Rilek1Corner

Tag: Salleh Marican

  • Of TCB And Salleh Marican: Both Directly Associated With The Establishment, Both Blocked From Potentially Contesting The Presidency

    Of TCB And Salleh Marican: Both Directly Associated With The Establishment, Both Blocked From Potentially Contesting The Presidency

    I am one of those who have highlighted the hypocrisy on both sides upon observing both sides and my views are from my personal perspective.

    Categorically, I am against the manipulation of the constitution particularly the reserved election on basis of race by the government of the day to maintain grip of power bases. This however does not automatically mean I am supportive of any claim of an alternative voice challenging the primary power base.

    There are inconsistencies in what have been said, what have been allowed to be said, what have been silence and what have been forced to be silenced.

    The example of double standard begins with the hashtag campaign of #notmypresident pointing to the legitimacy of the presidency rather than #notmygovernment or #notmydemocracy that would point to the mechanism and ideology used to manipulate the constitution. The campaign of #notmypresident must be nuanced with an alternative person for presidency. This is perhaps presented in the person of Dr Tan Cheng Bock, the best loser for PE2011. This is with the assumption that an open election by the revised criteria, he would qualify for candidacy. However, the little has been said about the Dr Tan’s capacity to meet the $500m company criteria that saw Mr Salleh and Mr Farid disqualified.

    The #notmypresident campaign was preceded with a spoil your vote campaign which in sum was intended as a protest against the reserved election (almost without mention of the manipulation of the eligibility criteria) simultaneously denouncing the nomination of Mr Salleh and Mr Farid as potential candidates who have stepped forward in full awareness of the changes of the eligibility criteria.

    What makes the movement inconsistent and precursor to double standard is the treatment and opinion accorded to Dr Tan, a former PAP MP who was blocked from contesting primarily on the grounds of a racially reserved election and the treatment and opinion accorded to Mr Salleh, a voluntary director at Temasek Foundation Cares on the grounds of not meeting the $500m criteria.

    Dr Tan was hailed as being robbed of the presidency while Mr Salleh was portrayed as a crony despite both are directly associated with the establishment and both were blocked from potentially contesting the presidency.

    The above inconsistency prompted me to ask if the anger was due to violated principles or violated opportunity of an individual.

    Unreservedly, I am supportive of Dr Tan’s challenge to the presidency. This does not mean that should a more qualified candidate be available, I should ignore.

    For example it has been widely publicised that Mdm Halimah has no financial background to be a custodian of the reserves. However, would Mr Salleh Marican be less qualified than Dr Tan C B in this aspect. What would the principle of meritocracy suggest?

    It is also known that Mdm Halimah is an immediate alumni of the establishment, however between Mr Salleh and Dr Tan, the association to the establishment of Dr Tan is as a former card carrying allowanced PAP MP who has refrained from joining a different political party since stepping down, while Mr Salleh was a volunteer director at a nonprofit community service arm of Temasek. What would the principle of independence suggest?

    Categorically I qualify that I am here not to pit Dr Tan against Mr Salleh but to highlight the tenor and treatment put forth by the alternative movement on two violated candidates, both with sound financial acumen, both with ties with the establishment and both non partisan to any political party at the time of planned candidacy.

    Thus I have to undertake a personal reflection and question aspects of privilege, rights and principles. With that, I need to caution myself against getting caught in a cult of personality because Democracy is not simply the propelling the voice of the majority (in the widest sense) or the rule of majority, democracy stands in symbiotic coupling to ensuring minority (in the widest sense) rights (in a sense just as wide).

    Without the latter, a discourse on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights that ensues will sit on an oppressive high ground as demand for justice on aspects where the majority feels shortchanged are heard loud while privileges that propels benefits to the same majority are retained in silence.

     

    Source: Rafiz Hapipi

     

  • Salleh Marican: I Am Disappointed That The PEC Committee Did Not See Me Fit

    Salleh Marican: I Am Disappointed That The PEC Committee Did Not See Me Fit

    Mainstream media CNA stated that the reason Second Chance CEO Salleh Marican did not qualify as his firm was “considerably below” the S$500 million shareholders’ equity required. But how many people, even other races, would have qualified in handling over $500 million equity?

    Did PAP do their homework thoroughly when they set that 500mil asset requirements to ensure that no “Malay” can match it? Meanwhile, Halimah has managed $0. Look at the loophole PAP has left for itself. Helping your mother to sell nasi lemak in your younger days do not provide you with expertise in handling over $500 million equity.

    Singaporeans don’t even comprehend why the need to be qualified in handling huge amount of money is a requirement in serving Singapore as President. If you got heart and passion, you should be eligible. Then for the next election, can we suggest that only people like Jack Ma or Peter Lim are eligible because they will raise the ceiling to a billion and hit PAP’s criteria?

    Shortly after the announcement by PEC, Salleh gave the following statement on his FB profile.

    “I am disappointed that the committee did not see it fit to give me the go-head to take part in the Presidential Election.

    But this doesn’t mean my work to help my fellow citizens comes to an end. My team and I will regroup to see how the effort to help our disadvantaged sisters and brothers can go forward.

    Since I threw my hat into ring months ago, I have realized there is an urgent need to help my fellow citizens. And I pledge to do exactly that.

    To my family, friends, business associates and well wishers who had stood by me in my decision to become the President of Singapore I say: The fight to serve Singapore is not over. We will regroup and put our plans into action soon.”

     

    Rilek1Corner

     

  • Singapore’s Presidential Election: A Political Charade?

    Singapore’s Presidential Election: A Political Charade?

    The Presidential Election 2017 is a tricky one because for the first time ever, it has the race element. Many individuals have come forward to express how the PE is tainted due to it being reserved for only Malays, and thus far, the candidates that have come forward, are all not from the Malay race itself. Issues after issues surround the upcoming PE, therefore, will this be a fair PE?

    ***

    As a person, I can think of a hundred nice things to say about Mdm Halimah Yacob. Hers is an inspiring story of how will and determination can overcome all obstacles and hardships. But as a PAP-sponsored candidate for the coming EP (Reserved only for Malays) contest, I try but can’t think of any. The same goes for the other two PAP-inspired male supporting actors in this political charade scripted by a puppet master.

    As successful businessmen in a tough Chinese-dominated environment, they have proven their mettle. I have also much admiration for them. By becoming willing partners in this closed and divisive EP race, I have nothing good to say about their participation. All 3 have to lie through their teeth to maintain the meritocracy and multi-racialism facade of what is essentially a flawed EP contest. In his prime, our revered departed leader said:

    “Never tinker with a system that works for political advantage, because once you start, you will never stop.” But decades later – in an attempt to prolong his own legacy – he forgot all about his advice to the leaders from the developing world. The result is a divided and highly agitated Sinkapoor, preoccupied with racial issues, nursing old and new grievances and questioning the legitimacy of the present leaders. Now we know, human nature cannot change. Unfettered power will sooner or later corrupt even the most incorruptible of leaders.

     

    Source: Ismail Kassim

  • Salleh Marican: “I Have Never Worked For Anyone In My Life… I Am My Own Man”

    Salleh Marican: “I Have Never Worked For Anyone In My Life… I Am My Own Man”

    As a young boy, Mohamed Salleh Marican was already looking to earn his own keep. When he was eight, he asked his mother to pay him S$0.90 to collect bread from the bakery instead of having it delivered to their home. At age 12, he walked 2km to and from school every day to save money on transport. He wanted to follow in the footsteps of his father, a textile merchant. That aspiration did not sit well with his mother, who had to raise six children single-handedly after her husband died of illness when Mr Marican was only 15. She was furious when he rejected an offer to sign on as a Lieutenant in the army as he would rather run his own business.

    “My mother said to me: ‘Do you think it’s easy to be a businessman?’” the 67-year-old recalled. “She said: ‘Look at your father. His 50 years of running a business had many ups and downs. Why give up a good job with a good position?’” But Mr Marican stuck to his guns and set up a tailoring shop in 1974, when he was in his early 20s. M Salleh Enterprise was located in Peninsula Shopping Centre.  After an unsuccessful stint, Mr Marican sold the store for S$15,000. He bought it back five months later for half the price, and named it Second Chance. By 1988, Mr Marican had opened 25 clothing stores in Singapore and Malaysia. But the good times did not last. He had to close 21 stores in four years.

    “It caused a lot of uneasiness and fear, in my family, my directors, my management team. I realised how much many people depended on me. I began to feel more for people in trouble, people who are down and out,” Marican said. Still, he was undeterred and Second Chance later became the first Malay-owned firm to be listed on the Singapore Exchange in 1997. These experiences, said Mr Marican, have helped him become more compassionate. “I went through the school of hard knocks. This is when you learn much more about life, about interacting with all types of people. I have never worked for anyone in my life. I never had to answer to any superior or boss. I am my own man. I’ve never been affiliated to any political party or (been) backed by any business or organisation. This is what I can bring to the table.”

    “MY MALAY IS YOUR EVERYDAY MALAY”

    Despite his successes in business, Mr Marican is well aware that running for the Presidency will not be easy. When he announced in June his intention to contest the election – reserved this year for candidates from the Malay community – many criticised him for his poor command of the Malay language. This was after a video of him stumbling over a Malay word made its rounds on social media. “Actually, I can speak Malay. But my Malay is your everyday Malay,” Mr Marican claimed. “What happened that day is I did not realise they were recording it on Facebook Live. I thought it was done a normal way, that it will be edited later on. So I wanted to use a better Malay word. That is what happened. I learnt a thing or two about the media.”

    Mr Marican has since been taking classes to improve his Malay. But that isn’t the only aspect of his life that’s changed since he started preparing for his campaign. He now has less time to read the newspapers, and only recently bought his first mobile phone. “There are so many things to think about and there are so many messages coming in from my team members. Now I realise why they say I must have a handphone … Now I cannot leave home without the handphone,” he said. The businessman’s priorities have also shifted over the years. While making money was the main goal in his younger days, the father of four – three daughters and a son – said he now wants to give back to society.

    If elected, Mr Marican said he will donate his entire salary as President to charity. His team has also been working on a social movement called Mind The Gap which hopes to raise funds and awareness of smaller charities in Singapore. “Many people tell me you can also do this if you’re not President. It’s true. But you see the difference – the influence of the President can have a great impact on any activity he or she chooses to promote. For example, if I write to all the CEOs of the big companies in Singapore to donate to this cause, most of them will do so. But as an ordinary citizen, if I do that, how many will even read the letter?”

    Mr Marican was the first of the three potential candidates that have come forward so far to submit their application forms to the Elections Department. The other two are former Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob and chairman of Bourbon Offshore Asia Farid Khan.  All potential candidates will have to apply for the Certificate of Eligibility, providing details such as employment history and submitting supporting documents. Applicants from the private sector like Mr Marican and Mr Farid will have to show that they have helmed a company with at least S$500 million in shareholders’ equity. Mr Marican said he spent “more than 100 hours” thinking how best to convince the Presidential Elections Committee that he is a qualified candidate. “So now it’s in their hands, but I’m confident that they will qualify me,” he said.

     

    Source: CNA

  • Three Possible Reasons That Can Lead To A Walkover Election And Win For Mdm President Halimah Yacob

    Three Possible Reasons That Can Lead To A Walkover Election And Win For Mdm President Halimah Yacob

    1. No signs of preparation for the election

    Knowing that the PE2017 would involve the whole nation to be at the voting booths, it is very unlikely that the government will mobilize its civil service officers at a short notice without any prior briefing. Has there been any information from sources in the civil service about blocking of leaves?

    2. PAP candidate might lose if there is a straight contest between candidates

    Therefore there is a high possibility that the two non-PAP candidates Salleh Marican and Farid Khan will be disqualified by the Election Department, making this upcoming reserved election for Malays a walkover victory for Halimah Yacob who is walking into Istana with her status as former Speaker of Parliament, and not as a CEO of a company with $500 million shareholders equity.

    3. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is not his father

    There are rumors going around saying that there would not be an election, but some questioned if the PAP administration dare to fix the presidential election so blatantly enough to appoint its chosen candidate. Some argued that it will not be let off easily if it did so happen.

    Again, many Singaporeans may have lost interest in the upcoming reserved elections due to the amount of tasteless drama and conspiracies surrounding it. Yet, despite the outcome of the election, no matter who the president is, we need to think about one important thing, “Just how far is the PAP willing to go to protect its monopolistic stranglehold on political power?”

     

    Rilek1Corner