erm, so delutional sia
SINGAPORE - The results of the
recently-concluded Presidential Election showed there was "strong
support" for the ruling People's Action Party, even though voters
were divided between two "very good" candidates in the form of
former Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan and former Ayer Rajah Member
of Parliament Tan Cheng Bock.
This was the view of Minister for Information, Communications and
the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim, who was speaking to reporters yesterday
after attending morning Hari Raya prayers at the Assyafaah
Mosque.
Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs,
congratulated President-elect Tony Tan on behalf of the Muslim
community.
Adding that Dr Tony Tan has done a lot for the Muslim community, Dr
Yaacob noted that Dr Tony Tan was at Assyafaah Mosque some years
back - following 911 - "trying to reach out to the Muslim
community, trying to explain what is it we can do together with the
country, with the nation, to strengthen social cohesion."
Dr Yaacob disagreed with suggestions that Dr Tony Tan's razor-thin
winning margin of 0.34 per cent reflected a political divide among
Singaporeans.
Pointing out that the combined vote share for Dr Tony Tan and Dr
Tan Cheng Bock - both former PAP MPs - was about 70 per cent, Dr
Yaacob said: "There's strong support for the party in that sense.
But it's clear that there are people who are divided, as explained
by the Prime Minister, (who) were basically having to decide
between two very good candidates."
In a press statement issued after the official results were
announced on Sunday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noted that
voters "faced a difficult choice between Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan
Cheng Bock". Mr Lee had added: "This explains why the winning
margin is so narrow, and why the winner only gained slightly more
than one-third of the total votes. Nevertheless, under our
first-past-the-post system, the election has produced an
unambiguous winner, who has the mandate to be the next
President."
Dr Yaacob said the process of electing Singapore's seventh
President reflects a maturing democracy, "that we're able to agree
to disagree".
He added: "But most important thing is, as the Prime Minister has
said, now we have to move forward and build the nation
together."
Speaking to reporters at the Istana's Hari Raya Puasa open house
yesterday, outgoing President S R Nathan - who will step down from
office today - described Dr Tony Tan as "a highly capable person,
very approachable, a person who carries himself well". Mr Nathan
said: "I'm sure he will be a great asset and the pride of
Singapore... I'm sure he's got the experience and the ability to
deal with it." ADDITIONAL REPORTING by TEO XUANWEI
