TJS's Thank You Speech

[steffychun]

True he's a little late into the field at age 57, but so is Chen SM. Don't really see that as a problem.

The name dropping of elderly UK academics is not doing him favours. Unlike in Asia, most people past 60-65 aren't taken seriously in the West unless they're really bigwigs. Does look like the people he's naming are way past their prime and influence. All these reminiscing of RI schoolboy days are also cheesy. Rookie mistakes - let's see how fast he learns.

The apparent lack of major power figures in their prime age supporting him may be more problematic.

The good thing here is that he's inserted himself into the public eye. Even more when he writes his book. Of course everything could backfire, or not. In any case, people will know more of this character and be better able to judge.

Another possible effect is that better and stronger players may be encouraged to get into the field. Think what we need are more strong players into the field... not less. Then the Darwinian process of survival of the fittest can take place.

Wrong. CSM worked with WP first for a couple of years before being fielded as a candidate. TJS wants to jump into the pond and claim to be the biggest fish.

 

[steffychun]

It's all about dollars and cents. He wants to publish a book because he needs the money, having spent it on the GE and PE. He hasn't done well since leaving government service which was why he was eying the MP's pay in the GE. And later, going for broke, the President's pay.

He doesnt need the money. Judging from all his activities, he himself is quite rich. Look where he lives, how many children. The book stuff reeks of SDP influence.

 

[scroobal]

Lee is right.

He doesnt need the money. Judging from all his activities, he himself is quite rich. Look where he lives, how many children. The book stuff reeks of SDP influence.

 

[steffychun]

Lee is right.

I'm sure TJS is financially stable.

 

[methink]

He doesnt need the money. Judging from all his activities, he himself is quite rich. Look where he lives, how many children. The book stuff reeks of SDP influence.

You are very well informed. As an ISD dog, this is the least expected from you.

Wat time you finish your shift today?

 

[Fook Seng]

It's all about dollars and cents. He wants to publish a book because he needs the money, having spent it on the GE and PE. He hasn't done well since leaving government service which was why he was eying the MP's pay in the GE. And later, going for broke, the President's pay.

Now, going for MP's pay plus Opposition Leader's pay and if his alliance can form the next Govt, the PM's pay as well.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

Lee is right.

The money is spent to boost his ego and develop that profile as a springboard for his future ambition. He is astute enough to know he will not be voted in. But when the crowd cheers and you have Nicole and Jeanette and a thousand other supporters clamouring for you, it gets to your head. For a man who up till several months ago was a complete unknown, it means a lot. He has never felt this before. Its no different from a teenager getting to bag the teacher he has a huge crush on. That kind of feeling tends to linger and lead to more happenings.

 

[Fook Seng]

It was a free-market plan on services.

All along developing services has been a key objective of the national economic plan so what TJS proposes is nothing new. The only difference is that Old Man wants to milk the manufacturing cow as long as possible and TJS is dead against the IR, indirectly affecting the tourism sector, and replacing it withe his healthcare, education programme which is a large consumption programme requiring drawing of billions from the reserves. Personally I am doubtful of the returns from his education programme, not that I don't see benefits in having smaller classes but it is an investment with no certainty of recouping. Have the feeling of a large gamble like putting all your eggs in one large basket. The Govt certainly has problems in its healthcare programme and education can be improved but it does not justify a total overhaul. The exposition of these programmes during the GE rallies had been very entertaining even though not very convincing.

 

[Checker]

Healthcare & education services have large potential for growth in the region, where these are generally poor. Govt is already trying to capitalize on this.

But devil's in the details. More eye surgeons, plastic surgeons etc will only enrich small group of these people. Short term gain because neighbouring surgeons can also easily learn and catch up quickly.

Developing know-how to treat complex diseases (which are the bulk of healthcare problems) and being able to do it in a way that makes sense for neighbours to come pay for it is way more difficult. Govt tried to throw money at research with debateable returns so far. Haven't our own talent. Ang-mos come, take, stay in Orchard Rd condos, enjoy, say thank you (sometimes F U) and leave.

So maybe throw money at education. But again, similar problem with local talent not well developed. Depend too much on FT at the leading edge of this. Actually a lot of money is already thrown into the new joint ventures with Duke, Yale etc. Maybe improve our standards and make us proud. But even China is now debating why they're so obsessed with foreign brands (to some extent contributed by Singapore's da vinci).

TJS' economic proposals hardly touch on how to tackle these difficult issues that SG govt is struggling with.

 

[steffychun]

The money is spent to boost his ego and develop that profile as a springboard for his future ambition. He is astute enough to know he will not be voted in. But when the crowd cheers and you have Nicole and Jeanette and a thousand other supporters clamouring for you, it gets to your head. For a man who up till several months ago was a complete unknown, it means a lot. He has never felt this before. Its no different from a teenager getting to bag the teacher he has a huge crush on. That kind of feeling tends to linger and lead to more happenings.

Let's see whether even MDA allows the book to be published

 

[cleareyes]

I came like a few days late in reading this speech and I m abt to wonder, has this guy lost hisbrain? or he on some meds or what??
TJS's focus seem to be that he is more capable than anyone else. he wrote of a "rainbow coalition", yet he wnat to lead such a coalition nased on what? The guy has not won anything, hardly earn much trust, been seen as a backstabber by TKL and what more??

History are written by victors, not losers. TJS has not won anything, he has not even cross the 40% mark. But he is already beating his chest and make proclaimation like he is the king of the world. Such disllusion, I wont even trust him to run or manage anything if he is really of such mindset.

Its really sad that, instead of working hard and focus on how to win support, TJS choose to talk big and not gather what is more important. Apart from SDP, i cant see any party would take him back.

 

[scroobal]

His Thank You speech has become a much talked subject all around. There are lots of questions and speculation is rife.

We are talking about an OMS who went to Oxford and who did PPE. He also became a DS for one of the most important Ministries followed by PPS.So this is not your cut and dry case. It sure will be interesting. By the way, his qualification for PE is a taboo subject. The opposition needs to raise this in parliament.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

We are talking about an OMS who went to Oxford and who did PPE. He also became a DS for one of the most important Ministries followed by PPS.So this is not your cut and dry case. It sure will be interesting. By the way, his qualification for PE is a taboo subject. The opposition needs to raise this in parliament.

It will most likely be PAP raising the issue. WP will not want to offend other parties even if it senses something not very right. TJS is a big can of worms. No one is putting on their spectacles (no pun intended) to examine TJS. At least, not openly. TJS is extremely easy to exploit by those who would be interested in doing so. He can easily set one faction against another.

 

[scroobal]

Interesting point and something that was raised in the speculative arena. He has been vulnerable for sometime as he could not pick up a job for sometime after the debacle where the British business was liquidated. He has time on his hands and probably wants to make an impression.

Decades ago Harbans Singh, together with TT Rajah defending Chia Thye Poh and Barisan in court. It was high profile case and he was a respected lawyer. Then the scenario changed.

TJS is extremely easy to exploit by those who would be interested in doing so. He can easily set one faction against another.

 

[zhihau]

Interesting point and something that was raised in the speculative arena.

bro,

would be interesting to see the Romance of Three Kingdoms here in Singapore. The PAP vs WP vs TJSP. some folks just had the right intent but rubbing it up the wrong way. a pity.

 

[Fook Seng]

bro,

would be interesting to see the Romance of Three Kingdoms here in Singapore. The PAP vs WP vs TJSP. some folks just had the right intent but rubbing it up the wrong way. a pity.

Just remember that in the three kingdoms because of infighting in Wei, the empire fell into the hands of the Sze Ma family.

 

[Perspective]

bro,

would be interesting to see the Romance of Three Kingdoms here in Singapore. The PAP vs WP vs TJSP. some folks just had the right intent but rubbing it up the wrong way. a pity.

TJS will not succeed. Despite his credentials as the "opposition" candidate in the PE, the key opposition figures were split in 3 camps with the other 2 for TCB and TKL.

I expect to see a sizeable opposition party for a while if he forms a new party, but not an alliance. Just like RP, but whether it ends up like RP is another question.

WP is different, it doesn't bring the opposition together, it recruits from outside the circle, recruiting those who would never have imagined that they will end up in politics, who have awoken into their new found status rather recently. That's how it becomes sizeable.

 

[Fook Seng]

TJS will not succeed. Despite his credentials as the "opposition" candidate in the PE, the key opposition figures were split in 3 camps with the other 2 for TCB and TKL.

I expect to see a sizeable opposition party for a while if he forms a new party, but not an alliance. Just like RP, but whether it ends up like RP is another question.

WP is different, it doesn't bring the opposition together, it recruits from outside the circle, recruiting those who would never have imagined that they will end up in politics, who have awoken into their new found status rather recently. That's how it becomes sizeable.

I see a gradual split of PAP with the moderate elements breaking off. If the platform is comfortable, this would eventually form the new opposition together with like-minded parties. I see the challenge to PAP coming from the middle first rather from the extreme left.

 

[Thick Face Black Heart]

I expect to see a sizeable opposition party for a while if he forms a new party, but not an alliance. Just like RP, but whether it ends up like RP is another question.

WP is different, it doesn't bring the opposition together, it recruits from outside the circle, recruiting those who would never have imagined that they will end up in politics, who have awoken into their new found status rather recently. That's how it becomes sizeable.

TJS despite his ego has more stability of personality than KJ, so I would expect his party to do better. He has basically betrayed SDP, if you notice -- stolen the momentum that SDP gave him and then used it to his own benefit. When you consider just how tight SDP's purse-strings are, you can imagine they can't be too happy.

WP is following the correct strategy for this stage of our political development.

 

[zhihau]

Just remember that in the three kingdoms because of infighting in Wei, the empire fell into the hands of the Sze Ma family.

heheh...

the entire notion of the Romance in Three Kingdom was made tongue in cheek.

CaoCao will turn in his grave when he knows that he had been used to describe the old man.