"Reserved Presidential Election would cost votes but 'right thing to do': PM Lee
SINGAPORE: PM Lee Hsien Loong knew that the reserved Presidential Election would be unpopular but went ahead with it, as he strongly believed it was the "right thing to do", he said in a dialogue session held last Saturday (Sep 23).
"Did I know that this subject would be a difficult one? That it would be unpopular and cost us votes? Yes, I knew," he said at a People's Association Kopi Talk held at Ci Yuan Community Club.
"If I do not know that these are sensitive matters, I cannot be in politics. But I did it, because I strongly believe, and still do, that this is the right thing to do."
Mr Lee acknowledged that there was "some unhappiness" following the reserved election. "I can feel that; you do not have to tell me," he said.
Mr Lee acknowledged that there was "some unhappiness" following the reserved election. "I can feel that; you do not have to tell me," he said.
Three Malay candidates came forward to contest this year's reserved election. while all of the candidates in the 2011 election were Chinese.
Although businessmen Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican and Mr Farid Khan did not qualify, resulting in a walkover, they would not have come forward in an open election, Mr Lee said.
"So why didn’t they come? Because they knew that in an open election – all things being equal – a non-Chinese candidate would have no chance," he said."
Why? Why does PM Lee has to repeat this "sounding very arrogant, n worst, UNCONVINCING argument that having a Malay EP is critical to keep Sgp's unique harmonious multiracial society?
He said he can feel the "people r unhappy n it will cost the PAP votes" with this rammed through reserved walkover EP, not to mention clumsily executed, can he tell us IF the Malay r truly happy that they have a 1st Indian Speaker of Parliament now the 1st Malay EP?
Why is the gov rubbishing the CONCERNS that some of the pillars of Sgp nation building: 1. regardless of race, language n religion as one united people; n 2. meritocracy (though this one needed the recently advocated old-school education as richer kids DO GET AN UNFAIR start)!
Also, the fact that the EP Amendment Act committee recommended, OUT OF SCOPE, to revert to the Appointed President (AP) from very QUALIFIED (since the gov appointed them) DOES NOT deserve ANY CONSIDERATION?
The PM has insisted to "do the right things" that he had not been able to convince the reasonable people of Sgp that he is absolutely right in recent time is disturbing. e.g. why set up a ministerial committe to devide on the 38 Oxley case when NHB has been doing this competently all these while?; why r lhy n lwy allowed to libel the PM WITHOUT being brought to court?; why Sgp is still NOT ready to embrace 'regardless of race, language n religion" after 52 yrs of nation building?
It is IRRESPONSIBLE to do the "right things" knowing that the people STILL don't get it n putting the governance of Sgp at risk since there is NO VIABLE alternative currently besides the PAP.
Doing right MUST yield the RIGHT Results too!
Majulah Singapura.
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