Tin Pei Ling, at 27 Years old is the youngest PAP candidate ever filled by PAP for the upcoming General Elections. She currently works for Ernst & Young as a senior associate and has been married to Ng How Yue, 40, who is principal private secretary to the Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for three years already with no kids. Pei Ling is also on the executive committee of Young PAP and has done some grassroots work in Buona Vista for some time.
She is interesting in that never had a PAP candidate being scrutinised so intently under the microscope before and generate so much controversies. Beside her youth, lack of life experience and achievements, the real issue here is the controversial and much hated GRC system that is put on the spotlight. The fact that some one who may be more qualified, willing to serve, passionate such as Chen Show Mou, Sylvia Lim, Vincent Wijeysingha and Kenneth Jayarathnam may not get into the parliment while people like Tin Pei Ling can slip into the Parliment via the backdoor really turn the voters off. Thus, an online petition calling for Ms Tin to be fielded in a SMC (i.e. single Ward to face the opposition directly) has garnered more than 2,500 signatures in less than two days.
Here is the promotional video of Tin Pei Ling, will you vote for her? I mean seriously.
I leave you with the exerpt from “Tin Pei Ling and the Real Reason Why Singaporeans Are Annoyed” by Gilbert Koh:
“However, Singapore is not a normal, healthy and genuine democracy. And that is why there is a public outcry. People already know that most likely, Pei Ling will not contest on her own in a single-member constituency.
Instead the PAP will field Pei Ling in a GRC team, under the protection of one or two much more experienced PAP heavyweights. Pei Ling will mostly ride on their strengths, rather than her own ability, to sail safely into Parliament.
And once she gets in, the citizens of Singapore will be forced to live with her youth and lack of inexperience, for at least the next five years.”
Notable quotes
“This is a clear signal that the GRC system is not the best tool in the electoral system to serve the people. It is not Ms. Tin’s youth or inexperience that is the issue here; it is her inability to give even mildly intelligent responses to questions like “What is your greatest regret in life?” and what her views on current policies are (she had nothing to say). She had perfectly good opportunities at her unveiling (and since) to defend herself and show us that she has some fresh ideas to bring to the table. Instead, we get fluffy comments such as her compassion for elderly based on the fact that they remind her of her parents (and that is different from the rest of us how?). Not a whisper about policies, either. So much for fresh perspectives from young candidates. The failure to field Ms. Tin in an SMC will prove to Singaporeans that it is time for the GRC system to go, once and for all.” – Samantha M. De Silva
“30 years of my life, I’ve never been more interested in politics than I am now. Though I had never voted and probably will never vote (given where I lived – Toa Payoh), I do feel rather strongly that allowing Tin Pei Ling, a young and not exactly-the-MP type candidate going into politics in Singapore is really a joke. To be roped into PAP as one of the youngest candidate ever, there must be something in her that is one-in-a-million. Unfortunately, this is not the case. When I do find myself smarter and more politically correct than she is, yet slogging my guts out in an office job drawing a pathetic 20% of what she will be getting, I feel sorry for myself and Singapore at large. What is PAP thinking when they chose her?” – Lum Lai Ling
“Where is the meritocracy and democracy where people are chosen to be leaders by the people based on individual’s credentials on success in whichever field/ industry which they had succeed in? We as voters should have a choice on helping the nation decide on potential future leaders and be able to trust them in their positions. I am signing the petition based on individuals, i just want to see a more transparent system where MPs credentials are validated by the people instead of just by the ruling party. Potential leaders should serve time and allow the people to familiar with them before given such an opportunity.” – Sean Tan
“陈佩玲事件，其实不在于陈佩玲竞选不竞选，而在于集选区这个制度的无耻 — 完全没有道德的支撑。试想，大家都晓得，其实就算是一只畜牲，如果也能够算是集选区的一员。那么，不管是来自执政党反对党，那一团的集选胜利了，畜牲也可以代表人民说话。” – worshipper888
“Now, Tin Pei Ling and Chen Show Mao. Which do you think should be in Parliament? I mean, seriously….. Yet, the truth and reality is that Tin Pei Ling will get into Parliament, while Chen Show Mao may not.” – Anoynmous
Related links:
- the best report on Tin Pei Ling so far. Click here.
- Petition calls for Tin Pei Ling to be fielded in a single-member seat
- Tin Pei Ling saga ‘awakens’ Singaporeans to flaws of GRC system
You may also be interested to read:
SM Goh’s ‘tongue-in-cheek’ post on Tin causes a stir
A combination picture of SM Goh Chok Tong (left) and PAP new candidate Tin Pei Ling. — ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG
A FACEBOOK post by Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong caused a stir among netizens and the media on Saturday, when he announced that People’s Action Party new candidate Tin Pei Ling had been checked for trauma.
But the joke was on them, when SM Goh clarified later that he had meant it as a ‘tongue-in-cheek’ post.
On a status update posted around 5.30 pm on the MParader Facebook page, SM Goh said: ‘Young Pei Ling has been traumatised. Saw her yesterday with trauma specialist, Fatimah.
‘While doc examined her, I observed. Her initial hurt n pain have subsided. Gave her clean (bill) of health. In the process, discovered steel in her. She will grow in strength.’
‘Fatimah’ is Dr Fatimah Lateef, who is in SM Goh’s Marine Parade GRC team of MPs.
Ms Tin, 27, is slated to contest with the team in the coming election, taking over from retiring MP Matthias Yao.
SM Goh’s post triggered comments from Facebook users, expressing concern and support for Ms Tin.
An hour after his first post, SM Goh posted another update on the MParader page clarifying his initial remarks.
Source: SM Goh’s ‘tongue-in-cheek’ post on Tin causes a stir
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