SM Goh's potential successor makes political debut
FOR the past week, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has been dropping hints of his potential successor in Marine Parade GRC - a strong candidate who can form the core team of Singapore's fourth-generation leadership.
Yesterday, residents of the GRC had their chance to meet Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan Jin (right), 42, when he made his debut in political life. He was introduced to grassroots leaders at a dialogue in Kampong Ubi-Kembangan Community Club.
Tipped as a future office-holder, the former commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command will understudy SM Goh.
SM Goh confirmed that BG (NS) Tan is, in his opinion, a 'member of the people whom the Prime Minister is testing out'.
He said: 'So if he makes, it, he will be a member of the core team. Hopefully, he will succeed in being one.'
BG (NS) Tan retired from the Singapore Armed Forces on March 31 after 24 years of service. The Sandhurst-trained general led Singapore's humanitarian effort in Meulaboh, Aceh, after the 2004 tsunami. In 2009, he chaired the National Day Parade executive committee.
At the dialogue, he related his experience in the tsunami-hit town to the grassroots leaders: 'To me, what was the most significant was to see the way people, regardless of race, language and religion, came together as one, and reached out with so much compassion and humanity to make a difference.'
He added: 'We are a small nation with a big big heart.'
When asked on the sidelines of the dialogue on what happens if Marine Parade GRC is uncontested, BG (NS) Tan said: 'When I step forward to serve, I am prepared to fight.'
'I've stepped forward, I've thrown the ball into the court. The key thing is, will the opposition respond? So I've done my part, I leave it to the opposition to decide.'
TEO WAN GEK
FOR the past week, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has been dropping hints of his potential successor in Marine Parade GRC - a strong candidate who can form the core team of Singapore's fourth-generation leadership.
Yesterday, residents of the GRC had their chance to meet Brigadier-General (NS) Tan Chuan Jin (right), 42, when he made his debut in political life. He was introduced to grassroots leaders at a dialogue in Kampong Ubi-Kembangan Community Club.
Tipped as a future office-holder, the former commander of the Army Training and Doctrine Command will understudy SM Goh.
SM Goh confirmed that BG (NS) Tan is, in his opinion, a 'member of the people whom the Prime Minister is testing out'.
He said: 'So if he makes, it, he will be a member of the core team. Hopefully, he will succeed in being one.'
BG (NS) Tan retired from the Singapore Armed Forces on March 31 after 24 years of service. The Sandhurst-trained general led Singapore's humanitarian effort in Meulaboh, Aceh, after the 2004 tsunami. In 2009, he chaired the National Day Parade executive committee.
At the dialogue, he related his experience in the tsunami-hit town to the grassroots leaders: 'To me, what was the most significant was to see the way people, regardless of race, language and religion, came together as one, and reached out with so much compassion and humanity to make a difference.'
He added: 'We are a small nation with a big big heart.'
When asked on the sidelines of the dialogue on what happens if Marine Parade GRC is uncontested, BG (NS) Tan said: 'When I step forward to serve, I am prepared to fight.'
'I've stepped forward, I've thrown the ball into the court. The key thing is, will the opposition respond? So I've done my part, I leave it to the opposition to decide.'
TEO WAN GEK
SM on Tin Pei Ling
'People have missed the point why we fielded a young person. It's to signal to those in their late 20s and early 30s that there is a place for them in Parliament. So when we found a suitable young person, we decided to field her. Of course, you can't expect a 27-year-old person to have the maturity and experience of a 40-year-old, or the same wisdom of a 70-year-old... There are risks in fielding a younger candidate. But if we do this successfully, I think the upside, the potential of getting more young people interested in politics, will be very possible.'
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Netizens slamming 27-year-old Tin Pei Ling, a new PAP candidate