Tuesday 4 April 2017

Conversation: A Reserved Presidential Election

"Oi, you heard or not? Tan Cheng Bock asked the govt to make the next Presidential Election an "Open" election so he can run. He said they count salah already lah, it is not time to reserve the Election for Malay candidate. He says the govt is just trying to keep him from being president!"

"But we have not had a Malay President since Yusoff Ishak in 1970. That's more than 40 years... Almost 50 years."

"Cannot count like that, lah! The rule is supposed to count the last 30 years of Elected Presidents. But Presidents were elected only from Ong Teng Cheong. But they count from Wee Kim Wee! Who is not an elected president! How can liddat?"

"But still, we haven't had a Malay President since our first President. And our country is 52 years old already. Surely it is time to reserve... you know? You are right. If the rule is 30 years or 5 Presidential terms, then we should follow the rules. Anyway, I don't think our "racial harmony" is enhanced by 'Reserved Presidential Elections' for minorities, every now and then."

"Wah? You agree with me then?"

"Yes... but while I don't think it is a good idea to have a Reserved Election for minorities, it is better than what we had the last PE."

"What did we have the last election?"

"A de facto reserved PE for 'Tans'."

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