Photo from Mdm Halimah Yacob’s Facebook page.

Despite having virtually zero political power, the office of the President is still an office that is imbued with prestige in Singapore. The President is after all, still the official head of state in Singapore and that position in itself carries an air of dignity. With that in mind, I query if it is appropriate for our current President to be seen endorsing a particular product over another. Will the President’s endorsement of Milo Kosong provide Milo with an unfair edge over its competitors? Also, does it cheapen the office of the President?

I appreciate that Madam Halimah may well have decided to support Milo Kosong because they had taken up her suggestion of creating a sugar free version of the beloved drink. However, given that she is now the Head of State, she ought to have realised that she no longer has a private capacity. Everything that she does in public will be done and seen to be done as in her capacity as the President of the Republic of Singapore. With that in mind, can the President’s endorsement of a particular product be seen as providing an unfair advantage to Milo? Shouldn’t the office of the President be seen at all times as neutral, above petty commercialism and politics?

Besides, Milo is not the only company that produces sugar free beverages. How do its competitors feel about our President openly favouring Milo? Can this endorsement be deemed anti-competition?

The President’s office is an official position of state. The sitting President is therefore not some sort of influencer or celebrity. In some ways, her public endorsement of Milo does cheapen the dignity of the office. What are the official guidelines that govern the President’s conduct while in office?

I am also unsure as to the appropriateness of the President performing at the President’s Star Charity While it is for a good cause, the office of the President has to take precedence over Madam Halimah as an individual. Should the office be seen as entertainment for public consumption? By all means, the President should say a few words. It is after all a charitable event organised in the name of her office. Singing on stage, however, might be a step too far. There is, after all, a difference between making a speech and performing a public jig.

Some may feel that I am being unduly harsh and perhaps I am. But from my standpoint, the position of the President is an official role funded by the public purse. There should, therefore, be certain codes of conduct that comes with the office. Dignity, Impartiality and respect are part of the office and providing advertising for products, or performing singing acts do not gel with the sanctity of that office.

Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
You May Also Like

Low levels of welfare makes UBI expensive to implement in Singapore

by Chris Kuan At the Future of Singapore (FOSG) forum on the…

总理称双语优势减弱 七成华族家庭家中讲英语

昨日(22日),总理李显龙在讲华语运动40周年庆典上致词时,指出如今许多年轻人听得懂华语,也会说华语,但有时不太流利。他认为大家须意识到,新加坡的双语优势正在相对减弱。 “因为世界各地的人,正在积极学习华语。他们清楚要到中国工作、和中国人打交道,把握中国发展的商机,就必须学好华语。” 不论是本地中文或英语媒体,皆有报导总理的上述演说,《联合早报》将报导刊在今日头版,至于总理完整演讲稿也上载到该报官网。 在致词中总理称1979年建国总理李光耀发起“讲华语运动”,旨在鼓励本地华人“多讲华语,少说方言”,建立共同语言桥梁以加强华社凝聚力。 但现如今讲英语的华人渐渐增加,在90年代该运动就转为鼓励讲英语华人多讲华语;也提及如今有近71巴仙家庭,在家中主要讲英语。 但他仍认可讲华语运动的贡献。本地华社,华文媒体以及学校仍努力推广华语;本地华文媒体也发挥作用;并指出许多到中国做生意/工作的国人,都明白唯有兼通双语,才能在世界舞台上大展拳脚、左右逢源。 冰冻三尺非一日之寒 然而,讲华语运动办了40年,至今七成华族家庭在家中仍习惯说英语,这似乎不算什么值得庆幸或赞扬的成就。尽管民间团体都已努力透过各种活动、场合营造说华语的气氛、或增加学习华语的乐趣,然而今日华文水平的式微,又是谁之过? 就连讲华语运动在2017年的推介仪式,都可以闹出错别字的笑话,把“听说读写”的“读”,误选“亵渎”的“渎”字;南洋理工大学食阁招牌禁华文;乃至最近国家文物局,把承载许多国人记忆的新谣,配上上世纪60年代照片和弄错歌词,都凸显对民间华语圈文化的理解不足。 再者大众书局日前宣布只有八家书店出售华文图书,尽管大众书局企业通讯部经理沈毅文今日在《联合早报》交流站指出,不会放弃华文书籍,然而市场需求不足、华文阅读风气减弱的问题,是存在的。 说英语“高人一等”的迷思 在独立前,包括陈六使、高德根及连赢洲等人代表华社提呈“华文教育委员会”,议案,呼吁公平对待各族学校、保存华文教育之优良传统制度等;1959年,人民行动党接纳1956年各党派华文教育报告书。…

Low Thia Khiang explains his decision to move out of Hougang

Loke Hoe-Yeong/ Low Thia Khiang emphasized from the outset that he had…

Man fined $8k for defacing Istana website

Image from Channel News Asia Entrepreneur and IT consultant Delson Moo, 43, was…