August 20, 2011
www.thestar.com.ny
INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH
Singapore Presidential Elections 2011: Tough Battle of a Tans in store
By Seah Chiang Nee
Former Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan had tall approval ratings in an online poll when he voiced his preference to run for President, though now he will seemingly face a tough quarrel in next weeks election.
WHEN Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam(right), former Deputy Prime Minister, voiced his goal to run for President dual months ago, a awaiting of him winning ranked tall among surprised citizens.
Most believed which a one-time Peoples Action Party (PAP) monetary strongman, who nearly succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister in 1990, would win hands down.
Many of my friends, including fixed opposition supporters, were among those who thought his chances of winning would be high. In his profession, hes blue chip stuff, pronounced a single retired executive.
With his reputation as well as experience, he towers over others, a darling of a elites. That he had a strong base appeared to be reflected in a Yahoo online poll in Jun when he initial made clear his goal to run.
Some 6,013 or 48% of 12,650 users pronounced they would vote for him.Two months later, however, a suit of support fell to 21% as strong rivals joined a competition as well as revved up a descent in a social media.
In June, with a lis! t o! f candid ates nonetheless to be finalised, Dr Tan led with 48% (6,013), followed by 
Tan Kin Lian (18% 2,270), Tan Cheng Bock (16% 1,987) as well as incumbent S.R. Nathan (19% 2,382, before his pullout).
By August, (the final list of candidates) Dr Tan had fallen behind to third place, securing 21% or 15,661. It was Dr Tan Cheng Bock in a lead (41% 31,215), followed by Tan Jee Say (30% 22,947). In fourth place was Tan Kin Lian (6% 4,575).
But most damaging might be a strong anti-PAP sentiment carried over from a general choosing in May. It might upset a mild-mannered former financial ministers apple cart.He recently resigned from a party, though a public still seems to link him to PAP policies as well as a celebration itself.
(Lee Kuan Yew once pronounced which he had longed for Dr Tan to succeed him as Prime Minister, though his younger ministers had unanimously selected Goh Chok Tong).
In a stream domestic environment, Lees indebtedness could spell difficulty for his candidacy. PAP supporters, however, contend which online surveys have been not conclusive since they exclude a non-English vocalization as well as non-Internet users.
Besides, a anti-PAP votes being split three ways should safeguard feat for a 71-year-old Dr Tan.I consider he might get rebate than 50% of a vote, pronounced a single celebration grassroots leader.
The presidential choosing to be hold next Saturday is supposed to be non-political, though with a strong emotions generated, gripping it giveaway of politics is impossible.
The campaign is building in to a heated event with booing as well as yelling crowds. Many Singaporeans have been regarding it as an extension of a May general election, when a PAP took a drubbing.
A former traffic unions chief ! as well as former PAP chairman pronounced which since a stream situation, people might prefer a President who i! s not cl osely linked with a PAP. My clarity is which people would prefer if there were someone who can be a strong unifying symbol for Singaporeans, whos not so closely related to a PAP, he commented.
Dr Tony Tan is facing a strong plea from former opposition figure Tan Jee Say, 56, who once served as Goh Chok Tongs Personal Principal Secretary. He joined a private sector, portion as regional managing director of investment firm AIB Govett (Asia).
Of a dual others, Tan Cheng Bock, 71, is a healing doctor as well as ex-PAP MP, as well as Tan Kin Lian, a former senior manager of insurer NTUC Income.
Next weeks vote will be crucial for a PAP. It will show if Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loongs reforms to lessen public grouses namely, a rebate of tall cupboard compensate as well as money coming in of unfamiliar professionals, a provision of some-more public housing as well as varsity places have been operative or not.
If Dr Tans vote falls too much below 60%, it will signify larger unhappiness. This will spell difficulty in a 2016 general election.But if he loses a graphic probability it will be regarded as a initial choosing defeat for a powerful PAP.
Prominent blogger redbean pronounced which Dr Tans defeat would be a clearest pointer of change, which a wind in a PAP sail is off.
The choosing has started a big debate upon a role as well as power of a President. Singaporeans have been perfectionist to known why a largely rite president is paid an eye-popping salary of S$4mil (RM9.85mil) a year.
It was made an inaugurated post in a inherent legislative addition in 1991, which additionally postulated him a couple of special functions including ! a right to veto key supervision positions as well as tap in to Singapores past reserves.
It was Lees idea of safeguarding a nations pot from being frittered away after he is gone. A year after h! e steppe d down as Prime Minister, it came in to effect. Under a scheme, a inaugurated president was to keep a second key to a reserves. But Lee as well as his successors assumingly did not expect a probability of a determined president insisting upon doing his job.
In 1999, then President Ong Teng Cheong suggested which he encountered a long list of problems
when he tried to protect a reserves. He pronounced he was not supposing a list of Singapores sum earthy assets.
When he asked, a Accountant-General replied it would take 56 million man-years to work out.Giving a president a capacity to check a supervision might work as long as he is a pro-PAP figure, pronounced a blogger.
What will happen if a PAP critic, or worse, someone hailing from a opposition, is inaugurated as well as decides to challenge? All this might have increased a chance in destiny of another inherent legislative addition upon presidential powers.
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