My country's National Day celebrations came and went with nary a mention in my bloggy. Yes, I do have the national flag still billowing in the wind outside my living-room window but nevertheless, I wasn't that thrilled over this year's celebrations.
I have nothing against an overt show of patriotism every now and then and it certainly is a darn good idea to have the parade festivities extended to the heartlands, thus enabling the involvement of thousands more Singaporeans in the already lavish celebrations. I mean, not everyone had a chance of watching the main parade, LIVE, at the Padang right? These mini-carnivals in the heartlands were of course pretty small fry compared to the Marina Bay carnival where most of the merry-making took place... I should know because I was there during the day when the crowd was still quite mild and pretty thin. 
Being the typical, angst-ridden, and skeptical young-adult that I was, I wasn't too impressed with the myriad display of military vehicles and demonstrations at the carnival. Strangely, many folks took an extraordinary delight in being able to pose with an M16 rifle or take a picture with an armoured tank. Moreover, the exhibits were spread over quite a large tract of land and I had to do a tremendous lot of walking to see them all... Not really my idea of having a good time. Thankfully, my family and I got home in time to watch the Parade on television but I was so shagged by then that I dozed off even before President Nathan arrived at the Padang! By the time I woke up, the fireworks were over... *sigh*Well anyway, while we're still on the subject of President Nathan, I'm very pleased to find out recently that he has returned, uncontested, for a second six-year term. Frankly speaking, when I found out that he is at the grand old age of 81 (!!!), I had my doubts whether he was actually physically fit enough to run again. However, when it comes down to the fundamentals, he is really a good choice and he looks just right for the job; With his crinkly eyes and affable smile, he is the perfect paternal figure for a developing/developing country like ours. But I digress...
Although I did History as one of my humanity subjects up 'til my 'O' Levels, I really have got no idea what the President of Singapore actually does on his typical work day at the Istana. Does he wake up and have roti-prata (one kosong and one telor perhaps?) at 7 before tuning in to TCS 5 to watch the Primetime morning news? Does he play golf on weekends and have chit-chats over the phone with PM Abdullah Badawi (who, by the way, looks like a really nice guy to be chums with) every alternate Sunday? Hmmmm.. I admit I'm just spouting a whole lot of nonsense right now but whatever the role of the president may be, Mr Nathan must certainly have some very impressive credentials on his resume.
As is common knowledge by now, there is a stringent list of qualifications, which each candidate for the office of President of Singapore must fulfil (as stated in Article 19 of the Constitution of Singapore) before being eligible to run for president. Some of these requirements include:
- must be a person of integrity, good character and reputation.Reading The New Paper On Sunday concerning the "mystery candidate" who applied to run for president (but did not qualify), I couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness for former storekeeper, Mr Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu, whose smiling visage and upright thumb was plastered on the front page with the bold headline "Why Not? I Am Younger Than Mr Nathan."
- must have, for a period of not less than 3 years, held office; as Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, Attorney-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, Accountant-General or Permanent Secretary; as chairman or chief executive officer of a statutory board; as chairman of the board of directors or chief executive officer of a company incorporated or registered under the Companies Act with a paid-up capital of at least $100 million or its equivalent in foreign currency; or in any other similar or comparable position of seniority and responsibility in any other organisation or department of equivalent size or complexity in the public or private sector...
There is something grossly comical about it, as if the journalist responsible for the story was trying to make a mockery of Mr Naidu's ignorance. It is perhaps an ironic twist to the Presidential Elections this year but honestly, it is a twist which did not justify the use of a demeaning front-page headline. Someone should start an online petition for a more tactful approach to news-reporting in the New Paper. Seriously...
