A Test Of MM's Standing

Is that my MP allowance in your pocket, or are you just glad to see me?

No, the guy in the picture is not trying to pick MM Lee's pocket while PAP newbie Chan Chun Sing distracts him with an extended hand. Rather, he was helping the 87 year old to stand steadily on his own two feet. There's another on the octogenarian's left rear, waiting to catch the world's oldest candidate running for office, in case he should topple on that side. So much about keeping fit by running (treadmill), cycling (stationary bike) and swimming (private pool).

Chan may need to rephrase his statement when he said, "I don't think we need an election to test MM's standing." He was responding to Socialist Front chief Ng Teck Siong explanation that he had formed a team to contest the Tanjong Pagar GRC to give the residents a chance to vote and "find out the standing of our MM there". MM as in Minister Mentor and not the multi-coloured chocolate candy - latter's popularity is indisputable. This GE 2011 will be the GRC's first contest since it was formed 20 years ago in 1991. Before the series of walkovers that followed the formation of the GRC, in 1988 Lee polled 81.6% against an Independent candidate Gnaguru Thamboo Mylvaganam. Anything less will be a indication of how his fan base has meandered.

Chan was also off the mark when he said elections are not a popularity contest. The guy still thinks he is on the parade ground, where the troops have to salute him even though they are cussing him with expletives like one 24 year old lady caught in an unmoving traffic jam. He should listen real hard to an older and wiser veteran who has been in the trenches. In a moment of candour, Lim Hng Khiang let out, "if the electorate don't vote for us, it's not because we've been lazy or not doing our job, it's because they don't like us. And if they don't like us, then so be it." Give the man a Heineken for his honesty.

Lee himself was seemingly detached from reality when he mumbled, as if his mouth was filled with chocolaty M&Ms, that the 900,000 foreign workers doing jobs that Singaporeans are not willing to do are causing much discomfit. No siree! The real unhappiness is with nice paying jobs that go to foreigners instead of equally qualified local born and bred Singaporeans, for a plethora of lame excuses such as they are handicapped with the demands of reservist training. Ask any recruiting outfit that is honest about their hiring practice. The types that are not afraid to tell the emperor he is not wearing clothes.