P N Balji Says TT Going To Win EP11'

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

..Singapore’s next President… a very different one
.
SingaporeScene – Wed, Jun 29, 2011
By P N Balji

Don't be surprised if the coming presidential election turns out to be a non-event. The entry of former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan into the ring will take care of that: He has the stature, credentials and temperament to smile his way into the Istana. Surveys and newspaper reports show that he is definitely the front runner.

The press conference announcing his candidacy was like a slick political commercial. He took on the mantle of a responsible citizen when he posed this question to himself: Why should I give up the stimulating work in the Government Investment Corporation, National Research Foundation and Singapore Press Holdings and take the risk of going into the unknown?

His answer: How could I remain a spectator when the country faces complex challenges?
You can't get more politically-astute than this.

Dr Tan declared that he was not being endorsed by the PAP government, will unify Singaporeans and will look at ways to help the poor.

You can't get more politically-correct than this.

His service in the important ministries of finance, education and defence, and his work at OCBC and GIC will give him the gravitas to become the next president.

There is also a great likelihood that he will be a very different president, if elected.

The presidency to be redefined

An important clue popped up when he was asked about the president's role as defined by the constitution: "Obviously, no constitution is set in stone for ever, and I would expect the government of the day to review it from time to time and to make changes where necessary, with the approval of parliament."

Dr Tan is known to be careful, measured and purposeful with his words. Every statement he issues, every quote he gives and every answer he sends out is thought through with precision.

So why did he make that point about the constitution?

For the answer, one needs to analyse what President S R Nathan said while on a visit to Bahrain. Reflecting on his 12 years in office and the feedback he has received, Mr Nathan said he will respond in a book that he is writing.

And one of the items in the book will be his thoughts on how the presidency should be redefined.

Then there is a genuine public desire for the president to play a more active role in shaping the future of Singapore.

Connect these three dots and one can come to the conclusion that the role of the next president, with the help of the government and parliament, will be a different one.

That role will be a major debating point in the next elections. The other two Tans -- Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Kin Lian -- are likely to be forced to join the debate on this. And there is no way you can effect this important change without the co-operation of the government.

Who is that Tan who has the cache, implicit or otherwise, with the government to make the presidency a different and more purposeful one that will reflect the new Singapore?

You don't need to be a rocket scientist to know who that person is.

P N Balji is the director of the Asia Jouralism Fellowship, a joint initiative of Temasek Foundation and Nanyang Technological University.

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[GeylangCheongster]

PN Balji makes me cringe. He directed his subordinate Michelle Ang to write ghost letters to the press to milk sympathy for the NKF where he was PR advisor. He then used his contacts in the paper to get the letters published. Then he and TT Durai enjoyed first class travel and perks using public funds.

 

[kingrant]

True. They will change the rules to allow TT to be a different President. If TKL or TCB wins the EP, they will keep the status quo to keep them straitjacketed.

So TT and the PAP clique will just play along with each other to ass Singaporeans.

 

[IR123]

It is important to define clearly the meaning of 'Independent'.

As the post of the President is to provide a check on the use of Reserves by the ruling party, the President must not be a current member of the ruling party if the word 'independence' is to have any meaning.

He can be a ex-PAP but he must not be a current member of the PAP.

 

[IR123]

Some say the voicing of opinions against the party line is a demonstration of independence. I differ.

Just to illustrate using familiar faces: If Sylvia Lim disagree with LTK, it does not mean that Sylvia Lim is independent of LTK. The basis of the disagreement can be to protect the WP over a policy change that she foresee will lead to the decline of the WP, something which LTK is not able to see. But she is still subjected to the leadership of LTK.

And her loyalty is first to the WP.

Thus if Sylvia Lim were to stand for President whilst LTK remains the PM, there is no independence in Sylvia Lim. She is still subjected to LTK so long as she remains a party member.

The story is entirely different if Sylvia Lim is an ex-WP and has only one role to play - The President.

If that is the case, then Sylvia Lim is truly an independent candidate. She is no longer subjected to the authority of LTK, no longer a WP member and can now concentrate on her new found loyalty - the citizens of Singapore.

 

[wahlau]

Balji is rationally correct in what he writes. 1+ 1 will give you 2. It is no brainer that TT will be the winner based on the argument of the role of President as defined by TT. TKL and TCB has not correctly defined the role and limitations of the EP as it's constitutionally defined and understood at this point in time.

However, the issue is that the EP will be voted by the public. So what matters is what the public thinks and wants. Based on internet polling (alto not accurate), TKL seems to have the edge over TCB and TT.

The 40 %+ are still wanting an "anti-PAP" EP , if such a person actually exists.

My feeling would be the Presidential Committe may disqualify TKL by narrowly defining NTUC Income as a cooperative and thereby failing in the definition of a MNC.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

he still appears as slippery as ever going by his spin job for dr susan lim...

PN Balji makes me cringe. He directed his subordinate Michelle Ang to write ghost letters to the press to milk sympathy for the NKF where he was PR advisor. He then used his contacts in the paper to get the letters published. Then he and TT Durai enjoyed first class travel and perks using public funds.

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

then how come TKL is hving the greatest difficulty in raising funds amongst the 3??

. So what matters is what the public thinks and wants. Based on internet polling (alto not accurate), TKL seems to have the edge over TCB and TT.

The 40 %+ are still wanting an "anti-PAP" EP , if such a person actually exists.

My feeling would be the Presidential Committe may disqualify TKL by narrowly defining NTUC Income as a cooperative and thereby failing in the definition of a MNC.