A good idea IF we are dealing with the truth of he matter.
HOWEVER, this "Commission" is part of the wayang, the members were selected just to convey what current political wants.
All a total waste of time and good money.
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Chitchat President - Recommended Changes
- Thread starter scroobal
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A good idea IF we are dealing with the truth of he matter.
HOWEVER, this "Commission" is part of the wayang, the members were selected just to convey what current political wants.
All a total waste of time and good money.
No. 5 in the report did not have much substantive discussion or a reason behind it in the report. They also did not speculate if the non-executive chairman was a previous oversight and they were recommending correction. Love to be the fly on the wall to see who raised it and the discussion behind it. Though in the report somewhere it does mention that they are not keen to confine it to technocrats ( not in relation to this change) but this is what is going to be achieved. Also interesting is that both Auditor and Acct Generals are out which would have made the first EP candidate that stood against OTC not eligible. I however agree on this seeing that new Auditor-General is not even an accountant or an auditor by training and rather shallow in terms of depth.
Its funny that the Commission feels that the President needs to have a mandate in view of the powers given but you could see that they avoided discussing or eve mentioning the the original and primary role of checks and balances of an EP. Instead the discussion was on "pragmatism", reduce possible conflicts and by-pass mechanism to reduce impasse. I could understand a by-pass for supply bill which was in first EP bill but certainly not for others.
I do agree that an EP is not longer viable and people would accept the role that Wee had where it was nominated, the main races were covered and it was generally ceremonial and served the function of uniting the people (which the report belabours quite extensively). As to the reserves and certain protective functions, these can be handled by the CPA and their views published in the Gazette.
The whole EP institution would have egg on its face if the minority candidate persuaded by the establishment ends up with a walk-over if others with intention do not qualify or get rejected. Even if there is a reserved Malay EP elections which would be the case for the next election and there is actually a contest, a number of scenarios is likely to emerge;
1) If the Malays themselves reject the establishment choice it is very likely the Chinese majority would go for the establishment choice guided by the usual state controlled press and not privy to the communal concerns of the Malays. It then defeats the whole purpose of minority representation. A more transparent approach would be to allow only Malay voters to decide.
2) What is a "Malay" would be the next big issue. When Mahathir made an issue of Malays not holding senior positions in SAF, the Govt presented couple of Malay SAF senior officers and none of whom were pure Malays. The highest rank held by a "Malay" was BG and he was not a Malay, just a Muslim but a damn good Officer. And he had a Chinese wife.
Its funny that the Commission feels that the President needs to have a mandate in view of the powers given but you could see that they avoided discussing or eve mentioning the the original and primary role of checks and balances of an EP. Instead the discussion was on "pragmatism", reduce possible conflicts and by-pass mechanism to reduce impasse. I could understand a by-pass for supply bill which was in first EP bill but certainly not for others.
I do agree that an EP is not longer viable and people would accept the role that Wee had where it was nominated, the main races were covered and it was generally ceremonial and served the function of uniting the people (which the report belabours quite extensively). As to the reserves and certain protective functions, these can be handled by the CPA and their views published in the Gazette.
The whole EP institution would have egg on its face if the minority candidate persuaded by the establishment ends up with a walk-over if others with intention do not qualify or get rejected. Even if there is a reserved Malay EP elections which would be the case for the next election and there is actually a contest, a number of scenarios is likely to emerge;
1) If the Malays themselves reject the establishment choice it is very likely the Chinese majority would go for the establishment choice guided by the usual state controlled press and not privy to the communal concerns of the Malays. It then defeats the whole purpose of minority representation. A more transparent approach would be to allow only Malay voters to decide.
2) What is a "Malay" would be the next big issue. When Mahathir made an issue of Malays not holding senior positions in SAF, the Govt presented couple of Malay SAF senior officers and none of whom were pure Malays. The highest rank held by a "Malay" was BG and he was not a Malay, just a Muslim but a damn good Officer. And he had a Chinese wife.
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If the whole gimmick is to "elect" someone akin to the current "president", the whole wayang if a totally waste of time. What "safeguards" has he been doing? Just enjoying good "holidays" and "meeting and having dinners" with truly important people to include in his record.
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Added Para 7, the Nation will listen to the erected President singing, I'm your Puppet by Elton John every NDP.
Singaporeans in the main know what the results are going to be. The interest and speculation is how creative and devious the members of these bodies come-up or conjure the ways and means to give a semblance of professionalism and independence. No where in the report does it say why an EP is important to have the checks and balances in the event of a rogue govt - which was and is the entire reason for the EP in the first place and change to the constitution. Instead the report went into pragmatism, efficiency, and protection of the function of the executive without even they realising it that it also protects a rogue govt.
What the COI was formed for the Mas Selamat escape, they said they will form an Independent body but nevertheless appointed a Dep Sec of MHA to sit on it. They could easily have picked a Dep Sec from any other ministry but they did not. We all knew that it will spin a tail and they delivered a "confluence of factors" verdict despite it involving one individual and one event in a confined space of time.
What the COI was formed for the Mas Selamat escape, they said they will form an Independent body but nevertheless appointed a Dep Sec of MHA to sit on it. They could easily have picked a Dep Sec from any other ministry but they did not. We all knew that it will spin a tail and they delivered a "confluence of factors" verdict despite it involving one individual and one event in a confined space of time.
If the whole gimmick is to "elect" someone akin to the current "president", the whole wayang if a totally waste of time. What "safeguards" has he been doing? Just enjoying good "holidays" and "meeting and having dinners" with truly important people to include in his record.
Hope Singapore Zoo can spare Ah Meng's son - equally suitable.
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The EP runs for elections but the CPA does not, yet the EP have to follow all the orders of the CPA. Wow, the CPA is even more powerful than the EP, and PAP can simply use the CPA to control the EP like a puppet.
The CPA does not have the peoples' mandate yet is even more powerful than the EP, why should there even be an president election?? There should be a CPA election for the people instead as the CPA is more powerful.
This whole EP crap is one big sham by PAP to hoodwink the people.
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Has to be be for 2017. After 2017. The market cap to be increased to 1billion
Here is something interesting, based on the recommended changes.
The following ex-Presidents would not qualify
1) Yusoff Ishak - even after consider inflation, his business would not have hit the $500m mark for shareholder equity
2) Sheares - certainly not
3) Wee Kim Wee - certainly not
4) Devan Nair - certainly not as NTUC was not a minister grade post then
Only OTC and Nathan would qualify. One a member of the ruing party and the other a known voluntary enforcer of the ruling party as he did not have take on the role of Chairman, Straits Times. He was already retied and did not need the money.
Honestly who do you think would qualify for such a role. A retired Sr Civil Servant who is feels duty bound and persuaded, a former cabinet minister or SGX listed company CEO on retirement. The pool is very small if any when it comes to independence, respect and gravitas.
The following ex-Presidents would not qualify
1) Yusoff Ishak - even after consider inflation, his business would not have hit the $500m mark for shareholder equity
2) Sheares - certainly not
3) Wee Kim Wee - certainly not
4) Devan Nair - certainly not as NTUC was not a minister grade post then
Only OTC and Nathan would qualify. One a member of the ruing party and the other a known voluntary enforcer of the ruling party as he did not have take on the role of Chairman, Straits Times. He was already retied and did not need the money.
Honestly who do you think would qualify for such a role. A retired Sr Civil Servant who is feels duty bound and persuaded, a former cabinet minister or SGX listed company CEO on retirement. The pool is very small if any when it comes to independence, respect and gravitas.
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I'll vote for Kin Lian, at least he has Boss's twitching eyes!
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If they could they would even do away with elections. That's vile pap for you
Voting for a bicycle thief strategy against a PAP endorsed candidate is a foregone conclusion after 2011 and what has been going on since. The only trouble is that a bicycle thief would not qualify and Tan Kin Lian would not be able to run for the next one as it will certainly be slated for the Malay minority category candidate and Tan Kin Lian would be not meet the 15 year time frame for the elections thereafter.
I always thought the President has the independent power to hold the 2nd key to our reserves. After reading the news, it sound so lame to me now. The PAP is holding the main key and the PE is holding another, with PAP gun pointing at his head.
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The reason Tan Kin Lian qualify is because he was a former CEO of a GLC (NTUC Income), PAP have shifted the goalposts so far out that mainly PAP govt office holders and GLC CEOs qualify to contest for EP.
I wouldn't mind voting for Tan Kin Lian, he's not beholden to PAP and has shown to be independent and not afraid to voice out against PAP policies.
He qualified because PAP see him no-up and presumed his winning percentage will not improve much compared to his previous showing.
Why so much wayang ? Waste so much taxpayers money, time and resources to elect a puppet president.
Might as well as appoint/approve a president among a selected few as what the Chinese Communist Party do.
Might as well increase the criteria to $1 billion shareholders' equity so that only PAP lackeys and yes-men are
qualified to stand for the EP.
Might as well as appoint/approve a president among a selected few as what the Chinese Communist Party do.
Might as well increase the criteria to $1 billion shareholders' equity so that only PAP lackeys and yes-men are
qualified to stand for the EP.
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Best quote of the day on this PAP farce comes from non other than LTK:
" At the end of the day, who is qualified to stand as a candidate? It has to be from the Government, right? So who are they checking? Who is checking whom?"
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?* Who watches the watchmen?
" At the end of the day, who is qualified to stand as a candidate? It has to be from the Government, right? So who are they checking? Who is checking whom?"
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?* Who watches the watchmen?
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In theory the EP role is suppose to be an independent check on the PAP govt, but in reality the EP has degenerated into a puppet and lackey for PAP to do whatever they want. The EP election has become a sham to hoodwink Sinkies of imaginary checks and balances.
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It is all one big wayang when the CPA is govt appointed and the EP has to follow the recommendation of the CPA. It shows the govt has never been truthful about wanting independent safeguards. So the question is why go though all the trouble of having an EP when the previous ceremonial appointment president system was working fine
