Singapore recently made changes to the requirements which a candidate needs to have to run for President.
In 2017, the President needs to be a Malay candidate.
Conspiracy theorists feel that this change is to deter certain individuals from running for President.
As for me, I have a neutral view. I tend to look at things from multiple perspectives.
I have a general view that the government is there to take care of it's citizens. They may do it in ways that we don't like it. But they think that it is the best for the country. So I will put it as I assume their heart is in the right place. Let's just leave it as that.
So ok, I assume that the current government is doing these changes for the good of the country. The points about minority representation and all that.
But I project all these into the future. What if, one day, 3 generations down, the future government is not doing things which are for the good of the country. What if the future government changes policies and laws to protect their own positions under the veil of minority representation or language requirements (candidate needs to speak 12 different languages) and it so happens that there is only 1 person who fulfills all these requirements. What if we need religious representation as well? Who is to prevent all that?
I'm not saying that all these will happen. It might. Or it might not.
My concern is... what is next. What is to prevent changes which one day MAY be put in place for a government to protect their own position.
Or what happens if all the good policies put into place by the current government benefits protects the position of a bad and corrupt future government? What happens then?
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions
The Singapore Pledge reads...
We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion. To build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.
And yet this new change to requirements for the Singapore Presidential candidate is based on race!
Not to mention this prevents Singaporeans from getting the best possible candidate for the role.
Example. Maybe the best possible Singaporean Presidential candidate at a particular point in time is Indian. But due to the policy, he cannot run for the post. Does this not prevent Singaporeans from getting the best person for the job? Not to mention that this job is a VERY IMPORTANT job and that Singaporeans SHOULD have the opportunity to vote for the very best candidate for this job?
So yes, on a personal note, I do feel that this change is not for the best interest for Singaporeans. As Singaporeans potentially do not get to vote for the best person for the job.
Another point of concern is the apathetic response from Singaporeans.
(apathetic = showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.)
Singaporeans really do not bother very much about their government.
Sure they complain a lot about taxes, COE, etc etc. But when it comes to a read discussion, I find Singaporeans don't make good conversation to debate things out. Usually they are just very pro-government or very anti-government. I find very few people who would be able to debate the ideas and policies out in a rational way without ending up in name calling.
But yea, basically, I feel. Singaporeans don't really care.
Same as they don't really care about retirement or early retirement.
It seems like it's one of those things which Singaporeans feel will take care of itself when enough time passes by.
So yes, I am concerned. Not for now. But for my distant future, maybe 20-50 years away.
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In 2017, the President needs to be a Malay candidate.
Conspiracy theorists feel that this change is to deter certain individuals from running for President.
As for me, I have a neutral view. I tend to look at things from multiple perspectives.
I have a general view that the government is there to take care of it's citizens. They may do it in ways that we don't like it. But they think that it is the best for the country. So I will put it as I assume their heart is in the right place. Let's just leave it as that.
So ok, I assume that the current government is doing these changes for the good of the country. The points about minority representation and all that.
But I project all these into the future. What if, one day, 3 generations down, the future government is not doing things which are for the good of the country. What if the future government changes policies and laws to protect their own positions under the veil of minority representation or language requirements (candidate needs to speak 12 different languages) and it so happens that there is only 1 person who fulfills all these requirements. What if we need religious representation as well? Who is to prevent all that?
I'm not saying that all these will happen. It might. Or it might not.
My concern is... what is next. What is to prevent changes which one day MAY be put in place for a government to protect their own position.
Or what happens if all the good policies put into place by the current government benefits protects the position of a bad and corrupt future government? What happens then?
The road to Hell is paved with good intentions
The Singapore Pledge reads...
We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion. To build a democratic society, based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation.
And yet this new change to requirements for the Singapore Presidential candidate is based on race!
Not to mention this prevents Singaporeans from getting the best possible candidate for the role.
Example. Maybe the best possible Singaporean Presidential candidate at a particular point in time is Indian. But due to the policy, he cannot run for the post. Does this not prevent Singaporeans from getting the best person for the job? Not to mention that this job is a VERY IMPORTANT job and that Singaporeans SHOULD have the opportunity to vote for the very best candidate for this job?
So yes, on a personal note, I do feel that this change is not for the best interest for Singaporeans. As Singaporeans potentially do not get to vote for the best person for the job.
Another point of concern is the apathetic response from Singaporeans.
(apathetic = showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern.)
Singaporeans really do not bother very much about their government.
Sure they complain a lot about taxes, COE, etc etc. But when it comes to a read discussion, I find Singaporeans don't make good conversation to debate things out. Usually they are just very pro-government or very anti-government. I find very few people who would be able to debate the ideas and policies out in a rational way without ending up in name calling.
But yea, basically, I feel. Singaporeans don't really care.
Same as they don't really care about retirement or early retirement.
It seems like it's one of those things which Singaporeans feel will take care of itself when enough time passes by.
So yes, I am concerned. Not for now. But for my distant future, maybe 20-50 years away.
<<PREVIOUS POST // NEXT POST>>
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