NTUC says Tony Tan "fits the bill"

President of NTUC John De Payva told local media that while he personally believes Dr Tony Tan fits the bill, he added "We are mindful of who we think should be President, but we have not decided whether to endorse or not to endorse."

Look at how smart and cunning the PAP leadership is. They use the President of NTUC to speak out regarding this issue. By right the president of the NTUC does not have much power and authority. All these are vested with the Secretary-General. But the SG is a PAP minister, so obviously he has to take a back seat and ask a subordinate to come to the platform, or else all will be lost, i.e. a PAP minister (Secretary-General of NTUC) talking about support for PE candidate, 2 of whom are closely related to the PAP.

One or two decades ago, this wayang may not have been clearly picked out by the electorate. But now, with information at the tip of the keyboard, Singaporeans are more well informed because of the presence of alternative news platforms, the situation has changed.

This would never happen in western countries which are more developed than us. The fact that the government installed its own people in the union is against the principles of the labour movement. The union is supposed to fight for the worker's rights but it ended up siding employers and becoming the government's tool.

A netizen asked a very good question. Why would a "labour union" be involved in politics ? The union should fight for worker's rights and benefits and look after worker's welfare rather than involved in the presidential election matter. It is very obvious that PAP is making use of the union to throw weight on thier preferred presidential candidate. The words of a few top union guys do not represent the wishes of all the workers. Why don't PAP ask Lim Swee Say to come out and directly endorse Dr Tony Tan? PAP, please do not play this type of game anymore. The more you use indirect means of endorsing your preferred man to be the president, the more it will be backfired.

The problem is that Tony Tan is too closely associated with the government and would not be able to think independently.

Anyway since the government had implemented the constitution to have an elected president, just let Singaporeans vote according to their wishes and do not try to manipulate the outcome. Otherwise, the government should not implement the concept of an elected president at all or to do away with the elected president.