By Mary Lee
I’ve just signed an online petition to the Prime Minister that needed 5,000 signatures, asking that the Presidential election next month be open to all races and not be limited to Malay candidates.
Lee Hsien Loong will very likely ignore this petition, and if no one is going to stand against Halimah Yacob, I’m not going to protest. She’s a good enough President as far as known public figures go.
Poor old Bocky (Tan Cheng Bock) who’s hoping that Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon (a devout and brilliant Catholic) will rule in his favour when he releases his judgment on Mr Tan’s appeal.
I don’t think anyone is fooled by the Government’s decision to count Wee Kim Wee as the first elected President because he was “elected” by a PAP parliament as anything but rigging. Ong Teng Cheong was th first elected President but was not accorded a state funeral on his passing in 2002. Why not? Now that’s more interesting than the so-called constitutional ruling against Bocky’s desire to act as a check against the PAP Government.
In any case. Bocky doesn’t have enough time to run as a candidate, even if he could. Looking forward to President Halimah, PM Lee has already said she would bring “warmth and dignity”. Certainly more warmth than current President Tony Tan. More importantly, she would raise the status of Malay women in the region. And be the forerunner of other women to run as future heads of state.
