if you intend to move again, please wait for signals from TCB and TJS.
Both TCB the ex-PAP MP and TJS the ex-civil servant know that the continued success of the PAP rule over 50 years was based on the solid symbiotic relationship between PAP politicians and civil servants. Why not TCB and TJS dust off and tack on this symbiotic relationship to unify and fight separately for GE2016 and PE2917?
Dr Wong, please advise both TCB and TJS to go along this Long March route to a win-win success. Maybe Tan Kin Lian can join the crusade for national unity against the despotic if declining PAP?
Please refer to another TOC thread (“Tan Kin Lian gave courage to other candidates”) for my response to Goh Meng Seng’s ungrateful statement decrying TJS instead of thanking him for a robust PE2011 contest. TJS had helped both TCB and TKL to secure their COE by forcing the PAP to ditch Plan A (the original TT walkover) in favor of Plan B to dilute the anti-PAP votes among 3 candidates to ensure a TT victory.
Please read my comments thereat. It’s about time TCB and TKL return TJS PE2011 favor!
Regards.
Refer to @GMS knows …… This is my second rejoinder!
I had previously implored that Goh Meng Seng had callously used his edited knowledge of the real facts to assassinate Tan Jee Say’s character or smear his reputation. Did GMS think he know more about TJS than I, an acquaintance of over 50 years, to pass his convoluted judgment on TJS?
As a young boy in the 1950s/60s, TJS lived in Queen Street astride the Rochor-Stamford district corridor. He studied at St Anthony Boys Primary School. I recall having a good impression of him. He never ventured out of his house to play with the neighbor kids (except an hour each time in a weekend evening to play Chinese chess with mostly elderly folks at the Queen Street Community Center next door) but otherwise concentrate on his study in-door or away from home (including attending Chinese classes at the old 道南小学 Tao Nan School in nearby Armenian Street before he was transferred to its evening classes after MOE forbade students from attending two schools during the day) and do his share of family chores given by his mother.
His mother used to tell her neighbors what a wonderful filial son TJS was because he had never spent a single family cent from Secondary 2 onwards after he won an in-house scholarship in RI for his academic achievements in Secondary 1. That he subsequently won the PSC Scholarship to Oxford was a continued Heaven bless on this wonderful boy.
Was he an opportunist? Yes and No. Yes, in terms of survival instinct to serve the greater number of people including TKL and TCB for their otherwise-denied COE. No, if and when socio-political values and moral principles are at stake for the greater good of Singaporeans. As his Chinese name 陈如斯 implies, he is what he was and what he will be – honest, dignified, transparent and forthright. Never wayang!
In the 1950s as a toddler, politics was already in his family blood. His eldest sister was the political secretary to PAP Dr. Toh Chin Chye of the Rochor Constituency but left politics soon after the PAP was split with the founding of the splinter group Barisan Sosialis in 1961.
When he was still in primary school Tan Jee Say was already reading “The Plebeian”, the news tabloid of the left-wing Barisan Sosialis (filled with Marxist-Leninist jargons and Mao Zedong thoughts) freely available then at the nearby Green Bus Depot. With a background interest in social issues of the day, he became not unexpectedly the editor of the Rafflesian Time at RI. At Oxford, he became an active member of the Oxford Union, the debating society which exposed many an aspiring student to public speaking for eventual high political office. In short, he has prepared for politics from primary school days onwards. The opportunity to surface in the public domain came after his mother (whom he passionately took care of) passed away early this year at the age of 100. He knows life priority. Yes, you may say he is an opportunist after spending some 50 years in the political wilderness!
Don’t smear or cast aspersion on a good man whose ambition in life has always been to want to serve his people in politics! TJS, as a soft-spoken principled man, has more than his fair share of being bullied and hounded about for daring to resign from the civil service or by office politics of envy in private sector experience. 天若有情天亦老，人间正道是沧桑。 But he is not a vengeful type.
His much-criticized $60 billion National Regeneration Plan is what is really needed for Singapore as we now face the nightmarish prospect of a 1930s-style Great Depression in America, Europe and Japan – that would inevitably slow down the global growth of the emerging economies towards negative territory and only thereafter to dribs and drabs in lackluster economic performances.
I had previously recommended the Singapore Government to divest our investments in all four banks i.e. Barclays, Merrill Lynch, UBS and Citigroup but we only threw out the first two banks and at the wrong timing that saw Temasek Holdings unfortunately losing billions amid manipulation by the smarter foreign brokers.
Now the US Government has started to sue 17 mostly too-big-to-fail banks including UBS and Citigroup together with their erstwhile executives for conspiracy in fraudulent mortgage-backed securities leading to the 2008-2009 subprime financial crises.
Why sue now and so urgently after 3 years of sitting on the fence, you ask? This is because the Feds want to get back at the banks before Wall Street suffered a total collapse bankrupting them amid the coming Great Depression – if they can’t actually get the court-awarded compensation or meted out the punitive fines or jail terms on the perpetrators they at least will leave a good name in the mouth of fellow Americans and as folks hero for posterity! By being lazy in public governance all the while they can also be smart post-mortem!
So while we still have UBS and Citigroup, I now urge GIC to sell our laughable stakes in UBS and Citigroup while we still can. Bring the money back and start implementing Tan Jee Say’s economic restructuring plan soon to piggyback on Indonesia’s rise and Malaysia’s Iskander Region. Otherwise, it would be too little too late when Armageddon strikes and our 20-year long-term global investments evaporate into thin air.
Now back to PE2011. Did TJS really steal 80% of TKL campaign ideas as alleged? What a daft question! First, did TKL believe that he had the monopoly of campaign ideas because he announced his candidacy before TJS did? Remember, TKL also chided TCB on TV for stealing his platform!
First, the campaign platform ideas were unambiguously restricted and the few issues were practically determined by Cabinet involving presidential veto in only 5 areas, unlike the open-ended free-for-all in parliamentary politics.
My netizens friends, the real PE2011 issue here was how TKL and TJS articulated their respective case on those few common ideas, not on who stole what from whose platform that, like free air in the atmosphere, was commonly available to all. If so, do voters really think that TKL had articulated better than TJS on the ISA Act or on disbanding Temasek Holdings across unspecified moral authority on Government lapses while the other two candidates had remained largely non-committal if not simply played dumb?
Second, why don’t we say that during casual conversations leading to public excitement in PE2011, TJS discussed or forwarded many ideas with TKL that subsequently became or reinforced TKL campaign platform? But after TJS realized from hard information he received suggesting that TKL and possibly TCB would be disqualified, he decided to throw in his lot to save the situation from a TT walkover. If anything, TJS was simply sharing their common platform with TKL against PAP Tony Tan and Tan Cheng Bock. TJS 问心无愧呢！
In any case, TKL did himself in by picking the wrong symbol. His symbol looks like a man, having fallen into a manhole, raised his hand with five spread fingers in desperation crying out for help! Well, he also lost his punitive $48k deposit after claiming that he suffered two low points because of TJS.
Don’t tell me that GMS also advised TKL on the High-5 symbol? Or did TJS, having felt guilty for failing to warn TKL that he would be disqualified had he not intervened, suggest the High-5 symbol to caution TKL that he might lose his deposit in the manhole as well? 陈如斯，你被误解了，被冤枉了。真是用心良苦呀！
After praising TJS as a very shrewd operator, one commenter asked “what’s TJS agenda”? I can tell you, TJS has no hidden agenda. Goh Meng Seng had already provided the answer – TJS wanted as well to raise his 知名度 profile for GE2016 if he didn’t get to become president. Little wonder that TJS was so forceful in raising covertly the Opposition cause during the supposedly apolitical PE2011 campaign!
Perhaps TJS realizes that the battle for the hearts and minds of the people is a protracted one. But gaining morality begets more support. Losing it will weaken the support. 得道多助，失道寡助。 坚持下去就是胜利。
High GDP growth is no longer an option for Singapore. To artificially inflate it with job credits scheme by drawing down past reserves to salvage the persistently wrong policy of subsidizing foreign labor-intensive businesses and benefitting foreign PMETs as we did after the 2008-2009 Wall Street Meltdown is only to buy time but will simultaneously hasten our structural apocalypse? That will be a sad end to the much-acclaimed Singapore Story.
Regards.