Tan Kin Lian's message
Dear Friend,
I am standing for election as President of Singapore and wish to ask for your support.
Many people have told me that they want a President who can:
Be a voice of the people
Be independent of the PAP Government
Safeguard their CPF money and the national reserves
If you give me your support and I get elected, I promise you that I will carry out these tasks diligently.
I come from a humble family background. When I was a child, I lived in a rented room and had to move residence a few times. Later, I lived in a HDB flat for 7 years. Today, I live in a ordinary house and like many Singaporeans, I have a car but often travel by bus and MRT.
I understand the struggle of many people who find it difficult to earn enough to meet the cost of living, have to travel in crowded public transport daily and have to face the competition for jobs. I am close to the ordinary people in Singapore and can be your voice to carry your views to the Government.
I have never been a MP or minister in the PAP Government. As President, I will be able to think and act independently of the Government and take a different perspective in looking after the interest of the people of Singapore. I will work in cooperation with the Government to find solutions that are best for the people.
In my decisions, I will guided by my personal values of honesty, fairness, positive attitude, courage and public service and by the views of the people (which I will actively seek).
I am qualified and have the financial knowledge to safeguard your CPF money and the national reserves. I had nurtured an insurance company for 30 years, looking after the savings of over 1 million people and managing assets of $17 billion.
I understand the need to be prudent in our investments, to avoid speculation and to invest for the long term. I can bring this knowledge to the duty of the President in safeguarding the reserves.
I wish to run for President as a public duty. I do not wish to receive a large salary as President and will be willing to donate at least 50% of the salary to charity and other worthy causes.
I hope that you will give me your support and will encourage your friends, colleagues, neighbors to support me. Please help me in spreading this message to them.
Tan Kin Lian
Candidate for President of Singapore
PS. I received this message from a friend in my email. I will post messages of the other candidates as well if I can get them.
6/28/2011
The Sick Man of the Middle East
A warrant of arrest was issued by the western dominated International Criminal Court for the arrest of Gaddafi and his son Saif Al Islam and the Intelligence Chief for crimes against humanity. The arrogance of the West knows no limits. They are the masters of the Arab world. They can send in their armies to kill any Arab leaders at will, and now issuing a warrant of arrest for an Arab leader as if the Arab states were their colonies.
Though legally the Arab countries are independent countries, the de facto rulers of the Arab world are still the West, comprising Europe and America. And what crimes have Gaddafi committed? The presiding judge, Sanji Mmasenono Monageng had this to say about Gaddafi and his son, ‘conceived and orchestrated a plan to deter and quell by all means the civilian demonstrations’ against the regime…’ Wow, quelling civilian unrest is a crime against humanity! Then many Asian and African leaders will also be in the ICC’s list of wanted criminals.
What about those leaders that sent armies and bombers to attack and bomb other countries by acts of rash and dumb wars and killing many innocent civilians and calling them collateral damages? The Libyans have protested that ‘Nato has been committing crimes against humanity in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Libya now. They have never considered investigating the killing of many civilians in Iraq, many civilians in Afghanistan, many civilians in Libya.’
So, what can the Arabs do about it? The West controls the gun and can point it at their heads at will. What can the Arabs do about it? Absolutely nothing. They will remain the conquered and ruled states of the West.
They are the sheeples at the international level, can only whine and suffer in at the hands of the West. Weakness is sexy and attractive and inviting, to be raped, and to be ruled. Yesterday was Saddam Hussein. Today it is Gaddafi. Who will be next tomorrow?
Though legally the Arab countries are independent countries, the de facto rulers of the Arab world are still the West, comprising Europe and America. And what crimes have Gaddafi committed? The presiding judge, Sanji Mmasenono Monageng had this to say about Gaddafi and his son, ‘conceived and orchestrated a plan to deter and quell by all means the civilian demonstrations’ against the regime…’ Wow, quelling civilian unrest is a crime against humanity! Then many Asian and African leaders will also be in the ICC’s list of wanted criminals.
What about those leaders that sent armies and bombers to attack and bomb other countries by acts of rash and dumb wars and killing many innocent civilians and calling them collateral damages? The Libyans have protested that ‘Nato has been committing crimes against humanity in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in Libya now. They have never considered investigating the killing of many civilians in Iraq, many civilians in Afghanistan, many civilians in Libya.’
So, what can the Arabs do about it? The West controls the gun and can point it at their heads at will. What can the Arabs do about it? Absolutely nothing. They will remain the conquered and ruled states of the West.
They are the sheeples at the international level, can only whine and suffer in at the hands of the West. Weakness is sexy and attractive and inviting, to be raped, and to be ruled. Yesterday was Saddam Hussein. Today it is Gaddafi. Who will be next tomorrow?
The sins of yesteryears
The presidential election is taking on a different spin. It started off with who is more independent of the PAP. Membership of the PAP or ex membership became an issue. This then took on another twist with everyone claiming that he is independent of the PAP, and he can think and act as an independent President. PAP saw this trend and has so far distanced itself from the candidates, not willing to endorse anyone of them. This could be the first elected President that is not endorsed by the PAP despite the fact that all three Tans were ex PAP and with two recently resigned just to stand for the election. Stop that cynical smile will ya?
The main media has been saying all the good and kind things about the candidates, how refined and dignified they looked if they become the President. Everyone has a brilliant track record to boot and it is a matter of whose is more kilat. In terms of good look, none may be as photogenic as Harrison Ford, Bill Pullman or Denzel Washington, but passable.
The part that none of them was counting on is another side of their track records that are now circulating in the internet. Every human bean has a past, a little indiscretion or infidelity, a little nastiness or naughtiness. Just hope that the past is not heinous enough to destroy their chances to be the President. Would their pasts catch up with them and would they pay for their pasts?
It is a lesson that everyone shall take heed. Things always come full circle and what one did unto others will come around in the most irritating and crucial moment. It is now a matter of who did less and who the people would forgive. One of them is going to be our President.
Is the past important?
The main media has been saying all the good and kind things about the candidates, how refined and dignified they looked if they become the President. Everyone has a brilliant track record to boot and it is a matter of whose is more kilat. In terms of good look, none may be as photogenic as Harrison Ford, Bill Pullman or Denzel Washington, but passable.
The part that none of them was counting on is another side of their track records that are now circulating in the internet. Every human bean has a past, a little indiscretion or infidelity, a little nastiness or naughtiness. Just hope that the past is not heinous enough to destroy their chances to be the President. Would their pasts catch up with them and would they pay for their pasts?
It is a lesson that everyone shall take heed. Things always come full circle and what one did unto others will come around in the most irritating and crucial moment. It is now a matter of who did less and who the people would forgive. One of them is going to be our President.
Is the past important?
6/27/2011
Pension versus CPF payout
This is becoming a sore thumb. Many are grimacing at the inconsistency in the application of the two schemes, particularly the time for withdrawal. In one case it is withdrawing with pleasure and another with so much agony, so difficult to pull out with possibility of die standing and still trap inside. The unhappy CPF members are claiming that there is no logic that can be withdrawn at 55 and in a big way, while another at 62, in bits and drips, and probably stuck inside for a long, long time.
Actually the logic is plain and clear. It is the most logical thing to do so when the CPF savings are limited and exhaustible. You take out too much and too early, it will all be gone. In the case of pension, it is kind of unlimited, or at least the source of the fund is unlimited. So there is no problem withdrawing early even with big amounts. The stock will be replenished from the treasury. As for CPF savings, the person withdrawing his own money is not going to put in his own money to withdraw his own money later. You just can’t go on withdrawing from a fixed sum of savings without replenishing.
It is all about practicality and expediency. This should settle this contentious issue for all.
Actually the logic is plain and clear. It is the most logical thing to do so when the CPF savings are limited and exhaustible. You take out too much and too early, it will all be gone. In the case of pension, it is kind of unlimited, or at least the source of the fund is unlimited. So there is no problem withdrawing early even with big amounts. The stock will be replenished from the treasury. As for CPF savings, the person withdrawing his own money is not going to put in his own money to withdraw his own money later. You just can’t go on withdrawing from a fixed sum of savings without replenishing.
It is all about practicality and expediency. This should settle this contentious issue for all.
The myth of an independent elected President
The issue in everyone’s mind is how independent would or should the elected President be. Or should this be an issue at all as everything seemed to work well with PAP sponsored Presidents in the past. Why should it then be an issue now? And conventional wisdom says it is ok, just like issues of conflict of interests in many quarters were brushed aside as ok, no issue. Would the issue of having a really independent President as opposed to a political party sponsored President be settled once and for all by the voters?
Several self serving explanations on the political and social system have been debunked and became outright matters of disgust overnight. If this issue of having an independent President is overwhelmingly endorsed by the voters, with a truly independent President voted into office, it will be a sign of independent thinking and maturity of the electorates. It will be a sign that they are thinking and know that what they have been told were not necessarily good or for their own interest.
The next institution that may be rubbished is the concept of a one party dominant political system. This has been propounded as an unique wisdom in paradise, that it is the best system for a small and complex nation. There is no need for strong alternative parties and alternative voices in parliament, only a strong one party rule system will serve the people best. And a strong one party system with the best talents on board, incorruptible, selfless and righteous, and always thinking of doing their best to serve the people, be the servants of the people, is the best system for the people.
More of such self serving reasonings and institutions will go down, one after another, when the people decide to put on their thinking caps and not allow other people to think for them. This must be good, or bad to some, depending on which side of the equation one belongs.
Several self serving explanations on the political and social system have been debunked and became outright matters of disgust overnight. If this issue of having an independent President is overwhelmingly endorsed by the voters, with a truly independent President voted into office, it will be a sign of independent thinking and maturity of the electorates. It will be a sign that they are thinking and know that what they have been told were not necessarily good or for their own interest.
The next institution that may be rubbished is the concept of a one party dominant political system. This has been propounded as an unique wisdom in paradise, that it is the best system for a small and complex nation. There is no need for strong alternative parties and alternative voices in parliament, only a strong one party rule system will serve the people best. And a strong one party system with the best talents on board, incorruptible, selfless and righteous, and always thinking of doing their best to serve the people, be the servants of the people, is the best system for the people.
More of such self serving reasonings and institutions will go down, one after another, when the people decide to put on their thinking caps and not allow other people to think for them. This must be good, or bad to some, depending on which side of the equation one belongs.
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