TONY TAN ELECTED PRESIDENT

This Presidential election is certainly a milestone in Singapore’s political history. It was the most closely fought political election and that underscores the increasing level of political awareness and participation of its citizens. This augurs well for the future of democracy in Singapore.

The two candidates with the highest votes came from member of the ruling party PAP and it clearly shows that the citizens still remain conservative and moderate and did not buy into the ideas that the president’s office should be another power centre, to be the people voice as well as to police the government. Such an outcome manifests the growing maturity of the multiracial and multicultural citizenry. It may be interpreted as better understanding of the role of the president and well as the need for political stability.

Clearly, the two former PAP members secured over 70% of the popular votes. The rest of the 30% goes to the non PAP camps or those that will reject any politicians related to PAP. I have expected the percentage would mirror that of the last general election of around 40%.

Whatever the result, the new president would have his work cut out. Wherever he like it or not, he still have to address public expectation and perception resulting from the changing political landscape exacerbate by the tough rhetoric from Kin Lian and Jee Say. The new president would have to be seen to address the domestic problem of rising cost of housing, immigration policy, transportation and host of other issues. Whether it is within his scope of presidential duty, public perception will hold the sway.

On top of this, the elected president actually garnered only one third of the popular vote. So the hard work to reunite the rest of the Singapore that did not vote for him must begin earnestly. Tony Tan has the presidential charisma and well as political background both in domestic and international affairs to carry the office of the presidency. He relationship with the PAP will remind warm and will unlikely becomes a pain and troublesome to the PM.

The 25% of the votes that goes to Jee Say and 5% to Kin Lian was certainly a big disappointment to those who wish to use this election to hit back at the government. Perhaps it is the government strategy of putting in more candidates that result in this low percentage. Many just didn’t want to vote for Tony but with Cheng Bock available, it gives voters a moderating choice. Had Cheng Bock not been a candidate, the outcome would have been a higher percentage for anyone other than Tony.
As for Jee Say, 25%cvotes was certainly below the mark. It’s as good as a rejection of his style and his ideas of the roles of elected president. His votes were just anti- PAP votes and as such, any Tans, whether Tan Ah Kow or Tan Chin Koo could have easily garnered the same percentages.

But what was more discerning was the percentage of Kin Lian. He was the forerunner and was the talk of the town years before this election. Only one conclusion can be made. Even the diehard anti-PAP voters exercised wisdom to choose the more suitable of the two candidates. This message to future candidates is clear; prepare to lose the deposit if you are not up to the mark.

Well, we ordinary folk have short memory. Now that the GE and the EP elections are over, it’s time for the government to take off the gloves. The new elected president will goes into oblivion. They will be seen and heard only as required. That’s and easy job for $4.2 million.