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Tag: capable

  • Commentary: PE2017 Experience Leaves One With A Bitter Aftertaste. What A Shame She Wasn’t Allowed To Fight A Fair Fight

    Commentary: PE2017 Experience Leaves One With A Bitter Aftertaste. What A Shame She Wasn’t Allowed To Fight A Fair Fight

    As Halimah Yaacob thanked her supporters for waiting for her under the hot sun, someone yelled something I couldn’t catch and she laughed. It wasn’t forced or rehearsed. It was one of the few times I saw a Singaporean politician being natural. And I thought, what a shame.

    As the camera panned to a group of makciks laughing along with her, looking so happy and proud as if thinking, yes, one of us made it. And I thought, what a shame.

    As hashtags of #notmypresident popped up online, the trolls gleefully bash their keyboards, making fun of her for selling nasi padang because that’s so Melayu. And I thought, what a shame.

    What a shame that this capable woman wasn’t allowed to fight a fair fight, that the odds were placed so ever in her favor that her presidency was seen as a sure thing, was tainted, even before she threw her name in the ring.

    It’ll be interesting to see if history will gloss over the details of how she became President. 20 years from now, articles will be written and documentaries will be made about how she was the first Malay (?) female (hijab-wearing at that!) to be president – how she started out with the trade unions and worked her way up to be an MP, how she was a beloved MP for her constituency, how she became the first female Speaker and then eventually the President.

    For me, I’ll remember the acute anger and disappointment of how this came to be. Of how the G insisted that the Malay community wanted a Malay president so they were just giving what the people wanted. Of how arrogant the G was to say that they were willing to pay the political price – because they think 4 years is long enough to make us forget, because come 2021, there will be an onslaught of goodies to succumb to.

    I once asked my mom if she ever felt disappointed that my sister and I are not high-flyers and hold ordinary jobs. She said no and after a pause she said, “But I wouldn’t mind if one of you became a Minister.” I just hope if that ever happens, she won’t be thinking, “What a shame.”

     

    Source: Junaini Johari

  • Damanhuri Abas: Singaporeans Need Truly Independent, Non-Partisan President

    Damanhuri Abas: Singaporeans Need Truly Independent, Non-Partisan President

    With this announcement from the Government, we Singaporeans would now state our expectations on the Malay President to be that we, Singaporeans of all races will be voting for in September.

    As spelled out in the raison d’être of having an Elected President, the position comes with critical Presidential powers of financial oversight for our vital billions of dollars of reserves. He or she is the safeguard and second key to our reserves. He or she must rigorously check the government to know how well or badly they managed the collective money of the people. This monies are invested and since the Government refused full transparency to disclose the truth of the state of our reserves in clear details, the President is the only hope of the people to hold the Government accountable on our behalf.

    Thus the President to be must be someone who has experiences managing in the real sense, multi-million dollar operations in a position of direct and primary responsibility. He or she is accountable for the positive outcome of the business or otherwise must be able to face the rigour of explaining any failures when it happens with all its consequences.

    A person with such capabilities most likely would only be someone who has run himself or herself, successful multi-million dollar setup with thousands of employees under his or her charge and care. Someone from the private sector would be ideal as the public sector immunes somewhat from the demanding scrutiny and consequential rigour.

    The honest question Singaporeans should now ask is, are there any such persons of capable experience and merit in the Malay community to be given that trust by the people? If there is such a person that emerged to contest, Singaporeans should make the right choice of electing that person instead of anyone from the Government rank and file from the Malay community which sadly do not have any experience given of the above scale of financial amount and responsibility as mentioned, working in the Government.

    Ultimately, the overwhelming evidence of late from rampant price and tax hikes on the people, and the sudden changes to the constitution to game the system, the people must be fully cognisant of the dangers of unchecked and uncontrolled Government going rogue. Thus the people all the more needs a truly Independent Elected President. And that will never come from someone who is a known Government man or woman who will tow the government line instead of being its very gatekeeper.

     

    Source: Damanhuri Abas