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Why I will vote Mr. Tan Jee Say as my President[/h]
I will vote Mr. Tan Jee Say (TJS) for President because of his personal character and values, academic excellence, professional experience, his independence and his presidential platform.
TJS was not born son a banker, like one of his presidential challengers. His mother was a washerwoman and his father a coffee shop manager, eking out a living for a family of nine children. As a school boy, TJS and his siblings helped their mother with her laundry work. His humble beginnings taught him the value of frugality and humility. He lives not in a guarded palatial residence, but in a 25-year (?) single-story house with simple furnishings “dwarfed by neighboring swanky multi-storey terrace houses”. (S.T. 14Aug2011). With such background, he understands what hardship means, and can hence empathize with the poor and the needy as a President.
Despite the odds, TJS distinguished in his studies and won a Government Overseas Merit Scholarship to study at Oxford University. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
TJS’s academic excellence is enhanced by his work experience both in the Civil Service and in the corporate world. He served in the Civil Service for 11 years, including 6 years in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (1979-1985), where he rose to be Deputy Director for Economic and Manpower Planning. He was concurrently secretary to Albert Winsemius, the government’s economic adviser. He also served as DPM Goh Chok Tong’s pps from 1985-1990.
In the corporate world, TJS worked in finance and investment for over a decade (1990-2001). He rose to be Finance Director of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in 1990, head of Peregine Capital Singapore in 1994, and Regional Managing Director, AIB Govett, an asset management company, in 1997-2001.
With such varied and diverse work exposure and experience, in economic planning and corporate finance and investment, TJS is well equipped for the important presidential role of guarding the National Reserve.
TJS’s independence of the ruling PAP party is beyond a doubt, unlike his 3 opponents. Tony Tan was a PAP member for 32 years (1979-Jun2011), holding various Cabinet posts. Tan Cheng Bock was a PAP MP for 26 years (1980-2006) and a PAP member for 31 years (1980-May2011). Tan Kin Lian was a PAP member for 30 years (1977-2008) and was branch secretary of Marine Parade PAP branch for 3 years. With decades of close association, they are all steeped in PAP culture of group-think, group-speak and group-yes on all issues. Another PAP President, coupled with a PAP government, will be more of the same.
TJS has put it succinctly: “The three candidates, for the last 10, 20, 30 years, have been with the PAP. They eat, breathe, sleep PAP, and now to expect them to have a breath of fresh air – that’s a lot to ask of them.” (ST 15Aug2011)
As his presidential platform, TJS has pledged to be “the conscience of the nation.” In announcing his candidacy TJS said:
“I am stepping forward because many Singaporeans want a non-PAP President whose independence of the PAP is clear, obvious and cannot be in doubt. Only such a person can have the moral authority to fulfill the mission of Elected President which is to provide checks and balances on the PAP Government.
I am aware of the constitutional limitations of the office of President. But the office of President is what the President makes it out to be. He can be as quiet and inactive as he chooses to be. Or he can be active. I want to be an active President, engaging the nation on issues of conscience and promoting worthy causes. The PAP Government has lost its moral compass. A President directly elected by the people will have the moral authority to remind them of their lapses. He shall be the conscience of the nation. Only a person with moral courage and conviction can step up to this role.
As President, I will be the conscience of the nation and I will speak up, speak out and speak for Singapore – speak up internally with the Government most of the time, speak out externally in public some of the time and speak for the people all the time.”
- Tan Jee Say 15 July 2011
TJS’s courage and conviction to speak up is best testified by Mr. Ngiam Tong Dow, permanent secretary of MTI: “He’s a courteous and agreeable man, but will also not hesitate to speak his mind”.
Such a President would be a truly people’s President, one who will not hesitate to “speak for the people all the time”.
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Edward Chong