Minister Shanmugan forced to eat his words

[Conqueror]

Minister Shanmugan forced to eat his words


Last Friday at a seminar organized by IPS, Minister Shanmugam tried to intimidate some of the candidates running for President. He made the following speech:

http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20110806-293038.html

According to Minister Shanmugam,

1. The President can only speak and act as advised by the PAP Cabinet
   
2. The influence and respect of the President depends on whether he is PAP endorsed or not PAP endorsed. Hence if it is Dr Tony Tan, the President would have great influence and respect from PM Lee. If it is Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Tan Kin Lian or Mr Tan Jee Say, the President would have little or no influence and respect from PM Lee.

These astonishing remarks come from someone who is supposed to be Minister of Law for Singapore !


The remarks naturally provoked a firestorm in cyberspace. So much so that Minister Shanmugan was forced to issue a “clarification”. If you watch local politics, you will know what this really means is that over the weekend, Minister Shanmugan was probably

1. Hauled up for what he had said;
   
2. Scolded by one of three people in Singapore who dare scold him; and
   
3. Forced to make an embarrassing u-turn to limit the damage

Minister Shanmugam’s new view is that:

1. The President may speak his views freely in public
   
2. PM Lee will accord whoever is elected by Singaporeans as President the same level of influence and respect.

You can watch the live footage of Minister Shanmugam eating humble pie here. Of note is 0:41 when his voice breaks and he becomes nervous and uncomfortable. In his mind, he was probably reliving the tongue lashing.

Unless you are a supporter of Dr Tony Tan and the PAP, this is a victory. A small victory but victory nevertheless.

 

[myo539]

... Minister Shanmugan was forced to issue a “clarification”.... eating humble pie here.... A small victory but victory nevertheless.

Tan Jee Say was also forced to make a clarification for some remarks made. So what is wrong with clarifications?

Don't tell me it's ok for one to clarify but ok for the other to clarify? When one gave a clarification it is "it eating humble pie", but for the other it is relishing on a buffet?

A small victory? Must be desperate! Change it to "clutching the last straw"....

 

[po2wq]

... You can watch the live footage of Minister Shanmugam eating humble pie here. Of note is 0:41 when his voice breaks and he becomes nervous and uncomfortable. In his mind, he was probably reliving the tongue lashing ...

video leh? ...

 

[Conqueror]

Did Not State Here At Temasek Review

[video=youtube;DdwLC8Y-xL0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdwLC8Y-xL0[/video]



Thanks for the reminder. I just found this anyway.

 

[ahleebabasingaporethief]

Another Trojan horse occupant within the MIWs......all waiting for the opportune moment to run riot.

We should see them imploding sometime in the not too distant future.

S'pore has been talking on this topic for the longest of times.

We can see many MIWs nowadays making mistake after mistake. ARROGANCE? or DECEIT...within own ranks? Your guess is as good as mine!

 

[Faidenk]

Tan Jee Say was also forced to make a clarification for some remarks made. So what is wrong with clarifications?

Don't tell me it's ok for one to clarify but ok for the other to clarify? When one gave a clarification it is "it eating humble pie", but for the other it is relishing on a buffet?

A small victory? Must be desperate! Change it to "clutching the last straw"....

There is nothing wrong clarifying if the FAP has not always maintained their high-handedness, non-apologetical, holier than thou stance on almost anything and everything. It is this attitude that perhaps almost all Singapore-born citizens, and not a few PRs and new citizens are always ready to pounce on any signs of vulnerability on their part. They are alienating themselves from the grassroots

The FAP should show a little humility, their human side. It goes a long way to winning back the people but I suspect their DNA is already contaminated.

 

[jw5]

It's the TIMBRE of the man, the TIMBRE!