Best Man Wins

It was not until the wee hours of Sunday's morning that the results of the Presidential Elections were out and it was because there was a recount of votes. Indeed, it was a close-fight between Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock. Ultimately, Dr Tony Tan is Singapore's new President.

It was a close call but thank goodness for small wonders. Sensibility won by a small percentage.

After all the fuss, I'm glad that we'll have relative peace for the next 6 years. I have enough of the personal attacks and undermining of the ruling party efforts.

This is the upward trend that is going to afflict Singapore for years to come: more and more people voting for the opposition and those affiliated with them. There is no stopping this wave. There is and will be increasing fragmentation in the society where the line is draw between 2 camps; supporters of the ruling party and those who are not.

I can't help but feel that as Singapore and the world progresses, humanity is lost. The world according to some people consists of themselves and their houses. They can only see how can this and that benefit me, how can my self-interest be met.

What I want my President To Be

I want the President of Singapore to be a person with experience, dignity and ability to represent Singapore on the world stage. He must be a person who can hold his own in front of foreign dignitaries and head-of-states. He have to be Singapore's top diplomat.

I can hardly care for the "incentives" the candidates promise to bring to the people because how true that will be, no one knows. Let's be honest, where will he get the money to provide additional incentives to NS men and the lot? Out of his own pocket? Besides, how long do you think he can carry out this? One year, or maybe two?

These ideas are short-sighted and the people who vote because they can only see the benefits and care for their self-interests are completely irrational. Is that the kind of president they want? One who promises them "goodies" and an "alternate voice"?

It's disappointing that despite continuous emphasis on the role and duties of the president, there are people who just cannot look past their prejudices and tinted glasses. Their dislike for the ruling party spilled over to that of presidential elections.

On another note, is the ruling party of Singapore that bad? With the way things are going, you'd think that the party has done a great deal of injustice to Singaporeans.

If these people are really that disappointed with the system here, they ought to be shipped to Libya, where they can experience "true political injustice" and political unrest.

Furthermore, they are an ungrateful lot, I must say. Reaping in the benefits and yet pointing fingers when things are not up to their liking. The ruling party is not perfect, but they have done Singapore proud. They have provide accountability to the citizens all these years.

That being said, I am not confusing the role of the president with that of the Parliament or the ruling party. I am merely making things clear.

Confidence for the Future?

It's not whether I have confidence for the future, it's I have no confidence in the people of Singapore. With recent happenings, one have to wonder if our values is starting to erode and deteriorate.

Presidential elections will be here on the 27th of August.

I have this thought that since the President of Singapore is supposed to be just and above the parliment that maybe, there will be not be that much protest about whether he was formerly part of the ruling party. But, I was wrong. Some people are still narrow-minded, short-sighted and hard-headed.

Despite re-emphasising on the role of the President, people and even some Presidential candidates seem not to get the gist of it. Maybe, they seek to change the system or play up citizens' feelings and expectations?

The President of Singapore is mostly a figurehead, I would have thought that is established by now. To put it bluntly, he will be a "puppet". The Prime Minister has the power of the government, whether you like it or not.

Don't make empty promises like promising to change this and that and raise expectations. Is this considered misleading? I know that some citizens are fired up by the thoughts of bringing changes but they are going to be disappointed.

Time and again, various parties have stated that 'keeping an eye' on the government is the opposition party's job, not that of a President.

Past and recent examples show that 'thinking of doing something' is almost always not the same of doing it. For example, one can say he will cut taxes but in reality, he will find that it's easier said than done.

Besides, one of the main duty of a president is to be a diplomat. He will be the one whom other head of states will meet.Needless to say, there has to be a certain bearing and demeanour in the way the President conduct himself to be a representation of Singapore. The way one speaks and carries himself will reflect on the image of Singapore. And let's be honest, first impressions do count.

I like the way an editor puts it, don't hide under the axiom "Let Singaporeans decide".