How Then Should You Respond To President Halimah Yacob?

by Patrick Liew on September 25, 2017

Mdm Halimah Yacob was sworn in as the 8th President on Thursday, 13 September 2017.

How then should you respond to her leadership?

Fight her? Ignore her? Or support her?

1. Let’s take a walk down memory lane.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced on Wednesday, 27 2016 that a Constitutional Commission will be appointed to review selected aspects of the 25-year-old Elected Presidency system.

Did you give your feedback to the Government?

2. On Wednesday, 10 Feb 2016, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong appointed a nine-member Constitutional Commission chaired by the Chief Justice and eight other prominent leaders to study changes to the Elected Presidency system, including reviewing the qualifying criteria of candidates.

Did you give your feedback to the Government?

3. The Constitutional Commission made a call for written submissions.

Did you give your feedback to the Commission?

4. The Commission held four public hearings in April and May 2016, and deliberated over the recommendations before submitting them to the Government.

Did you give your feedback to the Commission?

5. The Commission’s report and the Government’s White Paper in reply was released in September 2016.

Did you give your feedback to the Government and the Commission?

6. The issues raised about the Elected Presidency was debated in Parliament from 7 to 9 November 2016.

Did you give your feedback to the Commission?

7. I have provided my feedback through different channels.

In addition, I have blogged about my concerns about the elected presidency system.

Example:

https://hsrpatrickliew.wordpress.com/?s=Elected+president&submit=Search

8. After the United States presidential election, I have also appealed to the authorities to learn from its election process.

And educate our electorate to vote wisely.

http://www.straitstimes.com/forum/letters-on-the-web/educate-voters-on-how-to-separate-the-wheat-from-the-chaff-of-campaign

9. I have voiced my concerns and displeasure about the Elected Presidency system and the way it was implemented.

Truth be told, I’m still deeply concerned about how the government will carry out the Elected Presidency system in the future.

10. Everybody can criticize the Elected Presidency system and the way it was implemented.

However, please don’t blame President Halimah Yacob for the issues, including no-contest for the presidential election and disqualification of the two presidential candidates.

To be fair, the Presidential Elections Committee should also not be blamed for adhering to criteria for issuing the certificate of eligibility.

Why should the Committee lower the standards?

11. President Halimah Yacob did not contravene the Constitution.

She should be rightfully sworn in as the President of Singapore, our President.

12. I’m sure President Halimah Yacob is aware of the challenges during her presidential election campaign.

13. Moving forward, she is also aware that she’ll be under a spotlight throughout her term of office and perhaps, until her last day.

Many eyes are watching over her.

Some will wish her well while others will be on the lookout to find faults with her.

14. While I may not totally agree with the Elected Presidential system, I choose to pray for her.

I choose to support her and and hope for the best for her.

15. Truth be told, many of the good things that she will do, especially with the ruling government will be behind closed doors.

Many achievements may never be known to the public.

Still, as I have always said, women are the stronger sex. Sorry guys!

16. I’m confident that President Halimah Yacob will rise up to face the tidal wave in front of her.

Just as she has started to break away from traditions, she will not be easily swayed by other leaders and even popular opinions.

As our President, she will conduct vigorous research, seek wise counsel, and tap on a Higher Source of wisdom.

In her heart of hearts, she will look after the best interests of Singapore and Singaporeans as she help craft directions and decisions for our brightest future.

17. Should you fight her or ignore her?

Do we want Singapore to end up like many countries where people fight and fight over their politicians?

Struggle over political power and positions? And polarize and divide their people?

18. To be fair to President Halimah Yacob, even many of the politicians in the opposition camps have recognized that she is a leader with a good heart.

She has addressed many key issues in Parliament and in the public and fought for the disadvantaged in our midst.

Shortly after being declared the winner, she has announced that she will still be staying in her family home, a Housing Board flat in Yishun.

Isn’t that a reflection of her spirit of humility and focus on serving the people?

19. To my fellow Singaporeans, please give her space, time and other necessary resources to perform her roles and responsibilities.

As a human, you too would want others to give you adequate bandwidth and latitude to do your job, right?

You don’t want others to keep criticizing you and throwing stones at you every step of the way, do you?

20. When the dusts have settled, history may remember her as a truly people-oriented President who not only understands the people but also a leader who can feel their heartbeats too.

21. If we put aside our concerns and unhappiness, we can find many virtues and values in having Mdm Halimah Yacob as our President.

Think about it.

Our shining red dot is led by the the first woman to become the President of Singapore.

She is also the first Malay to become the President after 47 years.

What’s more, she overcame many odds to become the President.

22. President Halimah Yacob can be a living model and inspiration to all Singaporeans.

Wherever they come from and however challenging life has been to them, they can chase after the rainbow.

They can serve the highest calling in and through our country.

23. I’m confident that in the years to come, people will respect her for working wisely and working hard to help make Singapore and Singaporeans positively outstanding in the exciting new world.

24. My prayer is that she’ll become a beacon for religious and racial harmony, multiculturalism, multiracialism, and gender parity.

She’ll be a leader that will lead and inspire our people in transforming Singapore into an exceptionally great country in the future.

So, please support her.

Go4It!

I hope this message will find a place in your heart.

By the way, I have also recorded other reflections.

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Please read my reflections and continue to teach me.

Life is FUNtastic!

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