Politics
Singaporean blogger finds Tharman’s Presidential bid “troubling”, LHY re-share post ahead of PE2023 poll
In June, Singaporean blogger Pat Low scrutinized Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s presidential bid.
Low expressed concern over Tharman’s government and PAP affiliations, suggesting his presidency could embody “ownself check ownself.”
Intriguingly, Lee Hsien Yang shared Low’s post as the Presidential Election approaches polling day.
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SINGAPORE: A Singaporean blogger, Pat Low, who runs the blog “Chempost: Going down the rabbit hole”, penned a blog in June addressing Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s decision to resign from the People’s Action Party and Cabinet to contend for the presidency.
In his post, while acknowledging Tharman as a “very decent man” and having no personal qualms about him being Singapore’s head of state, Low finds the idea of Tharman as president “troubling,” due to the presidency’s critical role as guardian of national reserves.
Low notes Tharman’s extensive ties to the government and the People’s Action Party throughout his career, highlighting that his presidency could make him “the Mother of “ownself check ownself”.”
Mr Low noted that As Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies, Tharman once made the anti-government statement that the policy of continual dependence on foreign labour is unsustainable.
But Mr Low further raises concerns about Tharman’s transition from government to presidency, pondering whether his role as a “PAP stalwart” might introduce a moral hazard to the presidency and likening it to switching from a million-dollar Ministerial post to a two-million-dollar seat.
Low’s article also highlighted the stark contrast between Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s breach of the Official Secrets Act (OSA) many years ago, and how Singapore’s mainstream media portrayed Lee Hsien Yang, the younger son of Singapore’s first Prime Minister, Lee Kuan Yew, might not qualify to run for the presidency.
The article questions the ethics of quoting unnamed sources in journalism, particularly in the case of CNA reporting on Lee Hsien Yang’s potential disqualification from the presidency based on court findings of lying under oath.
The author argues that the Singapore Constitution’s Section 19 does not disqualify Lee Hsien Yang from running for president unless the Presidential Selection Committee determines that he lacks integrity, good character, and reputation.
Mr. Low criticizes certain pro-PAP voices, including “Critical Spectator,” for their knee-jerk reaction to Tharman’s presidential bid, arguing that their mockery of the opposition’s inability to field a candidate reflects a misunderstanding of the non-political nature of the presidential election.
“It borders on a juvenile inability to understand the presidential election is non-political. And it is the PAP’s stealth legislation that has turned it into a political event. It is fast becoming a six-yearly farce of PAP musical chair to push a cadre to the elevated ceremonial role.”
Mr Low finds it concerning that Tharman Shanmugaratnam, initially favoured by the public to lead the ruling party but bypassed by the Party, is now deemed suitable for the presidency, suggesting a discrepancy in treatment and raising speculation about racial bias within the party.
Presidency “evolved into the Mother of ‘ownself check ownself’”
He said the strict criteria for presidential candidates in Singapore, while appearing to safeguard against rogue governments, actually limits citizens’ choices and perpetuates dominance by the ruling party, resulting in a presidency that has “evolved into the Mother of ‘ownself check ownself’.”
He criticised that the concept of “ownself check ownself” has become normalized as a governmental management approach, “It is an intoxication of power to the extent of an inability to discern impartiality is the mainstay of the search for truth.”
Mr Low points out that the PAP internalizes the concept of “ownself check ownself,” but the core issue causing public dissatisfaction is the PAP’s implementation of this approach for investigations into wrongdoing or failures.
This raises questions about the ruling party’s belief in independent reviews, which are more credible when separated from the Executive, and the normalization of “ownself check ownself” is disingenuous and borders on fraudulent practice.
Lee Hsien Yang’s resharing Mr Low’s post as PE2023 approaches Polling Day
Mr Lee Hsien Yang (LHY) further contributed to the discourse by sharing Patrick Low’s post as the Presidential Election draws closer to polling day.
Although recognizing that this post was composed three months ago, he deemed it relevant as the Presidential campaign gains momentum, thus finding it worthwhile to share.
In this regard, Mr Low’s article emphasized that “Tharman has been a government and PAP man his entire adult working life. As President, it would make him the Mother of “ownself check ownself”.”
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So, Has TS Resigned From The Covid Orchestra?
I Share, As A Patriotic True-blue Singaporean. Don’t Gonna Be Complicit.
Watch & Listen Well.
https://youtu.be/7QDwapUc4co?si=nV8kA3Ec0JXAfK_R
If you look at it from a distance, the PAP has set up a crony system for its members, family and friends. We, citizens are forced into survival mode while this group feeds itself. Tharman and NKS are protectors of this system. They will not allow outsiders especially TKL who is outside this uniformed group to become President as he is a threat to the system that they have set up. It is as in the movie The Firm, that Tom Cruise acted in. There may even be a library like Jeffrey Epstein’s. It could be the reason why all… Read more »
With His Over-ladened Appointments With WEF & Such, He Declined To Be Considered For PM.
Then, To Be Eligible For EP, He Is Still Holding Onto Such Other Appointments?
The trouble with Tharman’s arguments that he has YEARS and YEARS of experience in the gov doing this and that is that his Boss also had 20+ years of OJT, 2 ex-PM to hold his hands, near another 20 years to lead SG formulating policies and supposedly solving our problems . . . . yet he is turning out to be the WORST PM we ever had. Certainly the least trusted going by the election results.
In short a pig can say it had many experiences with long runways, but can it fly?
Yup. Agree with the article. PEC can only decide if LHY is eligible for Presidential candidate.
LHY case is more of a familee business. Should not even say he is not suitable.
Of course many not AWARE that having many pretty girls’ photos iterate that TKL should not qualify for Presidential candidate? but old man hugging an auntie during walk-about is okay? What do you think? tsk tsk tsk
What’s even more troubling s that fools still believe that TS would make a good president when he was on the committee to increase GST. Which part of this act that people see is honourable of him? TKL even spoke out about checking the gahmen and that sent shockwaves to the PAP camp. Early in this stage he has already pledged his duty to us citizens and not some financial fiasco beat about the bush saga. He is true to guarding our reserves and actually spoke about the young people facing difficulties which was caused btw by this gang that… Read more »
Home affairs minister just said the recent hokkien gang capture is one he seldom see.Is he saying the scale is big and he did a great job?Other countries don’t have to because their ministers have pre empt,always on the ground to check for suspicious transactions.Preventves action are for the intelligent,actions are for hindsight excuses.Those who read only … will not know Ridour3,1& 3,2 and thinking he is capable and trustworthy..Is enough resign and go make 100million like Lee bee hwa said!
I do see the PAP one day finally agreeing with the Red Dot party to just revert the presidency as a ceremonial president. The headache of presenting an Elected President (EP) as an independent one who will be a check on the ruling party has so far generated so much angst that the PAP will probably decide it is not worth maintaining the farce of an independent president. The article rightly concludes that the present EP is the mother of “ownself check ownself”. For me, I have always advocated to keep the presidency a ceremonial president because for all the… Read more »
This grey hair exile always take a opportunity to poke and stir trouble in his former country but yet is a citizen but DARE NOT COME BACK AND FACE HIS BROTHER!
Such lan jiao lang is really….a turn coat….LANG JIAO!😆😆😆
He is a yes man his entire 22 years with PAP a very political party. Conflict of Interest. In the Private Sector, a judge is disqualified or has to recuse himself from presiding a case involving people he is closely associated with.
Why are singaporeans condoning obvious conflict of interest of 2 key holders being closely linked?
I think this says a lot about the mentality of singappreans
Botak surprising flip flop about non Chinese pm now OK and simple label to brush off his long-standing apron string tied to pinky and pap is indeed TROUBLING
You tell us how to trust such a character who speaks with fork tongue??
I find it troubling as well