Former Foreign Minister George Yeo is "thinking hard" about whether to run for President
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
Former Foreign Minister George Yeo is “thinking hard” and “praying for wisdom” with regards to a possible bid for the Presidency after being inundated with messages of support urging him to run in the upcoming Presidential Election.
Just weeks ago, Mr Yeo effectively ruled himself out of the running when he gave his final press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He lost his seat in the May 7 general election after 23 years as an MP for Aljunied, prompting himself to declare that he would not contest any elections in the future.
With specific reference to the Presidential Election, Mr Yeo said that he did not think he was “temperamentally suited” for the role as he considered himself to be a “free spirit”.
However, Mr Yeo posted on his Facebook page that “Many Singaporeans, from all walks of life, young and old” have asked him to reconsider his decision, some of them passionately. He said that he would have to think hard before making a decision on the matter. The Presidential Election must be held before August 31, with Dr Tan Cheng Bock, a former MP for Ayer Rajah, already having declared his intention to stand as a candidate.
In the lead up to the recently concluded general election, Mr Yeo acknowleged that the PAP needed to transform itself, and said that he would personally spearhead the process if re-elected. However, he was denied that chance, with his Aljunied team being defeated by the Workers’ Party team comprising Low Thia Khiang, Sylvia Lim, Chen Show Mao, Pritam Singh and Muhamad Faisal Manap. He will have to steer clear of party politics if he is elected as President, as candidates are required to resign their party memberships before Nomination Day. However, he will be able to serve as a check on the government of the day, with powers to veto certain types of government expenditure as well as senior civil service appointments.
Ironically, Mr Yeo’s popularity seems to have skyrocketed since his election defeat, with even hardcore opposition supporters expressing their admiration for the dignified way in which he conducted himself following the polls. He has been active on social networking site Facebook, posting updates on his daily activities and allowing netizens a glimpse into her personal life, sharing anecdotes on his relationship with his wife, his personal friendships as well as his community activities.
His latest comment on Facebook attracted more than 1,000 likes within five hours, with over 650 comments, most of which were supportive.
Elaine Woo said: “Please do consider. It is rare for a politician to be so loved n respected. You can still do what you do best – serve the nation and its people. It would be a unanimous vote from the peoples’ hearts Sir!”
Chee Kang Tan said that it would be a disappointment if Mr Yeo didn’t run: “George, until now my car still has a sticker from the GE the says ‘In George we Trust’. You are the George we trust, why disappoint the people who trust you? Also, let the Aljunied residents lift up some of their guilt.”
Mr Yeo’s fans, however, were divided on whether or not he would be able to stand up to the PAP, having been a senior leader of the party for many years.
Edwin Goh was quite optimistic: “Hi George, I will support you to run for presidency! You are an extremely well liked character! Everyone’s question is, will you be the president that will kick PAP in the butt when some thing goes wrong!”
Serene Chew, however, was more sceptical: “Mr Yeo, I am really surprised as you already said you didn’t want to do it. Did PAP ask you to run because they are scared Tan Cheng Bock will win and check the accounts like Mr Ong Teng Chong? Are you the PAP-endorsed candidate? Will you check the accounts if you win or will you be content to be a handwaving machine?”
Mr Yeo could prove to be a unifying figure for Singapore as the country grows more polarised than ever before following the general election. Political watcher Derek da Cunha said that those who are opposed to the PAP are now “overwhelmingly so”, prompting Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to make an attempt at healing the rift by reshuffling his cabinet and pledging to change his party’s style of government.
A President like Mr Yeo is likely to win respect from both sides of the political spectrum, and this might be a calling that could prove to be a motivating factor for him to reconsider his earlier decision to rule himself out of the running. In addition, his experience as Foreign Minister makes him an ideal choice to represent Singapore on the international stage.
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The author is Chief Editor of The Satay Club
Having served 23 years in a high political post and a millionaire. One’s life should be fullfilled and be gratefull. Now is the time for spiritual enhancement.
In a missionary school during my younger days, I learned in catechism class a very meaningful quote. “What does it profits a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his own soul”. Amen.
As the former Foreign Minister, George Yeo has the international contacts necessary to help build up Singapore’s image on the global stage. He also has the poise and stature after years of dealing with foreign diplomats and politicians. He made no mistakes at all during his term as Foreign Minister and was very unfairly singled out, resulting in the loss of his Parliamentary seat. I would support him as a Presidential candidate. I think he is a scholar and gentleman, Singapore could do with a President like him.
I can’t believe that people think that Ong Teng Cheong was some kind of deity.
The EP is impotent…and has duties mostly of ceremonial nature.
Contrary to what seems to be the popular believes, here is how it is…
1) He cannot watch over the reserves. (He does not know where and how much or what the government is doing with the reserves. He cannot interfer with how the reserves is invested.)
2) He can veto the draw down of past reserves (those that were accumulated from previous government…i.e. b4 2011), only after consultation and concurrence from the council of presidential advisors.
3) He can veto the government’s appointments of key positions (like commissioner of police, GIC chairman, Tamesek CEO…etc), also only after consultation and concurrence from the council of presidential advisors.
4) The ‘Presidential Pardon’ is only carried out with the recommendation of the Cabinet.
Who are the people in the council of presidential advisors? How are they selected and appointed? I leave that for someone else to discover.
At the end of the day, most Singaporeans think that having a strong government with the power to efficiently implement policies is more desirable than having a weak government that has to debate endlessly before it can do anything. There was a study that showed 65% of people favouring the first option. Having a “radical” president sounds attractive because of certain people’s obsession with checks and balances. However, it impedes and frustrates the work of the government, as seen from Ong Teng Cheong’s example. It’s like having a company where one of the directors wants to question all the CEO’s decisions, demanding to see the accounts and scrutinising the entire company’s business model. Do you think the CEO will be able to do his job properly if he keeps getting pressure from this director?
Nani,
Don’t spew nonsense here.
President Ong did not impede or frustrate the work of the government.
Base on our system, the Elected President cannot question the decisions of the government. His custodial role only allow him to veto two aspect of importance. And President Ong did not effect any veto. He merely asked to know the amount of the reserves which he may have to stop the government may have to use.
I am concerned when GY “pray for wisdom” and that was flair with religious notion. If he is elected to the President, I hope that he will not “pray for wisdom” when faced with a tough challenge.
Our ex-President OTC was stirring shit by asking some very reasonable and relevant questions ? And because of this shit caused by OTC, our PAP govt did not gave him a state funeral ? What a joke and a moron to make such a comment !
Likewise, SPH should remember its own role and not have stirred the shit for TT Durai and Mrs. GCT ?
I think you are missing the point. The president is not supposed to be a politician. He is not supposed to be political. He is supposed to be a ceremonial figure but one who can unite and inspire the entire country (regardless of political affiliation), similar to the British Queen. If you look at Queen Elizabeth, many different PMs have served under her, both Conservatives and Labour. She has never tried to interfere in their policies or their administration, regardless of whether times were good or bad. She has been Queen for over 50 years and that is why she is so highly regarded by British people and internationally. I mean, the Australians prefer to have her as their Queen even though they are an independent country. They would rather have her than become a republic. I think that says it all. If you look at Prince William and his wife Kate. They have been able to unite their countrymen and inspire them without being political. He will make a good King. Basically that is the role of the head of state. Politics is best left to the politicians. That’s why I feel that S R Nathan was a better President than Ong Teng Cheong, even though most hardcore anti-establishment radicals would feel the opposite.
Nani, don’t try to confuse everyone with all this nonsense.
The systems in those places are different. About half of Australian do not want the Royals as their head. They will not have a President if they become a republic.
We do not need a ‘elected’ President for the system we have. This is a mutation of the parliamentary system brought about by the PAP government. When the people entrusted them the power to rule, they used that power to change the constituition. They do this to convince voters that they do not need to have alternate parties in parliament to watch over government who may turn corrupt.
Now a whole generation of voters do not even know of the type of Head of State like President Wee Kim Wee and his predesessors. And so many are confused about the role of the Presidents now.
To: justacitizen, You are absolutely correct with your comments.
you talk nonsense again! what is the role of the President??
The president’s role is ceremonial and custodial. More importantly he has to be a respected head of state. Similarly to the British queen. She should not be involved in politics.
So he take back his word and what he say just before election?
I am worried for him. Cancer seems to come with the job. If he dig too much, too deep.Who knows?
I admire Mr George Yeo, for he stands out among the rest of the pappies. Maybe it is in Buddha’s plan for him to be elected as our next President. (If he decided to contest)
I will vote for him, although I am anti-pappies.
The role of the President is not to create trouble and stir shit but to preside over a unified Singapore. You guys have it wrong. There is a reason why Ong Teng Cheong was not given a state funeral. He forgot what his role was. You can’t unite a country if your actions serve to divide the government.
He he … I think what you meant is to divide the PAP …. you are such a PAP man. Will you be joining the PAP next GE?
Nani,
On the contrary, President Ong the 1st ELECTED President, is the only elected President who knew what his role was. His role was no more merely ceremonial like his predesessors, but one that included a custodian role. And he did his utmost to uphold the integrity of that office with it new function.
With all due respect to President Nathan, he did not state his position publicly when voices of objection to Mdm Ho Ching’s appointment as CEO of Temasek was raised amongst the citizens. He could have given his reasons for his approval of this key appointment given to the then Finance Minister’s wife.
Nani, I’m afraid you simply can’t see the forest for its trees. Ong Teng Cheong knew precisely what his role was. It was the government that forgot.
It would be interesting if we had George Yeo vs Tan Cheng Bock. Both ex PAP men. Both from the Goh camp. One has a proven track record of speaking up, the other promised to reform the PAP. I wonder what sort of issues they would campaign on?
George Yeo is a fine choice. I would vote for him if he decides to stand as a candidate. He is someone who wants to reform the PAP and you can tell that he really meant it, not a wayang. I’m not so convinced about LHL. So with George Yeo there to check him, LHL will not be able to get away with any more cover ups.
If it is not a wayang, why did he not do it for all the years while he is in the CEC of the PAP? He is still there and can effectively carry out this mission from within. But if he goes for the Presidency, then he will have to leave the PAP. He will then either be another President Ong or a puppet.
If Mr George Yeo wants to change the PAP from within and it is not a wayang, then he should stay in the CEC of the PAP.
The President cannot check the goverment of the day of it’s cover ups. He CAN ONLY VETO the use of past reserves and key appointment holders. And that only after having consultation and agreement from the council of presidential advisors. President Ong could not even get them to reveal the amount of the reserves which he was supposed to keep watch. How do you expect the President to expose the ‘cover-ups’ of the goverments, if any.
I find it utterly hilarious that all these people are now “pouring out” their support for GY. Do they pity him? What is there to pity? He served 23 years and is a multi-millionaire. Why not pity Chiam See Tong, he also served 27 years and got voted out?
Ong Teng Cheong was also an ex PAP member. He turned out to be a fine President, not a yes man. He challenged PAP and held it to account. So I see no reason why George Yeo or Tan Cheng Bock can’t do the same. Of course, if you are telling me that Wong Kan Seng or Mah Bow Tan is running for President, that’s a different matter altogether.
President Ong was a man of principle. I respect him for that.
But he was also part of the PAP team that had put the elected president bill into legistature. Though he probably did so with the best of intention, but notheless he did it without fully being aware of the impotence of the elected presidency. And so he was a yes-man from the beginning.
Only after he was thrust into the office of President, did he then realise how flawed it was. He then went all the way, in his own word (I paraphrase here) “test the system” as it was new. But he could get nowhere as the government block all his attempt to find out the amount of the reserves.
I mean no disrespect to the late President here. But these are the facts.
That’s the whole point isn’t it? President Ong did not have to do that. He could have played a more constructive role. It was unnecessary for him to “test the system” and cause trouble for the government. The President is supposed to be a unifying figure and not a divisive one. He should focus on how to unite Singaporeans.
Nani, you are such a clown.
If the system were enacted in a certain way, then it must be made to work that way. If not then it is a farce and a lie. President Ong was principled enough to try and made the system work. Unlike his college who after installing the system and succeeded in getting the voters to believe in it and vote them into power again, then curbed the working of the said system by blocking the President’s enquiries.
I’ll rather vote for a cockroach than an ex pap member who didn’t quit the party willingly. Who knows where his loyalties lie? To our country or to his party?