Embattled comedian Jocelyn Chia said that her jokes were taken out of context. I don’t know about that, but she did something that even the most popular and influential opposition politicians in Singapore could never do. She upset Malaysians with her “insensitive” jokes and made our government apologise on her behalf.
“I am appalled by the gratuitously offensive comments made by stand-up performer Jocelyn Chia. The Singapore Government does not condone words or actions that cause harm or hurt to others and Chia, who is no longer Singaporean, does not in any way reflect our views. I sincerely apologise to all Malaysians for her hurtful remarks.
As our closest neighbour, Singapore and Malaysia enjoy a strong and multi-faceted relationship, with deep and cross-cutting ties. We also have unique historical and close people-to-people ties. Comments such as those made by Chia are unhelpful and undermine the close trust and friendship that both our countries and peoples enjoy.“
VANU GOPALA MENON
HIGH COMMISSIONER OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE TO MALAYSIA
So Jocelyn Chia is no longer a Singaporean? This means that she won’t get to vote in our upcoming presidential elections. Don’t laugh. We may not get to vote as well. As usual, there is a “favourite” candidate, albeit without addressing him as Mr President in Parliament. We’ve always wanted him as Prime Minister, but since the government feels that we’re not ready for an Indian PM, they decided to give us another Indian president for consolation.
Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam has announced his resignation from the People’s Action Party to run for president. Preparing to run in the upcoming presidential election, Mr Tharman stresses his desire for a contest at an event on Sunday and assures his independence from the People’s Action Party (PAP) if elected. Speaking to local media, Mr Tharman humbly downplayed concerns that his “popularity” may deter other potential candidates.
“We have to see who comes up. But I certainly much prefer a contest. Having a contest is important for me. I much rather win or lose with the contest.” he said. Unfortunately, that may not happen as I believe that the criteria for the presidency may be further tweaked to disappoint Mr Tharman who has absolutely no control over how high the bar is going to be set this time.
Reform Party Secretary General, Kenneth Jeyaretnam, questions Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s eligibility for the presidency, scrutinising his political history and previous conviction. He has also raised concerns about potential conflict of interest given Mr Tharman’s former role as Finance Minister and his alleged lack of commitment to checks and balances. Mr Jeyaratnam finished with an atypically Singlish remark, describing the situation as “Ownself Check Ownself”.
Lim Tean also had something to say. He claims that not a single person supports Tharman as president. Frankly, I’m not convinced. I even know people who supported Halimah as president. How could it be that no one would support our favourite PM candidate as president? My feel is that people would rather not have a “PAP president”, but if the wayang must go on, they would rather they disqualify all other candidates and not “waste money” on a meaningless exercise.
And just when you’re convinced that it’s going to be a one-horse race, Mr George Goh throws his hat into the ring. You can read his biodata here. Mr George Goh says:
“Being so closely aligned with the ruling political party, the question is whether (Mr Tharman) is the right man to become President. This is especially so, given the President’s role in checking the Government in the two important areas concerned with the national reserves and key public office appointments. To maintain the integrity of the office, the President must not only be above politics but be perceived as such.”
Pointing to the ties Singapore’s past presidents have had with the Government, Mr George Goh also said that “All four of Singapore’s past elected presidents were political appointment holders or from the public sector. It is time to have a truly independent person with a pair of fresh eyes to play the role the Elected President was created for.”
While Mr George Goh has served as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Morocco since 2017, he resigned from his post on 9 June 2023 – just one day after Mr Tharman announced his intention to stand in the upcoming election.
Frankly, I’ve never heard of Mr George Goh prior to this. But whoever he is, as long as he is not the anointed one, he’s going to face a practically unwinnable battle. The must win people wil ensure that Tan Cheng Bock’s close shave will never occur again. Some folks who belong to the must win camp mock at him, likening him to a egg that picks a fight with a rock. I would encourage him. It’s a matter of principle. Wanting him to fight does not mean that I’m naive about his chances. To the pragmatists, I’d just like to say that it’s not about winning. It’s about our dignity and resisting authoritarianism.
New Book!
