All The President's Men

For those who do not work on Saturdays, 27 August 2011 will provide you a day of leave in lieu because of the Presidential Election. It used to be just that - a non-event but not this time as the remnants of the recent election had shown. In Singapore, we are always special. Talented students and clever children who do not fall in line may be deemed stupid or trouble makers in school just because their interest or passion some of which are not discovered does not match our system. Some of us at a much older age now have yet to discover our talents too. Floods in Orchard Road we react like it was a tsunami. Although I do not think it is proper to boo presidential candidates, it is still mild as in other countries hoodlums take to the streets.

National Day was always a great spectacle for me on TV and my favourite portion was the army and uniformed groups matching and the military parading their equipment. I remember my late grandmother who was always telling who the President and Prime Minister was and she respected them and held them in awe. That was the time when the President was Yusof Ishak who looked smart and regal in his dressing - official or traditional. I like that and somehow I like him. I was too young to know more. Take out a $2 bill today and you will see President Yusof Ishak who was a handsome man with a head full of hair and a moustache. He served from independence on 9 August 1965 to 1970. He died aged 60 in 1970.

You would have heard about Dr. Benjamin Sheares, a gynaecologist who pioneered some procedures and is so well respected in the medical field and have a famous bridge - the Benjamin Sheares bridge named after him. This was a man born to serve and teach. He always cared about people. He always looked stately. Once during NS, I proudly held up traffic so that his Rolls Royce and motorcade could pass smoothly and I gave him a Presidential salute. He was there to meet and fetch the President of Kuwait. He served from 1971 to 1981 and died in 1981 at the age of 73.

The third President was Devan Nair, a politician and union leader. He was prolific in writing and in his speech. He served from 1981 to 1985. He died in 2005 aged 82. Our fourth President - Wee Kim Wee was a journalist who served from 1985 to 1993. He died aged 89 in 2005. I remembered him well because I think he looked and felt like every body's grand father. May be it was because of press coverage of certain incidents where he was present to help, show empathy and his kindness and that was also his usual demeanour.

President Ong Teng Cheong was the fifth. He was a politician and also an architect. He was also an accomplished pianist. He served from 1993 to 1999. He died at age 66 in 2002. He was stern looking and he gave us the Orchid Country club where he was the architect and designer of the golf course. This leads us to our current 87 year old President S R Nathan who is our sixth president since 1999. He was a diplomat. We see him often in Charity events and I may be wrong but he appeared the most travelled president but he would be stepping down soon.

Who will be our next President? It will be a "Tan". Want to bet? Mr. Tan Jee Say was a senior civil servant and once PPS to a PM, a graduate of Oxford and was in the recent election with the SDP. He spoke of the casinos but they are already here and would not be torn down with all gambling tourists shoo away. He also spoke about opening the Istana to the public. Heck, I would open the nine-hole golf course there and invite you over and have a beer garden half-way house if I were President. On top of that I will build a fishing pond or a river for enthusiasts and US and Russian presidents can join me to fish. Some may like him as a fighter. He is using a simple "heart" shape for conscience and empathy. He was known to be a frugal man though he has said that some reserve should be spent to revamp the economy. Perhaps we need to read into more details of his plans.

Mr Tan Kim Lian fought for folks in the mini-bonds and Lehman saga but he was very much a part of the system once. As for the $2million donation to charity from the salary, I think it would be better to be president first then quietly donate the amount without any fanfare or fireworks. That is the true meaning of charity. Some may see him as a fighter. His symbol is a "Hi-5" a raised hand for willingness to do public service, five fingers for honesty, fairness, positive attitude, courage and public service.

Dr. Tony Tan has all the experience in politics and the financial world. He needs no coverage but yet he got it. I do not see why clans and unions need to endorse him. He is in fact needed more in the financial world than to be a president especially in this current climate. People are a bit more anti-establishment these days. His symbol is a pair of spectacles that resembled the trademark of the one he wears. It represents a shared vision with Singaporeans and his slogan is "Confidence For The Future". He is also giving away caps with a print of a pair of dark rimmed glasses on top of the cap. Hmmm, can do with one for golf or fishing.....can I have one?

Dr. Tan Cheng Bok was a PAP MP who seemed to have garnered high percentage of votes in each election. He has spoken against his own party without fear or favour even when he was MP. He quit over the hospital naming saga which showed me he is a very principled man. He appears to be a person who spoke from the heart with compassion and conviction. His symbol is a palm tree where the leaves represent our multiracial society, the trunk about coming together and the roots represent us taking roots in Singapore. I am not endorsing anyone but I like the palm tree.

Singaporeans have to ask ourselves who do you want to be President. He can engage and work with the government but it must not degenerate into a fiasco like some politicians in other countries. He must be someone who we can trust and truly unite the people as the national pledge stated "pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion" and "based on justice and equality". Who do you think it would be? Vote wisely for our elected President for we are all the President's men.

Three previous Presidents were Victorians - Presidents Yusof Ishak, Devan Nair and S R Nathan were all from Victoria School. That is a 50% contribution rate. I wish all Victorians future luck in offering to serve the nation. Ha ha.

The most exciting part is probably that you get to see the return of returning officer Mr. Yam Ah Mee. Pursuant to section.....