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Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss made a point that TJS can be a unifying figure as a President during Tan Jee Say's rally. (I'm paraphrasing here.) That he was a civil servant, which means he can talk to PAP, and was an opposition member, which means he can talk to opposition. Following this train of thought, I thought, hey, it sounds quite logical.
In the rally, note that all speakers were speaking in their own capacity. They were all introduced by Petrina Kow for their day jobs. Unfortunately, as I checked the background of all the speakers in the Tan Jee Say rally, as I don't know who most of them are, I was alarmed that most of them are from one political party or have links to one political party, namely, SDP. None are PAP members, or even former PAP members. There was one guy who was a branch secretary of YPAP, but he left and joined SDP also. In the end, it was more a SDP rally with 2 ladies from NSP thrown in.
The speakers in order of appearance:
SDP - Dr Vincent Wijeysingha
TJS's nephew - Tan Tze Yann
SDP - Dr Wong Wee Nam
SDP Michelle Lee's husband - Mr Basil Hwang
NSP - Jeannette Chong Aruldoss
SDP - Fahmi Rais (YPAP branch secretary in the 90s)
SDP - Dr Ang Youg Guan
SDP - Prof. Paul Tambyah
NSP - Nicole Seah
Tan Jee Say, who had quit from SDP to run for President.
7 out of 10 speakers, including TJS himself, have had substantial ties to SDP. 2 are from NSP.1 is a civillian.
The unification theme is not demonstrated in the biggest event of the Presidental campaign, the rally. If only the political backgrounds of the speakers were more diverse. Or just get civillians with no links to political parties also can. I am disappointed that TJS could not find (or unwilling to find) a person with links to the govt or PAP to speak for him to show us that he can actually deliver what is promised. I am not sold at all on Jeannette's point after this. I am also now not convinced that TJS has cut his ties with SDP.
If the unification theme is important to you as a Singapore Citizen, it is better that the President is able to demonstrate that he is able to get along with people and does not alienate both groups.
It is a given that Tony Tan will be unable (or unwilling) to get any opposition members to speak for him. In the end, he didn't get any political figures for his rally. He chose citizens, albeit those with very elite backgrounds. Definitely not ordinary citizens then. I doubt he knows any, hah.
Tan Kin Lian, heck, he had basically lost all of his opposition support as most had gone over to TJS. He has GMS. Will he have any PAP people to back him up tonight?
In the end, it seems that Tan Cheng Bock is the only person who can truely unify Singapore(or, if you prefer, not alienate both sides) as both opposition members and PAP members have come out to support him. Eg, SPP's Benjamin Pwee/Jimmy Lin, and former PAP MPs, and even many incumbent and opposition voters alike have voiced their support of him.
Addendum: Latest info, WP member, Melvin Tan has also come out to openly support TCB for President. And another info, besides Christopher Neo Ting Wei from NSP is campaigning for TCB, NSP's Noraini and Abdul Salim are also TCB's volunteers.
Her views not mine though I share most of them.
http://facebook.com/serene.chew
In the rally, note that all speakers were speaking in their own capacity. They were all introduced by Petrina Kow for their day jobs. Unfortunately, as I checked the background of all the speakers in the Tan Jee Say rally, as I don't know who most of them are, I was alarmed that most of them are from one political party or have links to one political party, namely, SDP. None are PAP members, or even former PAP members. There was one guy who was a branch secretary of YPAP, but he left and joined SDP also. In the end, it was more a SDP rally with 2 ladies from NSP thrown in.
The speakers in order of appearance:
SDP - Dr Vincent Wijeysingha
TJS's nephew - Tan Tze Yann
SDP - Dr Wong Wee Nam
SDP Michelle Lee's husband - Mr Basil Hwang
NSP - Jeannette Chong Aruldoss
SDP - Fahmi Rais (YPAP branch secretary in the 90s)
SDP - Dr Ang Youg Guan
SDP - Prof. Paul Tambyah
NSP - Nicole Seah
Tan Jee Say, who had quit from SDP to run for President.
7 out of 10 speakers, including TJS himself, have had substantial ties to SDP. 2 are from NSP.1 is a civillian.
The unification theme is not demonstrated in the biggest event of the Presidental campaign, the rally. If only the political backgrounds of the speakers were more diverse. Or just get civillians with no links to political parties also can. I am disappointed that TJS could not find (or unwilling to find) a person with links to the govt or PAP to speak for him to show us that he can actually deliver what is promised. I am not sold at all on Jeannette's point after this. I am also now not convinced that TJS has cut his ties with SDP.
If the unification theme is important to you as a Singapore Citizen, it is better that the President is able to demonstrate that he is able to get along with people and does not alienate both groups.
It is a given that Tony Tan will be unable (or unwilling) to get any opposition members to speak for him. In the end, he didn't get any political figures for his rally. He chose citizens, albeit those with very elite backgrounds. Definitely not ordinary citizens then. I doubt he knows any, hah.
Tan Kin Lian, heck, he had basically lost all of his opposition support as most had gone over to TJS. He has GMS. Will he have any PAP people to back him up tonight?
In the end, it seems that Tan Cheng Bock is the only person who can truely unify Singapore(or, if you prefer, not alienate both sides) as both opposition members and PAP members have come out to support him. Eg, SPP's Benjamin Pwee/Jimmy Lin, and former PAP MPs, and even many incumbent and opposition voters alike have voiced their support of him.
Addendum: Latest info, WP member, Melvin Tan has also come out to openly support TCB for President. And another info, besides Christopher Neo Ting Wei from NSP is campaigning for TCB, NSP's Noraini and Abdul Salim are also TCB's volunteers.
Her views not mine though I share most of them.
http://facebook.com/serene.chew
