Tag: Abdullah Tarmugi

Prominent Malays Named As Potential Candidates For Elected President

Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican’s declaration of his interest in running in the upcoming presidential election is not a total surprise.

As a prominent, successful Malay entrepreneur, his name is among several talked about in recent weeks as a possible presidential hopeful for the September election.

Meanwhile, two other figures seen as potential candidates – former minister Abdullah Tarmugi and Bank of Singapore chief executive officer Bahren Shaari – told The Straits Times they were not keen on standing for the election.

Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, 62, who is widely considered a front runner, did not respond to queries from The Straits Times.

Mr Mohamad Salleh, explaining his intentions, told The Straits Times in an e-mail yesterday: “I believe I have done well for myself in business and would like to step up and give back to society in a much larger way.”

When contacted, two other prominent individuals from the Malay community touted as potential candidates confirmed they were not eyeing the election.

Mr Bahren, 54, told The Straits Times in an e-mail: “I am humbled to have my name mentioned as a potential candidate for this year’s presidential election by various media. It is always a privilege and honour to serve the nation.

“At the moment, my focus is on growing the business of Bank of Singapore with my team and deriving the synergies from our recent acquisition of the wealth and investment management business of Barclays Bank PLC.”

Mr Abdullah, 72, said it is “unlikely” he will run in the election.

“I had considered contesting earlier and many had in fact encouraged me to do so. But it is unlikely that I will contest. I have my reasons,” he said, declining to elaborate.

Other names that have been mentioned include Mr Shafie Shamsuddin, 46, the chief executive officer of PT Trans Retail, which operates Carrefour supermarkets in Indonesia.

Mr Shafie, who could not be reached for comment, was named outstanding overseas chief/senior executive of the year at last year’s Singapore Business Awards.

He is the first non-Frenchman named in 2011 as an executive director of the global supermarket giant Carrefour, taking charge of talent management and organisational development.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

June 1, 2017
Prominent Names Thrown Up For Next Presidential Elections

Since Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced last week that next year’s presidential election will be reserved for Malay candidates, several names of possible candidates have surfaced.

Community leaders and observers cite two prominent figures from the community: Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, and former Cabinet minister Abdullah Tarmugi, who was Speaker from 2002 to 2011.

Observers said both possible candidates tick all the boxes of the eligibility criteria for those from the public sector, having spent at least three years in key public offices.

PM Lee was speaking during the debate in Parliament on changes to the Constitution to ensure minorities are represented in the elected presidency from time to time, as the office is a symbol of the nation’s multiracialism.

Singapore has not had a Malay president since its first president Yusof Ishak, who died in office in 1970.

Madam Halimah, 62, an MP for Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, entered politics in 2001, became minister of state in 2011 and then Speaker in 2013.

She is widely seen as a front runner. But when asked if she has given the matter thought, Madam Halimah told The Straits Times: “My paramount consideration is service to Singapore which I am doing by wholeheartedly focusing on my current responsibilities.

“Regardless of our position of service, it is more important to stay focused on the same core mission, which is to do our best for Singapore,” she added.

Political observer Eugene Tan of the Singapore Management University said her background as a unionist – she spent 33 years at the National Trades Union Congress and left as deputy secretary-general – will endear her to the man in the street. The labour movement will have no problem backing her, he said.

“That she is a ‘double minority’ sends a powerful message – that a Malay-Muslim and a woman can aspire to and be elected to the highest office in the land, as both groups are under-represented in the office of head of state,” said Associate Professor Tan, a former Nominated MP.

Association of Muslim Professionals chairman Abdul Hamid Abdullah added that Madam Halimah connects well with people on the ground, who know her to be capable. “The fact that she wears a tudung is not a handicap,” he said. “She is very well accepted by both the Malay and non-Malay community.”

Iseas – Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat noted that Madam Halimah would need to resign as an MP and a Speaker if she were to run for the presidency.

There is a precedent for this – former deputy prime minister Ong Teng Cheong resigned in 1993 to contest the first presidential election that year.

But Dr Norshahril said some voters might think Madam Halimah is too closely affiliated to the ruling party if she steps down as an MP and runs for president shortly after.

On the other hand, Mr Abdullah, 72, is a little more “detached”, having retired from politics in 2011.

Asked if he would run, Mr Abdullah, who was part of the nine-man Constitutional Commission that reviewed the elected presidency, said he has not given it serious consideration. But several friends have encouraged him to do so, he added.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

November 14, 2016
Malay President – Halimah Yacob, Abdullah Tarmugi Or Bahren Shaari?

MADAM HALIMAH YACOB, 62

APPOINTMENTS

2001 to now: Member of Parliament

2011 to 2012: Minister of State (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports)

2012 to 2013: Minister of State (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

2013 to now: Speaker of Parliament

WHY HER?

“She is a trained lawyer. Was in the top echelon of NTUC, then MP, Minister of State, and Speaker. In short, she is very well-qualified. I believe she is also well-liked. As an added bonus, she is a woman.”

– Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser, National University of Singapore

“Usually, candidates (for the Presidency) don’t step down from their current positions and stand for election immediately because they may be seen as too closely associated with the governing party.

– Mr Mano Sabnani, political observer and chief executive officer of Rafflesia Holdings, a media and financial consultancy company

MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI, 72

APPOINTMENTS

1984 to 2011: Member of Parliament

1989 to 1993: Deputy Speaker

1993 to 2002: Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs

1994 to 2002: Minister for Community Development

2002 to 2011: Speaker of Parliament

2012 to now: Member, Presidential Council for Minority Rights

WHY HIM?

“He’s been retired from politics for some years now. So he could be seen as not closely linked to the political establishment.”

– Mr Sabnani

“That Abdullah Tarmugi was born to a Malay father and a Chinese mother, and the fact that his wife is also Chinese may well be an added advantage as the portrayal of a multicultural identity is likely to resonate with the society at large here.”

– Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute

MR BAHREN SHAARI, 54

APPOINTMENTS

2010 to 2015: Global Head (Southeast Asia), Bank of Singapore

2015 to now: Chief executive officer, Bank of Singapore

2012 to now: Non-executive and independent director, Singapore Press Holdings

WHY HIM?

“He is known to many in the community, but he may have to boost his profile beyond the community should he be interested to run for president.”

– Dr Mustafa

Source: www.tnp.sg

November 10, 2016
Who Will Be PAP’s Chosen One – Halimah Yacob Or Abdullah Tarmugi?

Looks like with the new hiatus-triggered model, PAP will be putting in place a mechanism that can effectively put Dr Tan Cheng Bock out of contention for the Elected Presidency.

Why? Because if they implement it with immediate effect, next year’s presidential elections will be about PAP’s chosen Malay ~~puppet~~ candidate. Do you see any Malays from the private sector meeting the eligibility criteria? Yes you know the answer to that.

That leaves us with high-ranking Malay civil servants and Ministers or even the Speaker of Parliament.

But do you know of any high-ranking Malay civil servants? They do not have the profile that other races can be comfortable with.

So in the end, who are we left with?

Halimah Yacob and Abdullah Tarmugi. Between this two, who would you want as your President?

Hammer Blow

[Reader Contribution]

November 9, 2016
Abdullah Tarmugi Reappointed As Member of Presidential Council For Minority Rights

Mr Abdullah Tarmugi has been reappointed as a member of the Presidential Council for Minority Rights for a further three years.

The reappointment, which took effect from Saturday, was made by President Tony Tan Keng Yam, according to the government gazette on Monday.

Mr Abdullah, 70, was first appointed to the Council in January 2012 after his retirement from politics in 2011. He was a former Speaker of Parliament and was also previously Minister in charge of Muslim Affairs.

The Presidential Council for Minority Rights ensures that laws passed in Parliament do not discriminate against any racial or religious community.

It also advises the President on nominees to the Malay Community Committee and the Indian and Other Minority Communities Committee. The two committees certify minority candidates for parliamentary elections.

The Council has 17 members, all of whom are appointed by the President on the advice of the Cabinet.

Six permanent members on the Council are appointed for life. They are: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Law K. Shanmugam, former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and former Cabinet ministers Othman Wok and S. Dhanabalan.

The Council’s other members serve three-year terms. It is chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon.

Source: www.straitstimes.com

January 13, 2015