• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

How can a President that seemingly stepped into the position because others were disqualified due to a last minute change in legislation talk about meritocracy with a straight face? 

by Ghui
28/08/2020
in Opinion, Politics
Reading Time: 2 mins read
22

Screenshot from The Straits Times' video

When one reads what President Halimah Yacob has to say, one cannot help but sometimes wonder if she appreciates irony. She speaks about anti discrimination and of meritocracy. Yet, the very fact that she occupies the position that she does contravenes all the issues that she speaks out against.

Does she realise that?

In a recent speech at the opening of the 14th Parliament of Singapore, Yacob focused on meritocracy and multiracialism. However, her very position is itself arguably non meritocratic. Despite the position being ostensibly one that is elected. Yacob became President in a walkover election where potential candidates were ruled out of the race due to a seemingly last minute change in legislation. In other words, the manner in which she was “elected” to the position looks potentially like the antithesis of meritocracy. How can a President that seemingly stepped into the position because others were disqualified due to a last minute change in legislation talk about meritocracy with a straight face?

As a result of the manner in which she “won” the job, there will always be speculation that she did not get it by pure merit alone. For her then to speak of meritocracy renders the whole thing unconvincing.

In the same speech, Yacob talked about muliracialism. Indeed, her being in the role she is in was potentially down to her being of the “right race” given that a popular candidate in the form of Tan Cheng Bock was ruled out for not being a minority. Yet, she has stayed silent when Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat stated publicly (without empirical data) that older Singaporeans were not ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister. To most fair minded people, this would certainly be the exact opposite to the concept of both meritocracy and multiculturalism. If Yacob is so passionate about meritocracy and multiracialism, why has she not called Heng out?

Yacob went on to say that “more redistribution cannot be the only way to level up those who are doing less well….We also have to continue strengthening social mobility and broadening our conception of merit.” But what is the point of saying all these things when she has not addressed the potential racist and un meritocratic views of a senior member of the Government? One that is said to be the future Prime Minister to boot!

Words and actions have to gel in order for them to be believable.  So far, Yacob has seemingly only uttered empty words where the important issues of multiracialism and meritocracy are concerned.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available
Singapore

Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available

06/02/2023
Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins
Japan

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

06/02/2023
FY2023 Budget Statement to be delivered by Lawrence Wong on 14 Feb, 3.30pm
Singapore

FY2023 Budget Statement to be delivered by Lawrence Wong on 14 Feb, 3.30pm

06/02/2023
AFP

Scholar, lawmakers and journalist among Hong Kongers on trial

06/02/2023
Netizens urge HDB to investigate another “unoccupied” flat listed for sale
Housing

Netizens urge HDB to investigate another “unoccupied” flat listed for sale

06/02/2023
Singapore

Keppel condones and retains senior executives involved in bribery to get contracts

06/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
22 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available

Josephine Teo defends SPH Media Trust in Parliament on its circulation scandal; Commitment of S$900 million funding will still be made available

06/02/2023
Japanese-Canadian junior high school girl breaks national record with 3km in 9:02 mins

“I want my normal life back,” Sherry Drury withdraws from National Junior High School Tournament due to overheated public attention

06/02/2023
FY2023 Budget Statement to be delivered by Lawrence Wong on 14 Feb, 3.30pm

FY2023 Budget Statement to be delivered by Lawrence Wong on 14 Feb, 3.30pm

06/02/2023

Scholar, lawmakers and journalist among Hong Kongers on trial

06/02/2023
Netizens urge HDB to investigate another “unoccupied” flat listed for sale

Netizens urge HDB to investigate another “unoccupied” flat listed for sale

06/02/2023

Keppel condones and retains senior executives involved in bribery to get contracts

06/02/2023
7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS

7.8-magnitude quake hits southern Turkey: USGS

06/02/2023
Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opens

Hong Kong’s largest national security trial opens

06/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Cognizant India transfers staff to work in Singapore as recently as this year

Local IT grads can’t find jobs while engineers constantly transferred from India to work in SG under CECA

by Correspondent
05/02/2023
65

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
47

...

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

by Correspondent
03/02/2023
26

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
40

...

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

by The Online Citizen
02/02/2023
19

...

August 2020
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Jul   Sep »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz