Tony Tan: Something positive for the candidate I rejected

I have had several anti-Tony Tan posts. We know nobody is perfectly good or bad and so I want to bring balance to my memory of these election related events with this short video testimony of Dr. Tony Tan by Adam Khoo.



I recall what happened to a major oil company chairman when I was a young fellow there in their management development program. Unlike his predecessors, this chief was colorful and charismatic. The media loved him and wrote him up in glowing terms at every opportunity. It helped that the company was among the largest foreign investors here, and a darling to the EDB. He mingled with the working level easily, and among the refinery workers too. A refinery worker shared this with me: the chairman asked if he could have the stick of satay on his messy plate. Such an empathetic gesture just made that guy's day. The way he behaved with people, I could obtain countless positive impressions of him like Adam Khoo had for Tony Tan. Of course we were curious about who and what he is and many good stories about him were circulating. I got to talk to him several times and each time I was completely impressed. Put that down on my youthfulness too. So far so good, but his story however did not end well. He was sent back to head office suddenly and in a hurry, like running away in the night. Totally low profile event, an anti-climax to his giant publicity footprint. Of course we eventually get to learn why from the grapevine: the last story that stood the test of time is probably the truth. It was disgraceful. He never got far in the hierarchy after that incident and left the company early.

In the final analysis, electing a representative for ourselves is harder than interviewing a job candidate. We know the often unpredictable results and wrong choices made. Despite each candidate pre-qualified with their COE, we can never be sufficiently sure of any candidate. Collectively we take the risk with our choices. You might say ultimately we are leaving the outcome in the hands of God.

So I hated it when GCT and LHL substituted the statistics LKY was so fond of with stories. They always hide the complete picture but they are powerful to inspire and entertain. They are not representative and could even be deceptive. I am not suggesting that Tony Tan is like that. It is not possible to definitively learn anything useful about the four candidates through their stories and testimonies. Stories sell and that is all that matter when trying to win an election. You have to accept the real world and that Singapore is becoming pedestrian by imitation and becoming like the other major cities. Just because we are imperceptibly slow to many citizens doesn't mean we are not heading that way. When LKY is gone, we will fade faster unless we reinvent ourselves. This is the most pressing task of the millennial generation. I would urge them to look outside the PAP too.

Anyway no matter who becomes President, it is our duty to give him the full support. Six years later based on his report card, we shall decide the issue again.

The Government bully the WP at Aljunied GRC

I see, the HDB quietly leased to the PA key sites in Aljunied GRC thereby depriving the WP from using them. What a low class and despicable act by the PAP government.

Sure, it is all legal and the PA does not allow political activities, which they flout the entire spirit of the regulation by appointing PAP MPs as grassroots advisers.

My late father used to tell me (he voted PAP though) that they are the biggest gangsters, but legal ones :-( Were he alive, I doubt he would have cast his vote for them in the last GE. His cousin, i.e., my uncle told me at his wake that he too no longer support the PAP.

Yeah, very legal indeed but obviously immoral. Shame on you. What other secret and private abuses might you have done to us over the years? I don't think we can let you have the ISA. Can't trust you to use it correctly. I am a latecomer, and I bet there will be lots more of us learning about all these.

I am leaving this entry here, which will become useful in GE 2016. I shall talk about it to friends supported with evidence.

This is outrageous and unacceptable. May be I should tilt toward TJS for President? But would it be a blunt response. You know, cutting our nose to spite our face?

Aljunied GRC

Chairman of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council, Ms Sylvia Lim, clarifies on the issue regarding the use of public spaces by residents of Aljunied GRC to organize events.

Media Release on Use of Public Sites at Aljunied GRC : The Workers’ Party of Singapore

wp.sg

This release seeks to enlighten the public about what transpired in the weeks after the May General Election, which has led to the current controversy about use of public spaces by residents of Aljunied GRC to organise events.

27 minutes ago ·  ·  · Share

Responding to Catherine Lim's latest article on the Elected Presidency

Just received and read the latest article from my ex boss which Catherine Lim had circulated. Also discovered that she has made it available online: The Elected Presidency: More Of The Same Or A Whole New Game?

When I finished reading the word file, I responded to the sender thus:

Thanks [name deleted],

Curiously nobody is writing their perception of developments from the PAP bench. Former ministers that are out of office like George Yeo, Dhanabalan etc., had not assumed the task. One way to look at it is that they were paid men to do a job. Had it been passion that had driven them, can they restrain themselves from pounding the keyboard or lifting the pen? 

It would be incredible when their beliefs and passions are challenged not to rise to the occasion. 

This is completely atypical of LKY and the PAP. They pride themselves in returning as good as they get. What happened?

You are free to speculate. It would be unthinkable and completely out of their nature to just keep receiving.

Busy with radiotherapy...

That was how the first line of the email reads. Another friend with cancer :-(

Just got off the phone talking to her. Glad she is coping very well. Can't see how she could cope better. Time will tell how it all pans out.

Six weeks of radiation. Good grief. All the way to September 22nd. Reminds me of my late mom.

The use of the Internal Security Act and the President

Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew: Citizen 

Singapore: How to Build a Nation (Giants of Asia series)

http://www.amazon.com/Conversations-Lee-...

Imagine the delight and challenge of entering into a one-on-one political and personal conversation with the founding father of modern Singapore. This is exactly the timely treat that awaits you in Conversations with Lee Kuan Yew. The first in the Giants of Asia series, this succinct, penetrating...





There are just too many books on the man. So I read my copy of this book sometime back courtesy of  one of the libraries instead of buying my copy.

Tom Plate's book recounted him asking LKY about the detentions under the ISA. I can't recall the exact words, but I remember them as LKY responding that he could not be totally certain it was a right or wrong decision. He was absolutely sure the reasons were honorable.

As a leader, you make decisions on two planes. Those that affect you personally and those that affect the rest of the people.

I can only clumsily speculate the discussions and decisions into interning so many people under the ISA under the guise of national security.

If these men and women were not detained, what path might Singapore have taken? Not until Dr. Lim Hock Siew comments were reported in Sunday Times today, did I have an idea on how to tentatively think this through.

I see Dr. Lim was an ardent socialist. That socialist flame in him remains as bright as ever. Alas, most of us no longer buy into that ideology. No wonder the government had deemed it safe to free him.

To me the ISA was used because the government, especially LKY felt that we were too easily seduced to the socialist path. I can see from the last GE and the current PE how difficult it is to persuade others, and they you. Reason often wouldn't work, and as LKY didn't trust the electorate to "choose correctly", he decided to eliminate the opposition and competition with the ISA. This had made a farce of one man, one vote. The question remains: Are you glad he took the right to choose from us and created the Singapore of today? What about the weight on the conscience? Well it didn't hurt that the socialist ideology was Utopian attractive then. Think Sputnik and many other Soviet ephemeral but seductive successes before the test of time delivered the verdict.

Note that the Barisan Sosialis could have won the elections.

As for Operation Spectrum, I think the circumstances were different. I do not have the information to think this through. Those folks who were incarcerated, I was told, were just social workers. To label them as Marxists was to me, simply incredulous.

I ask myself from all these, where is Tan Jee Say coming from? What do you mean by the conscience of the nation? Have we put the cart before the horse. First we need to distinguish personal morality and responsibility from national values and interests. We have often been told that people have values but nations have only interests. The only nation that seem to get away with having both, but constantly as a tug of war is  America. So do we promote and defend our national interests and if there is a surplus, we indulge in values? When we had achieved a social and political surplus we became confident and secure enough to release these political detainees? With their freedom they are now demanding justice for past wrongs?

Eventually we have to deal with our national ghosts. We can't hurry these things, and I think the people aren't ready yet. As such, I think Tan Jee Say would not have enough support to win the race to be President. He will frighten too many.

I believe only LKY can mount a robust and courageous defence of the use of the ISA that is clear and convincing. It was a waste of time challenging Tony Tan. Each time he would be evasive. All the present day ministers, including the PM aren't up to the task. LKY had used it to build Singapore but not without considerable controversy. I seriously doubt those coming after him is able to handle the ISA responsibly. They will use it as a foil to fend off their fears, which is exactly the wrong way about it. Then it would open the door to rapid onset of corruption and the demise of Singapore.

The next President must privately look at this issue with wisdom and understanding. He would not be able to change the law, but he must have the wisdom to prevent its misuse. It is clear to me that such a man cannot be Tony Tan or Tan Jee Say. It is a choice between Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Kin Lian.

Update: (Aug 22) Just discovered from Vincent Wijeysingha a blog post on the 1987 detentions by Janette Chong Aruldoss. Got to run, but will catch up with this when I am able.

Visit to the Evolution Gardens; met Tony Tan

Wifey and I visited the Evolution Garden this morning. Haven't been here in years. Nice to see how it has matured. We also bumped into Tony Tan. we briefly exchange pleasantries and shook hands. Almost half his entourage were photographers. They walked in front of him. Trailing closely behind are two persons holding big bunches of helium filled balloons in his trademark purple. I think these are for the kids.

Turnaround and decided to snap this photo of  Tony Tan's group after we met.

Choosing a President or a First Family?

Unlike the other wives, who had stood expressionless, I first noticed that she smiled appropriately during nomination day as Tan Jee Say addressed his supporters.

Patricia Tan, Jee Say's wife cuts an impressive figure. Just reminded me that the First Lady has a more significant role to play than the PM's wife, which ought to be nil. Totally forgot that in state offices, her photo is also displayed.

Have not seen the wives of the other presidential candidate in interviews. I imagine the other three potential First Ladies would find it hard to equal her. Easily she would be a great asset in diplomacy.

This EP thing is confusing. Do we actually just choose the President or ought we also factor the First Lady in our vote decision? I remember the wives of our prior Presidents had important roles.