Some of us may recall the Slipper man in past GEs. He was an unassuming man, wearing T shirt and slippers and putting himself up as a candidate in the GE. Could not figure out what was his motivation, but the law permits every citizen the right to nominate himself as a candidate as long as he is not of bad character, not unsound mind, or a criminal or some lesser conditions. There was also another guy, something like a 'parrot' man, with a parrot on his shoulder, also in the fray.
Many took them lightly, probably jokers or mentally challenged, or perhaps they thought they were good enough and stood a chance, with some luck, to be successful in the election. Some thought they were naive or just messing with a serious democratic process. Or could they be in just for just cheap publicity or attention?
The strict criteria for the EP, actually not just strict, but prohibitive criteria that angels would not even qualify, unless the angel is rich and powerful, have one positive effect, to rule up charlatans and jokers from nominating themselves as EP candidates. But the elitist terms have ruled out many good men and women that could easily do the job of the EP without any difficulties, and would also allow more good men and women to make themselves available, to give the people a better choice, to give every citizen an equal chance, equal right, to be the EP.
Putting the bizarre terms aside, the number of eligible candidates is now limited to a very exclusive few individuals deemed to be good enough to be the EP by the ruling party, and ordinary citizens with lesser means were not. The picture becomes very simple and clear when less than a handful of candidates are on the nominated list and comparison of who is the better candidate can be quite obvious. This is in another way like the saying, in the land of the blind, the one eyed Jack shines.
With a very good candidate like Tharman being thrown in by the government, the alternative candidate would have to be someone as good as him in many areas to stand a chance to beat him. When George Goh offered himself, there is still some semblance of a chance that he could win, on a one versus one basis. George's credential may not be as illuminating as Tharman's, but 50:50, anything can happen. Then Ng Kok Song appeared. This quickly reduces the odds for George and both would be seen to be contesting against the government's candidate Tharman. The votes against the government candidate would be diluted and Tharman's chance would increase.
Any candidate coming in after George and Kok Song would only ensure that Tharman would win, unless this candidate is so outstanding that he would overshadow George and Kok Song. Anyone that is at best the equals of George and Kok Song would further wither down the votes and their own chances as well. It is like coming in to spoil the party. Any reasonable man would know this.
What is the purpose of someone that is obviously not an outstanding candidate and still wanting to come into the fray as the fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh candidate? Is there any good reason to do so other than being deluded, or a personal quest, ego, fantasy, or some publicity to boot as a presidential candidate after the event? For whatever personal reasons, candidates adding to the pool would not only affect the chances of serious and better candidates. It also deprives the people from getting the better candidate of their choice.
Hypothetically, no matter how good Tharman is, if the people wants a non PAP candidate, there is a chance for a non PAP candidate to be elected if it is 1:1 or at worst 1:2 fight. Anything more would destroy whatever slim chances for an upset. In a 1 versus 3 fight, we have seen what happened before. The people were angry at the missed opportunity to put Cheng Bock in the Istana. And we are going to see the fiasco repeating again this time.
We can understand that everyone eligible should have his right to nominate himself as a candidate. We also understand that everyone thinks very highly of himself or herself. We also understand that there is an element of luck or accident to happen. But the probabilities are real and difficult to change.
With all due respect to Tharman, if another candidate is to beat him, the chances for that to happen would be a 1:1 contest. Anything more would be in Tharman's favour. Let's hope that on nomination day, only one candidate other than Tharman, would be left to contest the election. We have at least two to date. Let's hope commonsense and the public good would convince the other hopeful candidates to make a wise decision to withdraw from the fight and make the election a serious election for the best candidate to be the EP, not for someone to enjoy the limelight for the sake of being under the limelight, without any hope of winning, but to undermine the chances of another good candidate having an even chance of winning against Tharman, and a non PAP or less politically tainted man becoming the next EP.
We do not want to see a 4 corner fight again. It is irresponsible for this to happen for people to put their self interest ahead of national interest, to turn the Presidential Election into a personal roadshow at the expense of the common good of the people and country.
RB, you are making too much assumption that botak bao jia. No one know the future..maybe on polling day botak kana strike by lightning. Whether it 5-6 corner fight, let those who have the means to participate have a go at their own aspiration. We just enjoy our day off. Chenhu already said our P is just a char tao (wooden head).
ReplyDeleteA top Singaporean GIC staff left. Another foreign talent likely to take over the position. If more and more Singaporeans are evicted from GIC and Temasek and replaced by foreigners, our reserves would be in the hands of foreigners.
ReplyDeleteWhat can the President do?
This PE campaign should be between a Pro-Pappy candidate and a Pro-People's Presidential candidate. i.e. one to one contest. More candidates means botak is smiling happily !
ReplyDeleteIn Singapore, only rich people can stand for election to become President . .
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteThe presidential election is just a fuss. Let's get real. The strict criterion adopted is already to ensure the favoured candidate will be elected come what come may. Having said that under such stiff criteria not even President Jokowi of Indonesia, President Dladimir Putin of Russia, President Anwar of Malaysia and President Xi Jing Ping of China are qualified to be presidents. And yet they are national figures of high calibre, of outstanding quality, of grest illuminating character of selflessness and great sincere devotion and delegation to serve their national interests with luminating fervour and patriotism. Can any of our functionary incumbent politicians measure up to any one of them? None at all. We have shown that the president and all the ministers and MPs and senior civil servants ( though not civil at all ) are nothing but eunuchs on puppet strings manipulating by a clownish damning puppeteer.
Our nation founding leaders like Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng Swee, Lim Kim San, Rajaratnam, Hon Sui Sien, Dr Toh Chin Chye and Ong Pang Boon were also outstanding leaders who really devoted themselves to serve the people and the nation. Hope leaders of such high calibre and quality will return one day in the not too distant future to bring the nation around and to prevent foreigners of usurping power all over the island in either government or government linked bodies or linked companies.
A very worried citizen and fearsome for our future generations.
Yang Tai Chong
This PE is a show orchestrated by a Party well versed in the art of getting what they want. Ng Kok Song is a candidate put in by them. So near to the election and they still have not confirmed who are eligible to take part. This uncertainty about whether Ng Kok Song and George Goh are eligible is to entice those who are eligible and who wish to offer an alternative to the people, to contest. I am 100% certain all will be deemed eligible. If Tan Kin Lian were to contest, he will be taking the bait dangled by the Party which is doing everything to ensure Tharman will win, and by a huge majority.
ReplyDeleteThe daft, greedy and charlatans would take the bait to join the farce to make sure Tharman would be elected.
ReplyDeleteThe criteria make it more difficult to be President of Singapore than to be the President of USA, China, Indonesia or any where else. And because the job of the Singapore President is so important, the responsibility so heavy, he must be paid more than the Presidents of the USA, China, Indonesia combined salary.
Exceptional quality people to do an extraordinary job of an extraordinary president.
Its precisely that rules are made such prohibitive and selective that only their anointed ones can be elected or get a walkover.
DeleteThe elected presidency should be renamed the PAP presidency as no non party or non establishment candidate can win it.
To me, the election of the President in Red Dot is a non event. It is just as close to as the former method of appointing Presidents like Yusof Ishak, Benjamin Sheares and Wee Kim Wee.
ReplyDeleteThere was much more respect, honestly speaking, for those three, being truly outside the political embrace that is bound to cloud and influence their decisions. Not to say that the PE had any real influence over the reserves as being hyped out to be. Most people believe the influence and power over the reserves is more theoretical than practicality, more imaginery than real.
What more do I have to say?
When the job is dismissively compared to a jaga, no need to say anything anymore.
ReplyDeleteInvite Davinder Singh to contest against Tharman.
ReplyDeleteDespite losing his deposit, his ego has exploded beyond recognition. He is in for the attention and enjoying it, and careless about how it would affect others.
ReplyDeleteWhat recognition? He is basically talking to himself on his blog. That he lost even his deposit is all we need to know about his attention seeking high flying circus act this time. He lost his credibility long ago. Does not need a rocket scientist to figure it out.
ReplyDeleteWhy can't Low Thia Kheng stand for presidential election? Not rich enough?
ReplyDeleteFirst hurdle placed is the S$500 million threshold that stands in LTK's way. In other words, not rich enough! Second, he is still embroiled in a case involving the Town Council, which is a blemish that they will target as not Godly enough for the job. And of course they would not want another Ong Teng Cheong as President asking all the important questions.
ReplyDeleteAs a matter of interest, they would probably not even allow him to have access to any form to file his nomination papers, LOL. It is totally insane if they allow him to run. He would not even be allowed if he is the last man standing on this island.