Presidential Election: Shame that the Only Man who Continued Walking the Ground has been Barred

ANNA LI: This is in response to your story “Appalling that People’s Favourite Tan Cheng Bock has Been Disqualified from Contesting the Presidency“.

I too find it appalling, but more than that, it’s a very big shame. After the last Presidential Election (2011), the only man left who continued to fastidiously walk the ground was Dr Tan Cheng Bock. You didn’t see Tan Kin Lian doing that, while Tan Jee Say was too busy chasing his political ambitions – from the SDP, to the Presidency, to SingFirst, he’s a very ambitious man indeed!

But true to his vision of unifying Singaporeans, Dr Tan Cheng Bock carried on walking the ground and mingling with people from all walks of life, participating in activities with the public, and even engaging youth in dialogue sessions. To do this for 5 years now, it shows that this is a man of integrity and heart, and not some fly by night type of person.

That’s why it’s such a big shame that after all his hard work, eligibility criteria changes will now bar him out from contesting. How can it be that someone who truly cares for Singaporeans, and who has the intellect and acumen to carry out the responsibilities of this high office can just be kicked aside like this?

I don’t know what the government of the day has up its sleeves, but I for one will never vote somebody who just comes around and smiles for the cameras as Singapore’s head of state, whatever his race.

I would expect Singapore’s representative on the world stage, someone tasked with protecting our reserves and keeping the government in check, to be someone is of good calibre, who really has the heart for Singaporeans, and shows this concern through consistent and diligent actions.

Sadly, it looks like the one person who has proven himself worthy, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, has been cut out of the picture by a cruel re-carving of the rule book.

Thanks Anna for this letter.
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