3/14/2016

The Constitutional Commission – A few good men?

The Constitutional Commission set up to review the criteria for the Elected President is made up of a few men and a woman, all very well established and with very fine credentials that made them very highly regarded in the community. Their names will be in the history books of Singapore, to be read by the millennial in perpetuity.

This ambiguous and highly controversial task of setting the rules for the Elected President could bring out the best in these men and woman, to be remembered as the few good men and a good woman, if they set out to do something good for the people and country. They are shouldering a heavy responsibility, but some may say, caught between a hard rock and the deep blue sea. They could shine or falter and live the rest of their lives in ignominy, depending on the outcome of their recommendations.

What is the real purpose and intent of the Elected Presidency? It is not as simple and straight forward as a school boy would think. Everyone with a little awareness of what is happening in the politics of this island knows exactly what the hell this Commission is supposed to do. It is like a case of do and be condemned or not do and be condemned.  This is how dire the task facing this Commission.

There is the constitutional right of the people to protect, there is democracy to reckon with, and they are the unwritten laws of the day to answer to.  Would the Commission recommend the rights of the people, all being equal under the Constitution, be compromised, that some will have more rights than others, that some are more equal than others, that some can be qualified to be President by virtue of their wealth, position and power and that the common folks have no such right because they did not have the wealth, position and power?

This is a very fundamental position the Commission has to deal with and to answer to the people, oops, to the govt of the day. And it is good that there are two high court judges in the Commission, including the Chief Justice, the man appointed to protect the Constitution and the rights of the people legally, to keep an eye to ensure that the Constitution is not violated.

Would the people applaud at the end of the day, that we have a few good men and a good woman to do what is good for the people and country and keeping the spirit of the Constitution intact? Or would it be something else, that there is no good man or good woman to talk about? Would some be saying, ‘Welcome to the Dark Side?’

Would the Force be strong to keep the good men and good woman away from the Dark Side? These men and a woman would have to answer the call of their duty and the mighty, or almighty to do what is right and what they think is right. No easy task. It is a daunting mission that calls for fearless men and woman to be strong and do the constitutionally right thing.  Their life long reputation is on the line. Would they end up saying ‘inside the centre is not within 200 metres?’

May the Force be with them.

PS. Quote from ‘Musings from the Lion City’. Everyone in Singapore believes that Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong set up the Constitutional Commission to ensure the presidency stays within the control of the PAP. He does not want another contest as close as the one in 2011. It seems Tan thought this as well and is now trying to pre-empt the Constitutional Commission.

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

tan no chance lar

Anonymous said...

How many times have they changed the criteria for the seat of President? As I see it, it has already been changed from appointed to elected and now a review of what changes to come for the elected President. They may even resort to the appointed President by bringing into play the 'rogue' President argument to support their justification, just as they did in all other decision that have been shafted down our throats.

They can talk about having three keyholders or even a thousand keyholders to guard the reserves, but the final nail in the coffin will come when all they need to do is just change the lock. They don't even have to worry about having a rogue President. Tio bo?

Virgo 49 said...


Marina Mahathair said:

Evil lurks when good men do nothing.

So, if the commission sells their souls to the devils, then nothing good will come of it.

Remember that the first Judge who convicted Anwar of Sodomy.

When he retired, he was residing at Tanjong Ramamutan.

Evq to Sin Lorong Buangkok.

Finally committed suicide.

Consciences pricks the minds.

Hope History do not repeat here.

Hello, any Directive from Chief on what to recommend??

Anonymous said...

I don't quite like the idea of having ex-PAP MPs vying for the Presidential seat. It is just as good as having a PAP appointed candidate, whether they are in or out of the PAP camp. How far will he go in terms of independent decisions and if so, will he end up like Ong Teng Cheong? I guess these are doubtful choices, because, if I am not mistaken, he still has his fat PAP pension to consider.

The more I think of it, the more I am apt to think it is the same as the Nominated MPs, who are still under the shadow of the PAP.

Anonymous said...

@ March 14, 2016 10:54 am
"I don't quite like the idea of having ex-PAP MPs vying for the Presidential seat."

Must be another daft Sinkie.
Open your eyes big, big.

Given the current qualifying criteria to be a candidate for President.
How many Singaporeans can qualify who also does not have any historical links with the PAP?
ANSWER
Probably a big fat zero.

Anonymous said...

Anybody is better than the current with fake handshakes (don't believe.. google for it)

Anonymous said...

"Look, Jeyaretnam can't win the infighting.
I'll tell you why.
WE are in charge.
Every government ministry and department is under our control.
And in the infighting, he will go down for the count every time... I will make him crawl on his bended knees, and beg for mercy."

" I make no apologies that the PAP is the Government and the Government is the PAP. "

How many times must it be repeated before you dogs understand?

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ RB:

>> Everyone in Singapore believes that Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong set up the Constitutional Commission to ensure the presidency stays within the control of the PAP. <<

No, not within the PAP's hands for "control". But it's more likely to keep the gullible Sheeple and their lack of control, for one fine day they will surely vote in not just a "rogue" but another Augusto Pinochet or worse.

Constitutional Commission ensures transparency and acts as a "safety valve" against the mass stupidity of the Sheeple.

Anonymous said...

Your cock got brain or not?

Anonymous said...

"Constitutional Commission ensures transparency and acts as a "safety valve" against the mass stupidity of the Sheeple."

Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?

"Who watches the watchmen"
"who will guard the guardians?"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quis_custodiet_ipsos_custodes%3F

Anonymous said...

RB what cock you talking?!?! The commission is nothing to do with constitution or democracy. Their job is to make sure that only PAP-approved people can take part in presidential election.

Just look at the people inside the commission --- all are pro-PAP people, many are even PAP members.

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ 1144:

>> Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? <<

Please lah, we're not living in ancient Greece or Rome, down by the agora talking cock with Plato and his fellow ass-fuckers.

In the present tech-advanced day, WE ALL WATCH the watchmen/ guards / guardians, using our smartphones, YouTube, LiveLeaks, blogs, instant messenger, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram...etc...and especially direct upload to The Guardian using their "special apps".

Don't think you're so clever because you can quote in an ancient DEAD language like Latin.

You are just demonstrating how out of touch you are and fucking clueless about the ENORMOUS PERSONAL EMPOWERMENT the average folks have nowadays, which is proving to work every single day.

Upgrade yourself lah, and come into the present! 🔫

Ⓜatilah $ingapura⚠️ said...

@ 1151:

>> The commission is nothing to do with constitution or democracy. <<

That's the point lah. If you leave it up to "democracy", which Singaporeans ARE NOT YET READY FOR, there is a good chance they will make a huge mistake and vote in a TYRANT.

>> Their job is to make sure that only PAP-approved people can take part in presidential election. <<

Of course. That's the way it is supposed to be. The PAP have a mandate to look after the security of the nation. 70% of the voters said so in the last GE. The PAP are performing their duty by VETTING presidential candidates carefully. BTW, not everyone on the Commission is PAP or affiliated with them. So I think your accusations are just fucking nonsense. 💣

Anonymous said...

The President of Singapore is not allowed to belong to a political party.

What about the people who are reviewing the criteria for the Elected President?
Do they have to resign from any political party they may belong to?

Anonymous said...

Does the resignation make any difference?

Anonymous said...

@ March 14, 2016 1:18 pm

Tony Tan has resigned from the PAP to run for Elected President.

"Does the resignation make any difference?"

Anonymous said...

The commission is like their hands being used to catch poisonous snakes.

Anonymous said...

"One hand washes the other, and both the face."
Spanish Proverb:

Anonymous said...

When a pope dies or resigns, the governance of the Catholic Church passes to the College of Cardinals. Cardinals are bishops and Vatican officials from all over the world, personally chosen by the pope, recognizeable by their distinctive red vestments. Their primary responsibility is to elect a new pope.

http://www.usccb.org/about/leadership/holy-see/francis/how-is-a-new-pope-chosen.cfm

'The Pope selects the cardinals who elects the (new) Pope"

Anonymous said...

Man can never b as clear as water....

patriot said...


Man can NEVER be pure.

If one claims to be so,

that's a pure lie.

patriot