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After the Presidential Election of 2011, at the very least two of the three candidates who misplaced to Dr Tony Tan stayed lively within the public limelight. This time round, after the Sept 1 PE2023, two of the shedding or ineligible members have change into incognito. Tan Kin Lian should still be within the public eye, however until you’ve got entry, you can’t attain him on Fb, although I’d not guess on his disappearing for lengthy. He’s more likely to have a phrase or two to supply on virtually every thing. Singaporeans stay up for his observations, which make for higher breakfast conversations than institution propaganda.
Let’s speak about a shocking belated Opposition aftermath of PE2011 first. Tan Jee Say garnered a creditable 25.04% of the PE vote. He then dropped out of the general public eye till his reappearance as an lively Tan Kin Lian supporter in PE2023. That was a feather within the cap for TKL. And so as to add to the sense that there can be an enormous swing of votes to assist put TKL within the Istana, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, who misplaced by a skinny margin in PE1011 – 34.85% to Tony Tan’s 35.20% of the votes – popped as much as present his solidarity with fellow ex-PE2011 members. Sadly, his shock look, which was anticipated to swing the reasonable crowd in the direction of TKL, had little affect however could now have a much bigger adverse impact on TCB’s legacy and affect as a number one Opposition voice of moderation. It is going to be a problem for the celebration he based, the Progress Singapore Celebration, to utterly “disassociate” itself from its founder within the hustings in GE2025. We will count on the Individuals’s Motion Celebration to take advantage of the awkward dissociation.
However this isn’t actually the topic of this column.
My peeve is that individuals who current themselves as candidates for one thing as necessary because the Singapore Presidency mustn’t merely disappear out of sight and out of thoughts after they haven’t made it.
As I stated, Tan Kin Lian can be round. He has been a social media character for a while. And he has a sure Fb following lengthy earlier than his PE2023 foray. He is not going to go away. Why ought to he?
What concerning the different two? Immediately no sound from George Goh Ching Wah and Ng Kok Tune.
I don’t see Ng Kok Tune as any sort of public conscience voice on Singapore points. He’s an excessive amount of pro-establishment, having been a former GIC chief funding officer and clearly shut sufficient to the late Lee Kuan Yew to be requested to provoke him to meditation.
But he mustn’t vanish.
There’s a sure elan about him and his accomplice, Sybil Lau. Good couple. The media ought to faucet the 2 for his or her views on social and different points. On our assets and investments. With the expertise of getting taken half within the election and been in contact with the general public pulse, they might have one thing to say, notably when each appear fairly articulate.
I detect a specific amount of public respect in the course of the PE for Ng Kok Tune’s relatively measured feedback, exhibiting him to be an individual of substance and equity. He’s an asset which shouldn’t be wasted.
Curiously, I additionally discovered George Goh a refreshing character. He’s extra the businessman equal of NKS, somebody who has lived a full life and has achieved. However he’s additionally extra of a straight-shooter in tune with the SME world. And if, certainly, Singapore is eager to Transfer Ahead with our SMEs, he can be a wealth of assets to faucet.
PE2023 has been a benchmark election. The whole lot about it’s a credit score to our system, voters and the members.
Tan Bah Bah, consulting editor of TheIndependent.SG is a former senior chief author with The Straits Instances. He was additionally managing editor of {a magazine} publishing firm
Ship in your scoops to information@theindependent.sg
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