I believe the processes of good governance have gone astray. Specifically there is an erosion of transparency, independence and accountability.
Tan Cheng Bock
The civil servants will always be there to look after this country. So don't worry... Any political party taking power will have to work with the civil servants who are very well acquainted with running this country.
For vocational workers, their pay should reflect their skills and difficulty of labour. To be skilled in a craft should be accepted as an alternative path.
I was only a village doctor with a rebellious streak.
A truly united Singapore means having a Parliament that reflects all views, and not just the PAP view or the group-think of a single political party.
I opposed the NMP scheme very, very strongly and I stated my case in Parliament, objected to it and voted against it. That has been my stand.
The President must be above politics. He must not be a proxy to any political party. His interest must be national, not with a political agenda in mind.
The president actually is there to complement the government in power. If they have done something that is not proper, it is the duty of the president to... discuss and to come to some common ground.
At 18, they're old enough to drive. The girls enter university, and the boys enter into National Service. Since they have a duty to defend our country, these 18-year-olds should also have the right to elect their leaders. They are mature enough.
I am a hypebeast person.
Protecting lives means reshaping national policies from a community healthcare angle.
I was previously the chairman of the Jurong East Town Council and South West CDC.
Very important, the President must be seen not as a figurehead but as somebody the people can look to for support for some of the issues, national problems and so on.
One of my key areas of unification is to champion multiracialism. Multiracialism is vital to unity.
If we stand together as Singaporeans, there is not a force in this world that can tear us apart.
We are not starting a revolution. We are starting an evolution of change.
At the end of the day, I connect very closely with the youth. I love the youth. I love the young people.
Timing is very important in politics.
You ask yourself what is it you want? You want results or to show you are such a great fighter? For me I would rather make sure I get good results.
When I was asked to manage some issues in Europe for the government, I didn't go to Parliament and just make a great speech and impress them. Instead, I will go down and discuss with those people about certain issues that we don't agree, and over a glass of wine we talk about it and they say 'okay, let's forget it.'
The President must not be such a distant person.
I've never followed my party... I'm no yes-man, I've never been a yes-man.
I'm not sponsored by anybody but myself... I'm not sponsored by the PAP.
I think those who have followed my political life would have known that I don't believe in just blind loyalty.
I don't toe the party line all the time.
I cannot say that the PAP has done me wrong or something. I think I'm quite grateful to the PAP.
The most important thing for Singapore is stability.
I want to be a president and I will not change my thinking.
So long as I'm relevant, and so long as my health permits and people still want me, I will continue.
I began my career as a medical doctor in Ama Keng, a poor village in Lim Chu Kang. The people I cared for were ordinary Singaporeans. They were simple people who despite their hard work, had barely enough for themselves.
We must never forget that Singapore is home for all races and this harmonious relationship must not be taken for granted.
In life you cannot be captured by the past. If you're not prepared to change for the future, you will stagnate.
I enjoyed Parliament being a proper elected MP.
I'm already 80 years old and I always say I want people to get into the House to really experience what it's like in the House.
I hope to encourage younger Singaporeans not to be so fearful.
For the past 20 years, the PAP has had a strong monopoly. However, prosperity has not flowed to all Singaporeans.
If the PAP has a two-third majority, they will have the power to change important laws like the Constitution at will, whenever they wish.
Ask yourself, have you ever heard any of your PAP MPs ask the hard questions? As a Singaporean, you have a right to information that the Government is refusing to answer.
If I convince myself that I'm going contest in West Coast, I will go. It doesn't matter who else comes because that's your belief.
Serving people is never a problem for me, because I've already served all my patients. Even as a doctor, I also wasn't purely a doctor.
I feel that it is a social responsibility for us who are better educated to give back some to the society in whatever service we can help.
I would love to work with the SDP, the Workers' Party and with all the other small parties.
I would love to be a mentor to many people who want to go into the political arena, teach them the art of winning elections.
I'm prepared to mentor any political group, even PAP chaps can come to me, I'll still mentor them. Because the objective must be very clear: you want to train people who will be good MPs. MPs who will think of Singapore first.
To be a unifying person, I think first you must have acceptance.
So far we have 4 open elections with no minority Malay President. So 2017 must remain an open election and if no minority Malay President wins in 2017, than a reserved election will be triggered in 2023.
In all my 26 years in Parliament, we had referred to Mr. Ong Teng Cheong as the first Elected President.
If I become president, I want to make sure that we shouldn't live in fear. We should all be one people. We should all enjoy differences of opinion without getting upset.
But at the end of the day, any president must try to unify Singapore... that must be in the heart of the man who wants to be the president.
My mind is always focused on the country.
