10 Reasons Why Not to Vote for Dr Tony Tan

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1. He stepped down as vice-chairman of Government Investment Corporation (GIC) recently to demonstrate to voters that there is no conflict of interest. From whichever angle I see, he would be slapping himself on the face if he were to find fault for any non-compliance in protocol made by GIC when he was a party in the execution.
2. Being a vice-chairman of GIC, he was responsible for ensuring long-term investment gains. Recent report published by GIC showed the 20-year rolling returns as steadily declining from a high of 6% in 2001 to a low of 3.9% in 2011. A dip of 2% over a 20-year period underlies a significant dip in short-term which GIC may be trying to hide from public scrutiny. If he was not able to publicly account for the bad investment decisions by GIC, how does one expects him to account for the reserves, when bad decisions are made?
3. His bid for Presidency may be an instruction from PM Lee who is also the chairman of GIC, in order not to expose the bad investments made in recent times if an independently elected President is to do a review.
4. He accepted the narrow definition of the President’s roles as those that are set by the constitution. However, he contradicted himself by harping on his experience which the PM can rely on to steer Singapore out of the looming economic crisis.
5. Being an ex-Defence Minister and ex-Deputy Prime Minister, he should be very clear about the obligations of National Service placed on Singaporean sons. However, recent news highlighted facts that his son managed to defer from National Service for an amazing 12 years and was posted to a specially created “Defence Medical Scientist” post. This cast significant doubts about his impartiality as a President and his son’s integrity as a President’s Scholar.
6. He boasts to have an independent mind, citing the abolishment of the “Graduate Mother Scheme” as an example which he fought against his colleagues. But according to old Straits Times articles which could still be found in the national archives, the public record showed that he supported this scheme, but abolished it when he became the Education Minister due to widespread unpopularity as reflected in the 1984 General Election results.
7. His views are very in line with the PAP government. He defended the government’s detention of social activists using the Internal Security Act in 1987 though he is not able to justify the government’s action with any evidence.
8. He intends to unite Singaporeans but does not intend to speak for the people. He is fully supportive of current government policies which has already cause great unhappiness and social divide. To support a policy divisive in nature goes contrary to one’s intention to unite the people.
9. He stepped down as chairman of Singapore Press Holdings recently to run for the election. The mainstream media is regarded by many as a tool to spread pro-PAP propagandas, suppress free information, distort truth, and to attack and smear opposition candidates. The Press Freedom Index ranks Singapore at a dismal 136 despite being a first world nation. This could also be the impetus that leads to the birth of Temasek Review as a form of counterbalance.
10. He does not show himself having the compassion of a people’s President. He makes no pledge to donate part of his salary to charity despite the fact the the current salary is excessive and beyond what a person needs to live reasonable well.