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In recent times, the earliest indication of an imminent General Election is the announcement that a senior military official would be “retiring”.
Take GE2015 as an example: 42 days prior to polling day, media reports announced that the then-Chief of Defence LG Ng Chee Meng would “retire” from the SAF on the 18 Aug. When the announcement was made, it was neither confirmed nor denied that he would stand for politics.
Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen said that, “Inevitably, there will be questions asked about LG Ng’s future plans, particularly, if he is entering politics. Given his tested leadership and proven capabilities, I would not at all be surprised, if indeed he is.”
The Straits Times reported a day after he had retired from the SAF that he was indeed standing for politics (‘Outgoing Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng to enter politics’; 19 Aug). Less than a week later (i.e. on the 25 Aug 2015), the then-President Tony Tan made the announcement to dissolve Parliament. Polling day was then set on 11 Sep 2015.
Straits Times later confirmed (‘General plunges into electoral battlefield’; 4 Sep 2015) that LG Ng had the intention to stand for elections all along – “By the time [LG Ng] retired from the Singapore Armed Forces on Aug 18, he had already got 12 long- and short-sleeved shirts tailored specially for his new role”.
GE2011 was no different. It was announced on 4 Mar 2011 that the then-Chief of Army MG Chan Chun Sing would be “retiring” on the 25 Mar without mentioning if he would stand for elections. BG Tan Chuan-Jin was reported to have left the SAF on the same day as MG Chan.
So, if we have not seen any military officers “retiring” recently, would elections still happen in March? Or will the upcoming GE have no military officials standing for contest?
What do you think?
http://www.tremeritus.net/2020/01/31/no-new-of-any-senior-military-officers-retiring-from-the-saf/
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Any Police or SCDF officers retiring?
Take GE2015 as an example: 42 days prior to polling day, media reports announced that the then-Chief of Defence LG Ng Chee Meng would “retire” from the SAF on the 18 Aug. When the announcement was made, it was neither confirmed nor denied that he would stand for politics.
Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen said that, “Inevitably, there will be questions asked about LG Ng’s future plans, particularly, if he is entering politics. Given his tested leadership and proven capabilities, I would not at all be surprised, if indeed he is.”
The Straits Times reported a day after he had retired from the SAF that he was indeed standing for politics (‘Outgoing Chief of Defence Force Ng Chee Meng to enter politics’; 19 Aug). Less than a week later (i.e. on the 25 Aug 2015), the then-President Tony Tan made the announcement to dissolve Parliament. Polling day was then set on 11 Sep 2015.
Straits Times later confirmed (‘General plunges into electoral battlefield’; 4 Sep 2015) that LG Ng had the intention to stand for elections all along – “By the time [LG Ng] retired from the Singapore Armed Forces on Aug 18, he had already got 12 long- and short-sleeved shirts tailored specially for his new role”.
GE2011 was no different. It was announced on 4 Mar 2011 that the then-Chief of Army MG Chan Chun Sing would be “retiring” on the 25 Mar without mentioning if he would stand for elections. BG Tan Chuan-Jin was reported to have left the SAF on the same day as MG Chan.
So, if we have not seen any military officers “retiring” recently, would elections still happen in March? Or will the upcoming GE have no military officials standing for contest?
What do you think?
http://www.tremeritus.net/2020/01/31/no-new-of-any-senior-military-officers-retiring-from-the-saf/
***
Any Police or SCDF officers retiring?
