Presidential candidate Tan Jee Say admits that his supporters were "not right" to boo rival candidate Tony Tan
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
Presidential candidate Tan Jee Say demonstrated that he could play a unifying role as Singapore’s President by admitting that his supporters were not right to boo rival candidate Dr Tony Tan at the People’s Association headquarters on Nomination Day. He added that he always tells his supporters to conduct themselves in a “civil” manner.
“I thought that was not the correct way to conduct our campaign. We should show respect to everyone,” he said.
Mr Tan has been described as having a direct and confrontational style, an image that is augmented by his past associations with the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP). However, the former senior civil servant insists that “being forceful shouldn’t be construed as being confrontational or combative”.
He further explained that Singapore could not to afford to have a “meek President”, since it was the President’s duty to stand up to a “strong and formidable government that has been in office for a long time”.
Mr Tan’s supporters jeered loudly when Dr Tony Tan was making his Nomination Day speech, chanting “jiak liao bee” (Hokkien for “good for nothing) and “Patrick Tan”, in an obvious reference to his son who was given a 12-year disruption from National Service while Dr Tan was Defence Minister.
Earlier, Dr Tan – who is widely seen as the candidate most closely associated with the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) – expressed that he was “deeply disappointed” by the jeers that he received at the nomination centre. He argued that Singaporeans should give all four Presidential candidates a fair chance to be heard.
Dr Tan has insisted that the President does not have the power to serve as a check and balance on the government, and that the office cannot be an alternative power centre. He says that he will raise issues informally and in private with the government, and believes that his views will be influential because the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers know him well.
–
The author is Chief Editor of The Satay Club
Tan Jee Say associates himself with hooligans. He should apologise for the behaviour of his supporters. I did not see any apology. Is he trying to shirk responsibility? Since he says that he wants to check and balance the government, shouldn’t he check and balance his own supporters first? Why the double standards?
The jeering is not because they were TJS’s supporters, per se but Singaporeans who are disgusted with the PAP and their cronies… And TT undeniably stands as one with them.
What is the problem with the jeering? If he can’t take it, then don’t stand for the PE. They should evaluate why TT is the ONLY one jeered at….
Quote: ‘Dr Tan has insisted that the President does not have the power to serve as a check and balance on the government, and that the office cannot be an alternative power centre’.
Jee Say has not said that the power of government will be shifted to that of the office of EP! He said that he will act as ‘check and balance’ and qualified further by saying that he will be the auditor and gatekeeper. In Singapore, a professional auditor is a qualfied certified public accountant and all companies registered under the private limited entity is required by law for their books to be ‘checked and balance’ every financial year before financial statements can be released to MAS, the tax department or to shareholders. Jee Say will be playing this role if elected as President as promised by him. He will ensure that our reserves and central provident funds are safeguarded! What more can Singaporeans want?
On his other role of gatekeeper……..Singaporeans who live in condos will know what a gatekeeper is………..he is our security guard! Our security guard ensures that our units in the condo are not subject to break-ins by robbers and that we sleep soundly in the night. He also ensures that our precious automobiles are not punctured or scratched in the night. We pay regularly to safeguard our homes and properties ……….isn’t it a wonderful thought to have Jee Say looking after our bigger house…………..Singapore?
.
Quote : ‘He says that he will raise issues informally and in private with the government, and believes that his views will be influential because the Prime Minister and other cabinet ministers know him well’.
This is a dangerous statement made by Tancho. He says the PM and cabinet members know him well. Well………you know the answer! It is better for the EP to keep at arms-length relationship with the government of the day……how then will he be able to safeguard out home……….our monies? You can be firendly but knowing him well……….hmm
Lets us give our precious vote to the one who can look after us………. the people. Let us not choose a gatekeeper who sleeps at night while we also sleep. Lets have proper accounting and a healthy check and balance!
Pingback: Daily SG: 18 Aug 2011 « The Singapore Daily
We were not right to jeer but TCB supporters also jeered!