‘The genie is out of Singapore’s political bottle’

What does it say of the Singapore political scene when a man with impeccable credentials for the presidency is rejected by nearly 65 percent of voters?

What does it mean when a relatively unknown former civil servant with his strident attacks on government emerge with nearly one-third of the votes?

Finally, what does it signify when all four contenders for the presidency were either part of the establishment or had links with it?

That even a blue-chip reputation, which Dr Tony Tan had, is not enough to win a strong mandate from voters. That a shrill anti-government stand, which Mr Tan Jee Say displayed, can have a cache in a political oasis like Singapore. That a loose political front made up of smart, respected and able people is emerging.

It is this last point -- a hard truth, a phrase made famous by former Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew -- that is likely to have a long-lasting impact on politics here in the aftermath of a stunning Presidential Election. More...

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