Sunday 19 June 2011
Dr Tan Cheng Bock is my man!
Dr Tan Cheng Bock is a humble, approachable and caring village doctor who fought for many things for Singaporeans. He objected to the naming of Ng Teng Fong Hospital. He fought for the use of CPF for Tertiary Education, Stood against Dr Goh Keng Swee over Streaming of Pupils, Championed for free parking on Sunday and Public Holiday to promote Family unity, Champion Singapore first and played down need for Foreign talent , advocated for more C Class ward for the poor.
Support Dr Tan Cheng Bock at http://www.tanchengbock.org
Friday 10 June 2011
Important to understand President’s role
Important to understand President’s role: S. Jayakumar By Faris Mokhtar | SingaporeScene - 9 hours ago
Former senior minister S. Jayakumar says it is important to understand the role of the President so as not to have any misguided expectations. Speaking to the media on Thursday after the launch of his new book, Diplomacy - A Singapore Experience, he also emphasised on the president's legal limits. "I am a bit surprised and disappointed over some of the statements and claims made by some of the would-be candidates about what they intend to do if they get elected," said Professor Jayakumar. These statements, he noted, implied that they thought the President was "a centre of power unto himself, distinct from the government of the day", and had "certain executive powers",
The Straits Times reported. As former Law Minister, Prof Jayakumar had been closely involved in the drafting of the two White Papers (in 1988 and 1990) mooting the elected presidency and the constitutional amendments that created the new institution in 1991. He underlined five areas which the President had "discretionary, custodial power".
They are; the protection of reserves; key public sector appointments; Internal Security Act (ISA) detentions; Investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB); and restraining orders under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.
However, he noted that even in these areas, the President had only blocking powers and was not allowed to initiate decisions or policies. In relation to all other matters, Professor Jayakumar added that "the president, under the Constitution, must act on the advice of the Cabinet". "That is the clear legal position," he said. While many Singaporeans have shown an interest in the elected presidency, he added, was not a bad thing — it is important for the people to clearly understand why they are interested in the first place.
Not running for presidency Professor Jayakumar also ruled out his candidacy when asked if he would be contesting in the presidential race. "I can tell you categorically that I am not a candidate for the elected president," he said. His comments on the role of the elected president also echoed the argument made by President SR Nathan.
Speaking at the end of his state visit in Mauritius on Tuesday, Mr Nathan reminded those who wish to see a more aggressive President as a check on the government that the role is one circumscribed by the Constitution.
When asked about the comparisons of his tenure with that of his predecessor, the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong who had disagreements with the PAP government over the presidential powers, he said, "I know the limitations of the Constitution and what you have to do. I am not there in a boxing match."
Former PAP MP Dr Tan Cheng Bock said that Professor Jayakumar's remarks was "timely and important", adding that there has been no election for a long time and many might not understand the role of the elected president.
While Dr Tan said that he understood the limitations of the presidential powers and that "we shouldn't deviate" from the fundamental roles, this he added, should not prevent the President from becoming a unifying figure for all Singaporeans.
Source: Yahoo News
Thursday 9 June 2011
Dr Tan Cheng Bock stood against George Yeo and Lee Kuan Yew
FLASHBACK: TAN CHENG BOCK, GEORGE YEO CLASH OVER IMMIGRATION
Posted on June 8, 2011 by satayclub
Dr Tan Cheng Bock (pictured here with Mrs Tan) has confirmed that he will contest the upcoming Presidential Election
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
The year was 1999, and Singapore was reeling from the effects of the Asian economic crisis. The PAP government’s “foreign talent” policy was in its early stages of inception, and the party’s most vocal backbencher, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, was of the opinion that Singaporeans needed to be made a priority. The Minister for Information and the Arts, Mr George Yeo, disagreed – he felt that the attraction of foreign professionals remained a necessity because of Singapore’s small population size and talent pool.
The duo crossed swords in Parliament in 1999 over the hot-button issue of immigration – when the PAP government’s “foreign talent” scheme was in its early stages of inception. Twelve years on, both men are no longer Members of Parliament. They could cross swords yet again, however – as opponents at the upcoming Presidential Election.
Dr Tan, who was then an MP for Ayer Rajah, called on the government to “tone down” its call for foreign talent. At a time when Singapore was still suffering the aftershocks of the Asian crisis, the sentiment on the ground was fearful and apprehensive. Dr Tan felt that the government should stand in solidarity with Singaporeans who had lost their jobs, and make them a priority.
He said: “Our message to Singaporeans must be clear and loud. We will help Singaporeans to get back the lost jobs. We must take care of their basic needs. Now, this is a more important priority call than foreign talent. I can understand the rationale and need to inject such talent. I accept and I support this. But many still don’t. It makes them feel threatened. I feel that at this juncture, this call for foreign talent might be a bit misplaced. Let’s think Singaporeans first.”
In reply, Mr Yeo, who then represented Aljunied GRC in addition to being a minister, argued that imposing restrictions on foreign talent would be contrary to Singapore’s national interests.
He said: “It is in a crisis that the true character of a person comes forth, and very often, when we assess our friends, the people whom we work with, we watch them in a crisis. Do they turn selfish and inwards? Do relationships suddenly sour or would they continue to share and feel a sense of solidarity? So, precisely at a time like this, when we need many foreigners to help us take our economy to the next phase, we must not send the wrong signal.”
“We are not Israel, we are not a continental nation, we have a small population base. To succeed, we need many foreigners to help us, some living overseas, some living here. Yes, in the short term, some Singaporeans would be pleased that we are protecting them, we are saving them from foreign competition. But such an emotional line of attack will do great disservice to Singapore, and to ourselves in the long term. It is crucial that while we are friends with (the foreign talents) in good times, we remain friends with them in bad times.”
Dr Tan’s comments in Parliament also drew flak from then-Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew. Mr Lee said to The Straits Times: “So, when I heard Dr Tan Cheng Bock, I decided I would stand up and tell him he’s wrong. You have to decide whether you think he knows more or I know more. You have to decide whether he will give you the answer to Singapore’s future, or that I am likely to give you the better road to the future.”
Potential Presidential candidate George Yeo said in 1999 that Singapore needed foreigner because of its small population and talent pool
The issue of immigration has bred resentment against the PAP government, with many blaming the government’s “foreign talent” policy for suppressing wages despite the country’s impressive GDP growth in recent years. As a result, the PAP scored its lowest percentage of the national vote (60.1%) in Singapore’s post-independence history, with a record 6 seats lost to the opposition. All the opposition parties took issue with the PAP’s liberal immigration policy, proposing various solutions ranging from a points-based system to the raising of Employment Pass salary thresholds from the current $2,500 to $4,000.
However, immigration is unlikely to be made into an election issue at the upcoming Presidential Election, mainly because the President does not have a direct role in shaping public policy. However, the Parliamentary exchanges between Dr Tan and Mr Yeo – outdated as they may be – could serve as a useful indication of where the respective candidates stand on an issue that remains as a top priority for most voters.
Dr Tan has confirmed that he will be contesting the election, having already resigned his membership of the PAP and collected his nomination forms. Mr Yeo has said that he is “thinking hard” about whether or not to contest, although his representatives collected the forms on his behalf earlier this week. He has said that he will make a decision within two weeks. Apart from Dr Tan and Mr Yeo, the only other serious contender is likely to be former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian.
The incumbent, President S R Nathan, has said that he has not decided on whether he will seek a third term, but conceded that his age was an issue – he is currently 87 years old.
–
The author is the Chief Editor of The Satay Club
Source: http://thesatayclub.net/2011/06/flashback-tan-cheng-bock-george-yeo-clash-over-immigration/
What Joan Fong think about Dr Tan Cheng Bock?
We want to thank Mrs Fong for engaging our readers on TOC and clarifying that she was not the Joan Hon who posted the earlier comments. TOC’s moderation policy is clearly spelt out HERE.
We present here in full, the three comments Joan Hon posted on our article, “Tan Cheng Bock vs George Yeo for president?”
—comment 1—
I know both Tan Cheng Bock and George Yeo. It is a hard choice. For me, choosing one is an insult to the other.
I would like to highlight the fact that an email making its rounds carry three letters supposedly from this thread.
One is from Jenny Hu, whose name I checked didn’t appear on June 4 on this thread. The other from Jane Ho differs in content from what Jane Ho wrote.
The third letter carries my name. I did not write it at all. It is insulting to George if I said all those things. I was his GP and Physics teacher. He was one of the students that would cause me to beam with pride.
I once met him at his mother’s wake and told him I was campaigning against X-rated films. I had actually forgotten he was the Minister in charge of it. This was the honest truth. He probably thought I was insensitive enough to go to his mother’s wake to petition him.
After that I dropped the idea of getting a lot of signatures to support my intention. A year or so passed and one of my sisters reported that George said to her, “You sister is causing me a lot of trouble.” I had to tell him, this time at his father’s wake, that I had nothing to do with the flood of letters he received on the matter. Other people were campaigning too.
He and Jennifer, his wife, came to my Uncle Louis Hon’s wake. Jennifer shared a lot of her life and views with us. I’ve been to their house for two meetings regarding an event we were planning for the Museum.
As for Tan Cheng Bock, he was part of a large bunch of us sharing our teen years together. Full of stories. He is not an intellectual like George. But he is a medical doctor.
A stickler for everything good and true. As a scoutmaster, he had once snatched the axe from a boy scout who was about to chop down a coconut tree. When a police car swung onto the scene, and there, in the spotlight of the car’s headlights, was Tan Cheng Bock caught with an axe in his hand in a stance like he was the one about to chop down the tree.
[Bock if you are reading this, I think you were a scream on that occasion. Bet you can't remember this. That was so long ago. Nowadays, if you try to right a wrong, people will come and condemn you wrongly. That's life.]
Source: http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/06/joan-fong-clarifies-that-she-is-not-that-joan-hon/
Friday 3 June 2011
Defeated Foreign Minister makes an indecisive decision to stand for Presidential Election
Former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo says he's "thinking hard" about contesting in the upcoming Presidential Election.
"Many Singaporeans from different walks of life, young and old, have asked me to reconsider my decision on the Presidency, some impassionately," said Mr Yeo in a Facebook post on Wednesday afternoon.
The 57-year-old, who previously held office at the Ministry of Finance, Trade and Industry as well as the Foreign Affairs for the last 23 years, said he is "thinking hard about it and praying for wisdom".
Mr Yeo, who led the losing Aljunied GRC team in this year's General Election, has previously ruled himself out of the President's job when he stepped down from politics in the aftermath of the GE results.
Then, he described himself as a "free spirit", who is "not temperamentally suited for the role".
Mr Yeo's latest comments on Facebook drew over 2,000 "likes" at the time of writing.
Most welcomed his decision to consider running for the post.
Said Priscilla Chiang, "Please do! Sir, you embody the qualities of a good president. With your past experiences. I'm sure you will carry out the presidential duties very well."
Ryan Joseph, however, asked Mr Yeo to clarify his earlier statements that he is not suited for the presidency.
He added, "One thing I like about Dr Tan Cheng Bok, who is also standing, is that as an MP he has shown an independent streak -- often voting against party lines and speaking up in Parliament for his constituents despite being rebuked by his PAP colleagues/Ministers. Could you share if you have done the same?"
The Elections Department distributed seven certificates of eligibility for the Presidential Election on Wednesday.
Presidential hopefuls who turned up were 70-year-old Ooi Boon Ewe, who tried and failed to contest in this year's GE, as well as former PAP MP Dr Tan Cheng Bok, 71.
Last week, when Yahoo! Answers asked netizens for their views on Singapore's next President, Mr Yeo was among the popular choices.
Other names suggested by netizens were former Deputy Prime Ministers Dr Tony Tan and Professor S Jayakumar, and ex-Member of Parliament Dr Tan Cheng Bock.
The Presidential Election must be held before 31 August this year.
Candidates have to be a Singapore citizen, above 45 years old, non-partisan and must have held key appointments in Parliament or other comparable positions in the last three years.
Source:http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/former-minister-george-yeo-president-122436702.html
Thursday 2 June 2011
Tan Cheng Bock vs George Yeo for president
Tan Cheng Bock vs George Yeo for president?
Andrew Loh /
Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, George Yeo, says he is “thinking hard” about calls for him to stand for the elected presidency. Mr Yeo, in a posting on his Facebook page, says: “Many Singaporeans from different walks of life, young and old, have asked me to reconsider my decision on the Presidency, some impassionately.”
He says he is “praying for wisdom” about the matter.
Mr Yeo was the leader of the People’s Action Party team which contested and lost Aljunied GRC to the opposition Workers’ party in the May elections.
Just days after the electoral defeat in Aljunied, Mr Yeo had said that he will not contest in the presidential elections. “I’m a free spirit and I don’t think I’m temperamentally suited for it,” he said then. (Straits Times)
He also confirmed that he will not contest Aljunied GRC in the next elections and, according to the Straits Times, is “exiting the political scene”. This prompted many to urge him to run for the presidency instead with some saying that it would be a loss for Singapore to let his experience and international stature go to waste.
Mr Yeo, who entered politics in 1988 on the PAP ticket, is seen as someone with a sharp mind. However, there have also been criticisms about some of the policies he was involved in, including the two Integrated Resorts with the casinos, and the censorship laws introduced under his watch as Minister for Communications and the Arts.
As Foreign Minister, he was at the centre of Singaporeans’ attention during the Burmese uprising in 2007 with some questioning why he did not condemn the Burmese military junta’s crackdown on its citizens and monks in the country. Controversy followed later when Singapore named an orchid after the then-Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein, and Singapore allowing Burmese generals to receive medical treatment in Singapore.
Mr Yeo, if he stands for the presidency, will be the second member from the PAP to express interest in the election. Dr Tan Cheng Bock, former PAP MP for Ayer Rajah, has confirmed that he will take part in the contest, which is expected to be held in August.
Dr Tan, who has since tendered his resignation from the PAP, is one of the most popular PAP MPs, even now. His 88 per cent share of the vote in the 2001 parliamentary elections was the PAP’s best score in 31 years. A medical doctor by profession, he is best known for speaking his mind, whether in Parliament or outside of it.
More recently, he stepped down from the board of the upcoming hospital to be built in Jurong, citing disagreement with the Government’s decision to name it after local tycoon, Mr Ng Teng Fong.
“With this donation of $125 million the government is prepared to have the hospital renamed from Jurong General Hospital to Ng Teng Fong hospital. To me this was wrong as it looked as if any rich man could have a public institution named after him if he donates the right amount,” Dr Tan wrote on his website.
“I cannot reconcile with this and resigned from the board.”
Will the presidential election see a contest between two candidates who would be emerging from the PAP?
Perhaps the first sign that this will indeed happen is if Mr Yeo announces his resignation from the PAP, as required by law.
Mr Yeo’s Facebook posting today – 1 June – coincides with the opening of applications on the same day.
Anyone who wants to be a candidate for the presidential election needs a Certificate of Eligibility from the Presidential Elections Committee not later than 3 days after the writ of election is issued.
Pick who you want to be the President:
Dr Tan – an “open book” who speaks his mind and stood his ground on what is right. Someone with the highest election score all the time.
George Yeo- someone who changes his mind and cannot make up his mind. The unwilling candidate whose temperament can change suddenly. Someone who lost the recent election.
Source: http://theonlinecitizen.com/2011/06/tan-cheng-bock-vs-george-yeo-for-president/