OH GENERALS, GENERALS, WHEREFORE ART THOU?

Dear Singaporeans,

When was the last time a SAF general turned PAP politicians fought in a Single Member Constituency? Has this happened before?

I think not. From George Yeo, to Teo Chee Hean, to Lui Tuck Yew and the more recent entrants of Chan Chun Sing and Tan Chuan Jin, our SAF warriors have been parachuted straight into GRC and swiftly swept into parliament.

Ng Chee Meng, the latest military man to trade in his soldier uniform for the white-on-white is no exception. Ng will be contesting in Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC under the tutelage of DPM Teo Chee Hean; and like his other soldiers turned politican colleagues, he will, in time to come, lead a GRC.

But how can we say a politician is competent if he has not won his own battles? In fact, how is a general victorious if he has never fought his own battle?

Let's not be mistaken, I am not against the PAP promoting their own to political stardom and some generals are actually effective and inspiring leaders. But to truly earn the respects of citizens, maybe they should start fighting their own wars and not hide behind someone's back.

Freddy Tan