Lukewarm response from netizens towards PAP’s Tony Tan
Author: Despite his feeable efforts to reach out to netizens by starting a Facebook page and inviting pro-PAP bloggers to interview him, the response from netizens towards the presidential candidacy of PAP-endorsed candidate Tony Tan has been lukewarm so far.
Contrary to what was reported by Lianhe Zaobao’s Yew Lun Tian, Tony Tan’s internet campaign is floundering at the present moment.
As of today, Tony Tan’s Facebook page has barely 900 ‘likes’ so far, lagging far behind his opponents Tan Kin Lian and Dr Tan Cheng Bock who have more than 1,800 and 3,700 ‘likes’ respectively.
Mr Tan Kin Lian who started a blog way back in 2006 had just uploaded his media interview yesterday to youtube while Dr Tan Cheng Bock has conducted a series of interviews by his supporters to let Singaporeans know him better as a person.
While netizens are equally split between Mr Tan Kin Lian and Dr Tan Cheng Bock, most are opposed to Tony Tan becoming the next Elected President of Singapore due to his past association with the repressive PAP regime which is hugely unpopular among young Singaporeans.
As PAP Education minister in the 1980s and 1990s, Tony Tan was responsible for subsidising and giving free government scholarships for foreigners to study in local universities while refusing to do more to help Singapore students.
When then opposition MP Chiam See Tong questioned Tony Tan if the Singapore government was too generous to foreign students in subsidising their tuition fees in 1987, he retorted callously that ‘very bright talent (foreign) students’ would be prevented from joining Singapore universities should their fees be fixed at too ‘high’ a rate.
However, he was quick to dismiss NCMP Dr Lee Siew Choh’s suggestion in 1991 to use the government’s huge surpluses subsidize the tertiary education of Singaporeans, describing it as a “very dangerous philosophy”:
“But believe you me, it only takes a few years to spend what your fathers and your forefathers have earned.” (read more here)
He added that he did not believe that a free education would result in a better education system.
Given Tony Tan’s ‘track record’ in the past, he may have difficulties winning the hearts and minds of young Singaporeans, especially those who were denied a place in local universities because of his pro-foreigner education policies
Posted in Editorial
2) Straits Times promoted Dr Tan Cheng Bock as an independent minded candidate for presidency and published many of his “run-ins” with the government.
3) Mr Tan Kin Lian announced his decision to run on June 7 having resigned from PAP a few years ago.
4) George Yeo mulls over decision to run for presidency but decided against after much publicity was given to him.
5) Dr Tony Tan announced his decision to run on June 23.
PAP is controlling every major publich institutions, the parliament, the court, the police force, Singapore armed forces, etc. We should not let PAP controlled the last major public institution, the Presudent’s office. Let’s all vote for TKL !
I agree with part of your reasoning that Tony Tan was pushed to become the President. The Govt has an ongoing investigations which it does not want to pursue because it would open a can of worms harmful to the party and some big business names. Remember that the President has the power to deal with the CAD/CPIB although these teams are within the PMO. The Govt needs a “friendly” President to gloss over the eventual closing of this case.
TKL has stated publicly that he preferred a 3 cornered fight, probably thinking that the presence of TCB would split the pro PAP votes. Hence he would stand a better chance in a 3 cornered fight.
In contrast, TCB said he preferred a straight fight with TT. The
reason is simple because in a straight fight, the “opposition voters” are unlikely to vote for Tony Tan. In addition, TCB can count on the
swing voters in the pro PAP camp, considering his PAP historical ties. Hence from TCB’s perspective, he would have a good chance
to get elected in a straight fight.
What about the thoughts of PAP ? Well they are thinking very hard to disqualify both TKL and TCB, so Tony Tan will have a walkover. Typical PAP mindset. Kiasi and Kiasu !
Just think, if its only TCB and TKL, it will be very obvious that the Whites want TCB as EP right?
So step in TT – a ruse. The Whites “Heavyweights” openly support TT(learnt from GE 2011) knowing that a HUGE number of Citizens will be turned off. So TCB benefits right – as he is now not seen as their backed candidate?
July 8, 2011 at 5:40 pm
Going by chronological order of events,
1) Dr Tan Cheng Bock announced his intention to run for presidency on May 27 and resigned from PAP.
2) Straits Times promoted Dr Tan Cheng Bock as an independent minded candidate for presidency and published many of his “run-ins” with the government.
3) Mr Tan Kin Lian announced his decision to run on June 7 having resigned from PAP a few years ago.
4) George Yeo mulls over decision to run for presidency but decided against after much publicity was given to him.
5) Dr Tony Tan announced his decision to run on June 23.
Note that Straits Times did not give Mr Tan as wide or positive coverage as both Dr Tans recieved. My view is that PAP initially wanted Dr Tan Cheng Bock to run for presidency. But Mr Tan Kin Lian’s decision to run thwarts PAP’s plan.
George Yeo was pushed to run for presidency, but he finds little confidence of winning after losing the Aljunied GRC. Under PM Lee’s pressure, Dr Tony Tan was forced to run for presidency.
The reason is obvious. There is something which PM Lee as chairman of GIC wants to hide from public. If Tony Tan wins, all will be swept under carpet. They won’t mind Dr Tan Cheng Bock to win as they can manipulate him the way they have for all the years he had served as MP without having make any impact on government policies.
Now that Straits Times and Lian He Zao Bao has started negative reporting on Mr Tan and none on Dr Tan Cheng Bock further confirms this theory.
the next EP?
July 8, 2011 at 6:10 pm
It is not due to lack of confidence that GY decided not to run. It is because LKY or LHL felt that Tony Tan would be a better bet ! I don’t think Tan Cheng Bock was asked to contest by PAP. If so, he would have withdrawn his candidancy when TT threw his hat into the rings. When TCB announced his intention to run, the ST probably thought that he was “endorsed” by PAP leadership since he was a former PAP MP. Upon realising their ‘mistake’, the state controlled press has toned down their coverage on TCB. In the main time, GY was asked by PM Lee not to contest as PAP has a preferred candidate in mind, that is Tony Tan.
PAP is controlling every major publich institutions, the parliament, the court, the police force, Singapore armed forces, etc. We should not let PAP controlled the last major public institution, the Presudent’s office. Let’s all vote for TKL