<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR>Non-Chinese PM: Race isn't the only factor
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->AFTER the historic landslide victory by Barack Obama in the United States Presidential Election, there has been a flurry of questions on whether Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister.
What many people have failed to highlight is that we have already made tremendous progress in this aspect. We should not forget that Singaporeans, in accordance with our Constitution, elect the President, who is the Head of State and who holds office for a term of six years. We should also be proud to have a non-Chinese, Mr S R Nathan as our President, now into his second term. He is well-loved and respected by all Singaporeans regardless of race, language or religion.
Although he returned to office uncontested, this should in no way diminish the fact that he had the support of an overwhelming majority of Singaporeans of all races.
While race could still be a factor in the mind of a Singaporean voter, there are still many other more important factors that could influence the average pragmatic Singaporean voter, such as the quality of the MP serving the constituency, the standard of living, and economic and social stability.
We already have many outstanding and successful non-Chinese ministers in the present Cabinet. So, overall I don't think the idea of a non-Chinese Prime Minister is something far-fetched - it may happen sooner than expected. Dr Edmund Lam
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->AFTER the historic landslide victory by Barack Obama in the United States Presidential Election, there has been a flurry of questions on whether Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister.
What many people have failed to highlight is that we have already made tremendous progress in this aspect. We should not forget that Singaporeans, in accordance with our Constitution, elect the President, who is the Head of State and who holds office for a term of six years. We should also be proud to have a non-Chinese, Mr S R Nathan as our President, now into his second term. He is well-loved and respected by all Singaporeans regardless of race, language or religion.
Although he returned to office uncontested, this should in no way diminish the fact that he had the support of an overwhelming majority of Singaporeans of all races.
While race could still be a factor in the mind of a Singaporean voter, there are still many other more important factors that could influence the average pragmatic Singaporean voter, such as the quality of the MP serving the constituency, the standard of living, and economic and social stability.
We already have many outstanding and successful non-Chinese ministers in the present Cabinet. So, overall I don't think the idea of a non-Chinese Prime Minister is something far-fetched - it may happen sooner than expected. Dr Edmund Lam