Contest the Presidential Election

Here is my statement on my decision to contest the Presidential Election. It also sets out the issues to be addressed during and after the election.


Statement from Tan Kin Lian

8 June 2011

Contesting the Presidential Election

I have decided to contest the Presidential Election. My main aim in stepping forward is to give Singaporeans a wider choice of candidates to vote as the next President of Singapore.

I will be communicating with the people on my views on several issues that are important to them. Going forward, statements will be issued through my blog and in the media. I hope that the people will get to know me better from these statements.

My views on the many issues affecting the future of Singapore will be guided mainly by my personal values of honesty, fairness, positive approach, courage and public service. I want the people to know me by these values and hope that we can share some or all of these values.

Presidential Candidates

I have high respect for the two other candidates who have expressed their interest to contest the presidential election, namely Dr. Tan Cheng Bock and BG George Yeo. I also have the same regards for Dr. Tony Tan and President Nathan, if they do decide to contest this election. Each candidate has his strong points.

I hope that this contest will be carried out within a positive climate and that the people will focus on the positive points of each candidate, rather than adopt unfair means to smear the reputation of those who are willing to stand up for Singapore.

Hopefully, the outcome of this presidential election will be a win, not only for the successful  candidate, but also for the people of Singapore.

I echo the sentiment expressed by Mr. Ng Ya Ken in Today paper (8 June 2011). He said, “Allow losers in the Presidential Election the opportunity to serve on the Council of Presidential Advisers if they garner, say, 20 per cent of the vote. This might encourage more eligible and capable people to step forward. It would also add diversity to the composition of the council, which in turn would enhance the Elected Presidency institution”.  I had previously discussed a similar idea with my friends, but Mr. Ng has expressed it with the appropriate words.

I share the views of Dr. Tan Cheng Bock that the next President should play a role to unify the country.

Participation of the people

I have benefited from the participation of many people who have relayed their concerns, suggestions, and ideas to me by e-mail and comments in my blog and Facebook. This has helped me to better understand the key issues that have to be addressed and to find the possible approaches to address them. I have stated my views on some of these matters based on the information that is available to me now.

Some information may surface later that may change some of my views. I hope that my friends  will understand this limitation, but I also want them to know that all my future decisions will continue to be made on the values of honesty, fairness, positive approach, courage and public

service.

If I am elected into the office of the President, I intend to build a platform for the people of Singapore to continue to communicate with my office, using modern communication tools. I want to make it easy for the people to express their aspirations and to offer their feedback on issues that need to be addressed.

This should be on the big issues affecting the country and the people as a whole, and not the personal issues that can be addressed by the elected members of Parliament. Naturally, I would not be able to manage the interactions personally, and should be able to get the appropriate people to assist me in managing this process. My friend has suggested that this should be named as the president’s personal council.

I will give further thought to this idea, especially on its practical implementation. I believe that it will be a good channel to maintain close contact with the people.

Tan Kin Lian

Email: kinlian@gmail.com

Mobile: 81685845

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tankinlian

Blog: www.tankinlian.blogspot.com

Annual report from the President

Hi Kin Lian,

I read your post on publishing the government financial reserves at book and market value. This might not be a prudent move as could possibly allow other govts to eye "financial aid" from SG. How can you protect the reserves when you have to face the political pressures of external govts who require "financial aid"?

In the normal world, when an individual strikes toto/4D, they will start seeing many new friends and relatives start becoming closer to them in the hopes of gaining financial aid. I do not deem it prudent to reveal your bank account to anyone.

Most of your other comment's I would agree with you. However, just the point of revealing your country's bank account is, in my opinion, already not protecting the reserves.

The other way is to first gain the trust of the population, then issue a statement from the SG President that all the reserves are properly accounted for and leave it at that. But then again, that would depend on the trust of the population on the word of the SG President.

 

REPLY

i believe that the financial affairs of most governments around the world are quite transparent.

 

President has to work within the Constitution

President Nathan said that he has been doing his work in his own quite way and within the limits of his powers in the Constitution. I agree with that statement.

I have also studied the powers of the president within the constitution in framing my ideas. So far, nobody has told me that my suggestions are out of the scope of the President's powers.

Many people have asked me to state what I would do in exercise the powers of the President, so I am giving my honest and personal view. It is not made out of enthusiasm but my frank assessment of the issue (i.e. the unease of the people) and the need to better communicate the position in an annual report.

There will be limitations on what can be disclosed in the annual report (e.g. state secrets) but without creating  
any negative impact in the national interest, it should be possible to allay the concerns of the people.


On a personal note, I have high respect for President Nathan. He is a fatherly figure, friendly and helpful and gives dignity to the office of the President. 


Tan Kin Lian

Review committee - TKL submission

This is my submission to the Review Committee on Minister's Salaries.

CNA report - TKL to run for Presidency

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V_rAcECbSU&feature=player_embedded

Make Singaporeans important

Dear Mr Tan,

I am very very happy that you are running for President.

I am a middle aged Singaporean of Indian descent, but a Singaporean first. Having grown up here, I have deep feelings and concern for my country. I feel that there has been a rapid degeneration of our social and moral fabric, especially in the last 10 years. The PAP led government has lost its moral high ground and all its decisions seem to be driven purely by the priority to make money. This drive has led to a huge influx of the so called "foreign talent" and foreign labor, at the cost of damage to our social fabric. In short, they have sold us out.

I do understand the need to bring talented people to Singapore, but the government did not strive for a balance - they went for a "greedy" solution. So today,  the bond I felt as a Singaporean is no longer there. I did my NS and I studied in NUS. When I had the option to leave, I stayed. So I feel very disappointed in the current state of affairs. My faith in the government and the PAP has largely faded, like so many other Singaporeans. I do not trust them anymore, and I am very worried about where we are headed as a country and a society. I worry about the Singapore where my children will grow up.

So I really hope that you will hold the government to task, once you are elected, and you will work towards making Singaporeans important to Singapore again. Your suggestion of producing an annual report showing the reserves of Singapore is something that most Singaporeans will want. I hope you will make that happen as never in our history has the need for transparency been greater.

The truth of the matter is, for all the good the PAP has done in getting Singapore to where it is, it is in decline (and has been for some time). While the actions of our Prime Minister, post election, are encouraging, they will only serve to slow down the decline of the PAP, not stop it. We are headed for a transitional period  where the PAP led government will no longer have the moral authority to dictate things anymore, and Singaporeans will not take things lying down. So we need a President who will hold the PAP government to task and who will work towards unifying Singaporeans.

I will be voting for you and I will tell my friends and family to do the same.

Tranparency and Political Salary

http://singstatistician.blogspot.com/2011/06/tan-kin-lian-leads-way-with.html

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