Monday, July 4, 2011
Email exchange with Presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian
Basically, Mr Tan had emailed me and asked why I had posted negative views about him, and I replied that I had not posted any negative views about him; that all that I had done was to re-post his own views which he had expressed in 2005, and the views of a letter writer, who disagreed with Mr Tan's views.
I must state for the record that although I am inclined towards Dr Tan Cheng Bock as my choice to be the next elected President of Singapore at the moment, (I haven't decided for sure, as Dr Tan has yet to get his Certificate of Eligibility to stand in the next Presidential Election) I have no personal feud with Mr Tan Kin Lian and have no intention of smearing any Presidential aspirant.
My intention in posting some of Presidential hopefuls previous comments and in asking them hard questions, is to contribute to the debate that Singaporeans are having as to who they would have as their next President.
For example, it was me who asked Dr Tan Cheng Bock pointedly, if he still felt the 'Marxist conspirators' were guilty. The question to Dr Tony Tan, 'you have won damages from opposition candidates who contested against PAP. What is your view on using defamation suits to quell opposition?' is mine.
I hope through such hard questions and by placing the past comments/actions of the hopefuls in the spotlight, the electorate would have a peek into the mindset of the Presidential hopefuls.
---The Email Exchange---
TKL: Ravi,I find that you are taking a stand against me. It is all right for you to support TCB but it is not necessary for you to post negative views about me. I refer to your podcast here and to a few articles that you have written.http://pdfcast.org/pdf/penalise-those-that-resign-early-says-tan-kin-lian
Ravi: Dear Mr Tan, thank you for this email, but I did not post negative views about you and neither is the podcast linked here my views. These were your own views and the views of another letter writer to the Today Newspaper in 2005. I merely linked your own views and the rebuttal you received for expressing those views on TOC's FB. If you deem that they are negative, they are not my making nor the making of TOC. I expressed my own views here on the 3 presidential hopefuls: http://www.raviphilemon.net/2011/06/why-dr-tan-cheng-bock-is-still-my.html, and I believe I did not make any disparaging remarks about you; and that my observations on you were fair. I personally feel that all voters, have got to know the views of the Presidential hopefuls better, to make an informed decision come voting day. Although at this moment I do have a leaning towards Dr Tan Cheng Bock, I do not know yet if I would support him for the Presidential election, because he has not gotten his COE yet. But even then, my leaning towards TCB is my own and not that of TOC's. TOC may put out an editorial on the candidate for the Presidential election once the COE has been issued. I also hope that this email is not an attempt at asking me (or TOC) to self-censor our views, opinions and reporting which you perceive may be harmful or damaging to your bid to be the next elected President of SIngapore.
TKL: You have posted a few negative and unfair views about me. I know that you support Tan Cheng Bock but it is not necessary for you to be hitting me - especially in this podcast - where I do not have the chance to give a reply.
Ravi: Mr Tan, now you are just making assertions without any basis whatsoever. As I have pointed out in my earlier reply, what I have posted is NOT my podcast, I have NOT posted any negative or unfair comments about you, neither do I have any intention of 'hitting' you. Unless you have some proof of this, I would suggest you not make baseless accusations such as this, which attacks me unfairly. If you wish, you may post this email exchange in its entirety on your blog and so have your chance to give a reply. Thanks.
TKL: I have said my piece and do not wish to engage you further on this matter.
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