Now, i have strong political views, which i feel are best left unvoiced, at least in my own interest, but anyway the sudden possibility of a proper presidential election actually taking place very soon has intrigued me quite a bit...
Of course, this is in large part due to the fact that yes, i am actually of voting age now, and may actually have a chance to vote should elections actually be called. Of course, i dunno if i have to register myself to be in the roll of voters, or whether it's automatic or anything like that. But in any case, i think it's quite exciting. (And i'm not the only one too...) Or at least as exciting as things can get here...
I would think that there is a greater chance of me being able to vote in a presidential election (since the whole of the country falls under one constituency) than in the general elections, that are purportedly to take place in the near future. This being especially so since i reside fairly near to the now famous "hey look at me i am so big i stretch all the way to Serangoon, even though that is miles away from anything remotely marine, or paradish in nature" ward of Marine Parade GRC, which will probably never see a contested election for quite some time, for reasons that you the reader probably would know... Although my house actually is in a ward that may possibly see a contest in the next GE since it is a single-seat constituency (Joo Chiat), who's stopping it from amalgamating with its big brother neighbour come the next election, especially with all the negative publicity the area has been getting as of late for certain, well shall we say, nocturnal activities... [Just a nugget of info here, actually the president stays all of five minutes walk up the road from me... (but that has nothing to do with the nocturnal activities...)]
So, basically, i am quietly hoping that this time around, we'll see a contest of sorts... If not, i propose doing away with the title of 'elected president' if there is no election in the first place, talk about the ultimate misnomer... Of course, i also recognise the need for credible candidates to come forward. Saw the news just now, and honestly, who would vote for the guy who's not only an ex-bankrupt (nothing against them), but also made a bit of a scene at the elections office today, asking them to give him a chance by letting him know if he was eligible before the actual date given, or something to that effect, in the most raucous manner possible. (Of course, trust our dear mediacorp news to capture it on tape and broadcast it for all to see...) He reminds me of that father and son pair who turned up to send in their forms during the last elections both wearing slippers. And boy did the media play that one up...
And with so much being said as of late about the political apathy of younger Singaporeans, well, i am sure one root cause of this that has been identified has been the rare ability to exercise our right to suffrage here.
But well, i do not write this to make a political statement. This is all stuff that has been covered in last sem's government and politics of Singapore module, so i assume that it's not off-limits, or past the OB markers or anything like that... Beyond this, well, no comment... =)
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