Lukewarm response to Tan Kin Lian's latest petition

[temasekreview]

The response to Tan Kin Lian’s latest online petition to the Prime Minister to request the financial institutions to make an adequate offer of compensation to the minibond investors has been lukewarm so far.

Started two weeks ago, it has garnered only 674 signatures in stark contrast to earlier petitions last year which drew more than 1,000 signatures within a week.

Mr Tan has constantly called on MAS to intervene on the behalf of the investors to compel the FIs to compensate investors who were misled into buying the “minibonds” which are actually complex credit-linked derivatives.

Read rest of article here:

http://temasekreview.com/?p=11621

 

[cooleo]

He everything also do petition. Anyway 1,000 signatures out of a population nearing 4 million is laughable at best.

 

[Perspective]

He everything also do petition. Anyway 1,000 signatures out of a population nearing 4 million is laughable at best.

Appears to have more than a realistic belief of it and explains why he had the ambitious target of 100,000 signatures for him to run as opposition candidate. It does paint those opposing the PAP/government in a certain way, but then again this chap was a former PAP member and heard he almost became a candidate. Perhaps Scroobal can shed light.

 

[cooleo]

Appears to have more than a realistic belief of it and explains why he had the ambitious target of 100,000 signatures for him to run as opposition candidate. It does paint those opposing the PAP/government in a certain way, but then again this chap was a former PAP member and heard he almost became a candidate. Perhaps Scrobal can shed light.

The word almost shouldn't even exist la.

- I was almost President if i had not screwed up my uni thesis

- I was almost the fastest swimmer in the world if i had tried for swimming

- I was almost the next Aaron Kwok if i had gone to the singing contest

 

[Perspective]

The word almost shouldn't even exist la.

- I was almost President if i had not screwed up my uni thesis

- I was almost the fastest swimmer in the world if i had tried for swimming

- I was almost the next Aaron Kwok if i had gone to the singing contest

No. Heard the chap had been considered and was on standby until withdrawal. Not many would get the chance. Ho Kwon Ping was rumoured to be another. Both times were due to the old man himself.

I think it would be foolhardy to think the PAP didn't have an eye for people. The hegemony was due to no more of a Barisan Socialis repeat. And the PAP would need the people they are looking for to do this.

 

[potato29]

He everything also do petition. Anyway 1,000 signatures out of a population nearing 4 million is laughable at best.

to sign u have to be one of those who got cheated.

"We are citizens, permanent residents and friends of Singapore who have been misled into investing in the credit-linked notes by the banks and security firms in Singapo...."

 

[commoner]

singaporeans basically has no stamina for most things,,,, we can oppose the PAP all we want, and when the election comes, all lost steam liao, and with a few hundred bucks rebates/angpows, threats on the civil servants, everybody starting to vote for PAP again, except PP and Hougang, but will this time be any different, let's see abt it,,,,

 

[Perspective]

singaporeans basically has no stamina for most things,,,, we can oppose the PAP all we want, and when the election comes, all lost steam liao, and with a few hundred bucks rebates/angpows, threats on the civil servants, everybody starting to vote for PAP again, except PP and Hougang, but will this time be any different, let's see abt it,,,,

If things in Singapore had been truly bad, the political circumstance would be more robust. Believe that is the same case everywhere.

Opposing PAP would mean opposition voters do more than vote and nonPAP do more than trying to stay nonpartisan.

 

[cooleo]

No. Heard the chap had been considered and was on standby until withdrawal. Not many would get the chance. Ho Kwon Ping was rumoured to be another. Both times were due to the old man himself.

I think it would be foolhardy to think the PAP didn't have an eye for people. The hegemony was due to no more of a Barisan Socialis repeat. And the PAP would need the people they are looking for to do this.

Talking about Ho Kwon Pin, how did he get so rich to set up Banyan Tree the luxury resort chain? Stayed there once, it was amazing. The entire villa to yourself with a built-in jacuzzi no less. Crazy price of easily US$500 per night though.

 

[hairylee]

I do respect this guy, but he already too long in the system. If he goes into business he want to make sure it is a "Pow Tan" (sure make money) business then he venture in.

 

[Perspective]

Talking about Ho Kwon Pin, how did he get so rich to set up Banyan Tree the luxury resort chain? Stayed there once, it was amazing. The entire villa to yourself with a built-in jacuzzi no less. Crazy price of easily US$500 per night though.

He's the son of Ho Rih Hwa. This name may be familiar to some because he has some charity named after him. Businessman cum philanthropist belonging to the likes of Tan Kah Kee and Lee Kong Chian. Rich man's son who would have inherited capital and business sense to do Banyan Tree (although not all sons could have done it).

The story goes that HKP was a former ISA detainee, then years later in a twist of fate was considered for PAP candidacy. Reason for rejection by old man was because he foresaw HKP would be charismatic enough to split PAP into 2 right down to the middle when his son took over as PM. All these are urban tales and there's no way of clarifying.

Wife Claire Chiang was also a NMP.

 

[cooleo]

He's the son of Ho Rih Hwa. This name may be familiar to some because he has some charity named after him. Businessman cum philanthropist belonging to the likes of Tan Kah Kee and Lee Kong Chian. Rich man's son who would have inherited capital and business sense to do Banyan Tree (although not all sons could have done it).

The story goes that HKP was a former ISA detainee, then years later in a twist of fate was considered for PAP candidacy. Reason for rejection by old man was because he foresaw HKP would be charismatic enough to split PAP into 2 right down to the middle when his son took over as PM. All these are urban tales and there's no way of clarifying.

Wife Claire Chiang was also a NMP.

Early life
Ho was born in Hong Kong and spent his childhood years in Thailand where his father, Ho Rih Hwa, was a businessman and diplomat. He was educated in Thailand, Taiwan, USA and Singapore.

To his own admission, he was a rebellious youth. He was a student activist in his teens and early twenties. In the late 1960s, as a student in the International School of Bangkok, he was inspired by student movements in Europe and USA. Wanting to 'change the world', he ran for presidency of the school's student council and won. After graduating from the school, he studied at Tunghai University in Taiwan. Although it was a short stint, the exposure to Chinese culture left a deep impact on him.

After spending a year in Taiwan, Ho went to the United States and studied at Stanford University, where he was exposed to the ideals of Marxism and revolution in the Third World. For his involvement in student demonstrations, he was suspended for a year from Stanford. He then went on to Cornell as a transfer student but feeling displaced, he left.

He returned to Singapore for his national service, becoming a combat engineer in the army. After completing national service, he enrolled at the University of Singapore. In 1977, while working as a journalist for the Far Eastern Economic Review, he was detained under the Internal Security Act for writing incendiary pro-Communist articles in the Far Eastern Economic Review and put into solitary confinement for two months. After his release, he continued his studies at the University of Singapore and graduated in economics and history in 1978.

In 1981, he joined his father's business, Wah Chang Group when the latter suffered a stroke. Tired of being a journalist, he was about to take up a job in Insead, the business school in Fontainbleau, France, when his father had the stroke. As the eldest son, Kwon Ping felt it his duty to take up the reins of his family business.

When he first joined Wah Chang, he made a bad business decision in his first project, which nearly bankrupted the company. His father did not allow him to resign, urging him to stay on to recoup the losses. However, from that first big mistake in business, he went on to become a successful businessman. In 1990, Ho made the cover of Fortune International magazine, with the caption: "Singapore's Kwon Ping runs more than 30 companies". In 1995, Ho opened the first Banyan Tree resort hotel in Phuket. He quickly opened another resort in Maldives, followed by another in Bintan, Indonesia. Within a few years, the business expanded into a large hotel and resort chain which owns and operates hotels, resorts, spas and golf-courses across the continents.

Ho is also actively involved in civil society, currently holding chairmanship, directorship positions and membership on the boards of various international and Singapore organisations. His wife Claire Chiang once described him as "a capitalist in his pocket and a socialist in his heart." Some values he lives by are sincerity, integrity and self-confidence. He sees himself as a humanist and believes that everyone is capable of making a difference in life.

 

[Perspective]

Thanks. Seems like I was right about the ISA part. But curious on his selection as PAP candidate as nothing of this is known. Heard he was supposed to run in the place of Richard Hu who was retiring.

 

[cooleo]

Thanks. Seems like I was right about the ISA part. But curious on his selection as PAP candidate as nothing of this is known. Heard he was supposed to run in the place of Richard Hu who was retiring.

He's a marked man in the eyes of PAPpies. Who will wan someone with history of being detained under ISA? Anyway, i think he has good business acumen and charisma. Lovely wife helps too :p

 

[Frankiestine]

Knn this burger only know how to kpkb on these financial debacle but then there is another financial on a national scale how come he so diam diam...

 

[Perspective]

He's a marked man in the eyes of PAPpies. Who will wan someone with history of being detained under ISA? Anyway, i think he has good business acumen and charisma. Lovely wife helps too :p

That would have been a final deterrent. Old man is the proudest of this machination called the ISD and trusts them with his life. But you will never know because the PAP enjoys coopting good former enemies. Vivian was one. Tharman stretched the PAP's recruitment traditions even further, as a former 1987 "Marxist" group sympathizer who was almost detained himself and later charged under OSA.

Heard he was on the verge of joining the opposition in another few years time before the PAP took him. I think he would be good enough to lead a bigger opposition movement. Unlike Vivian they saw his finance background as an asset.

 

[Perspective]

BTW another story is that Tharman has taken over WKS as the PAP's political and election strategist when the boo boo for the "time bombs" and overemphasing Gomezgate. Both times was WKS engaging 2 wrong chaps for this - Ng and Khaw.

The "Tharmanology" would be to sweeten the route for opposition with sugar plus a small bitter pill, rather than an outright outrage. WKS on the other hand as Home Affairs minister took it to himself to restrict nonparliamentary means of changing power, but the HL Park liberalization was probably out of Tharman's influence. The latter understood the bigger opposition that comprised also of civil activists, being formerly one himself.

 

[Watchman]

The rich also worry about what they complain . It's pocket change !