You would expect me to be the kind of person to like and support a candidate like Ms Tin Pei Ling, the youngest of the slate recently introduced by the PAP and an expected contestant in Marine Parade GRC. You would think I was exactly the demographic that she would connect with and that would sympathise the most with her throughout the present spate of cyber smearing that could at times be best described as virulent.
The PAP's youngest candidate: Tin Pei Ling (The New Paper)
Which is why my sudden aversion to her frankly surprised even myself. I recognise why netizens are having a field day tearing apart this candidate. I recognise that a good majority of their criticism consists of flagrant sexism (“she likes to wear low cut and that why all the PAP’S uncle nose bleed [sic]”, offers one Youtube commentator by way of explanation of her nomination) and needlessly personal attacks (a few early photos of a then-single Ms Tin with a man who was not her husband quickly spiralled into a several-page long thread alleging she “dumped her ex boyfriend to marry PM’s principal private secretary”).
I even recognise that the PAP’s official party line, which essentially dismisses the disparagement as ageist, probably has more than some inkling of truth. What I’d like to see, but don’t, is some evidence – any evidence! – that the candidate now vying for my vote (metaphorically speaking, of course, as an underage persona non grata on GE-day) actually has any of her purported merits.
What I’d like to see, but don’t, is some evidence – any evidence! – that the candidate now vying for my vote actually has any of her purported merits.
Rather than speculate about her as-yet-unproven capabilities, or the lack thereof, as a politician or policymaker, my opinions here concern the way she (and her party) has handled her presentation in the media. Surely, the parallels between Ms Tin and another controversial female politician, a certain Ms Sarah Palin, should by now have become apparent. Both were considered young for the posts they were running for, reasonably attractive, and targets of widespread criticism and smear campaigns.
At least she has an ideology (chuvachienes.com)
Yet where I believe Ms Palin succeeded and Ms Tin failed, is in inspiring the sort of stubborn loyalty from American conservatives, and demonstrating at least enough political and business savvy (starting with actual gubernatorial experience, multi-million dollar talk show deals and best selling books) to force even her detractors to take her (somewhat) seriously. All we have been told about Ms Tin’s credentials, unfortunately, is that she has volunteered at the grassroots level and is a “senior advisor at Ernst & Young”: roles that are at best meagre imitations of, and tangentially related to, the challenges she will shoulder as an MP.
At least Ms Palin has an ideology.
In Ms Tin’s defence, there have been several articles, most notably the one by Yen Feng of The Straits Times naming her “the one to watch”, and lauding her “remarkable” poise, conversational “ease and certainty”, and ability to “hold her own” in the admittedly watered-down sphere that is Singaporean politics. Yet it is hard for me to take seriously any article that credits her with “ideas” akin to a “breath of fresh air”, especially after trawling through speech after speech and failing to find even one articulate and meaningful proposal that she has made. For example, when queried about what she thought was the greatest issue faced by Singaporeans, she zeroed in on the need to help youths “pursue their dreams”. No, really! When further asked about what exactly she wanted to improve with regard to Singaporean youths, she replied that education needed to “focus on values”, beyond the “materialistic aspects” and “into the intangible”. Ground breaking! And finally, when asked to name one PAP policy she would like to change, she could only reply that there wasn’t any particular one she felt strongly against. Of course there wasn’t.
Clearly, part of the reason Ms Tin is being fielded, along with the rest of the new PAP faces, is to represent a certain revival and freshness among party ranks. So what really disappoints me, somewhat ironically, given her age, is that every interview she gives reads more like an exercise in toeing the party line than any genuinely new stances, opinions, and ambitions. At least Ms Palin has an ideology. Perhaps online commentator Jeffrey Lawrence Omar summed it up best when he labelled it “[her] ‘if you’ve seen one you’ve seen them all’ quality”. I feel, for some reason, impossibly let down – even more so, given how she’s insisted against the apathy of youth – that for all of her youth and energy and potential, she seems to seek only continuity; no progress, no change.
For all of her youth and energy and potential, she seems to seek only continuity; no progress, no change.
Come polling day, I will be expected to entrust a share in the future leadership of my country to this girl just eight years my senior. But I can’t help but wonder if she has proven to me – to anyone – that she deserves even the position she seems slated to get as an expected GRC candidate. I am less inclined to care about how evocative her family background is of the Singapore Dream, than how evocative her ideas and proposals are of rejuvenation and constructive difference. I am less inclined to fault her for stray pictures with an old flame or with a Kate Spade box or in swimwear. I am more inclined, however, being young, and being female, to expect her to understand, as I and so many other girls have come to: when one chooses to run for a position as public and as influential as political office, the onus is always, always, on you to prove exactly why the cynics are wrong and the stereotypes untrue. Ms Tin reportedly said she would stand for Parliament “should her party and people need her”. Nothing she has said or done so far has convinced me that we do. 
April 18th, 2011 at 2:05 am
This is masterfully written – thank you.
April 18th, 2011 at 12:58 pm
You write well beyond your age, good critical analysis.
April 18th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Thank you both very much (:
April 18th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
I also think that you have written very well, beyond your age. I would vote for you any time as my MP than to vote for Tin Pei Ling, who is half a dime a dozen. Simply throw a stone into the midst of the youths of her age, and it would easily hit someone similar or better than her.
The most glaring aspect about her was her sheer immaturity for a 27-year-old. Some of the 18-year-old NS boys are much more matured than her in thinking, behaviour, speech and actions.
I am sure my family and my siblings will never cast a single vote for Tin Pei Ling in this coming GE. And I am sure we do not need someone like her at all.
I enjoyed reading your articles. Appreciate for your efforts. Please keep them coming. Thanks.
April 18th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
Thanks for this well thought out and well written article. Gives one some insight into what has been happening this GE race. Really enjoy reading it
bea
April 18th, 2011 at 8:42 pm
PM and his whole gang boosted about their exhaustive search over the years to find the best of the best; so they presented to us this “Tin” call Pei Ling! As far as I’m concerned, she is the worst ever, how pathetic?
Reading your posts give me a sense of hope that there are real talents in Singapore. Unfortunately all PAP is interested are Yes-men and Yes-women. At the rate PAP is going, we would better have strong alternatives before they ruin this country completely!
April 18th, 2011 at 11:02 pm
Dear Victoria,
If ever you wish to enter politics, please do not join the PAP. You will lose your soul, and become another TPL.
Singapore needs people like you to check on an arrogant government.
Thank you.
April 19th, 2011 at 12:23 am
Yes. Those “lau tikos” just put her up when there are so many better candidates to choose from! Men just control their basic natural animal instincts or urge when they see a young beautiful nubile Tin! Now they got to go all out to defend their “group think” blunder in order to save face! Hope she wont let those “Lau Tikos” down!
April 20th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Wow, such clarity of thought and eloquence of expression. I continue to be impressed by the youth of our nation.
Mr Alan Tang, perhaps you did not read the article carefully. Comments like yours, smacking of “flagrant sexism” (to borrow Victoria’s words), are exactly what the opposition do not need.
April 20th, 2011 at 10:26 am
Very well written piece with good analysis of the topic.
Hope there are for us with youngsters like you, Victoria.
Keep up the good work, had placed this site into my favorites.
April 20th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Vic, this is wonderfully articulated piece of work. I anticipate reading more of such expositions (:
April 20th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
vic, excellent writing and clarity, plus, important points you made. thank you, feel like society needs this
it’s true— we’re not going to continually disparage TPL for being youthful & vaguely…. attractive? / her inexperience, compared to other candidates. these are irrelevant in the long run if she proves her worth. but like you said she has not given justification as to why she deserves our votes and the nation’s support. given the position she is in now, she has every opportunity to shape an intelligent voice and clear opinions— like you did in this article— but in the absence of this, she can only expect criticism to increase.
April 21st, 2011 at 4:08 am
What a well written piece! After reading this article, my hope for Singapore future is revived.
April 21st, 2011 at 7:57 am
Brilliant literature and analysis of person in question.
Thank you:)
April 21st, 2011 at 3:03 pm
Well written Victoria, the tea-party organisers will be inviting you for their next tea session in four years time. PLEASE AVOID!
April 21st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
Excellent write-up. The young people today can and are thinking independently. There is HOPE for Singapore.
59yr old Professional
April 22nd, 2011 at 1:16 am
well thought out, well analyzed and well written. i can only hope that there will be more voters out there like you come polling day. there is yet still hope for us all.
- senior citizen
April 22nd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
I am commenting on your thinking process instead of your mastery in writing such an article (and an impressive one at that! Love it!).
First of all, I enjoyed your article because it was written by a teenage girl and with such writing flair and such fluency, it was almost incredible. However, I find your article lacking. It is very easy to say this politician is lacking in this or lacking in that or even say that politician has no idealogy of her own. However, if you were to be placed in her shoes, what would you have done? That’s what I would like to know. I read this article with anticipation of a “fresh new perspective” but was left hanging.
There are so many articles out there condemning TPL and her lack of persuasion to garner votes but no one actually step out to show what they would have done if they were to be given the same opportunity in the same situation. I would have lapped up your article like a puppy would do to milk if you have included that in your article. I would really hope to see one person step up and say what he/she would have done if they were to be TPL.
Seriously speaking, I dislike TPL and I am against leaving my country’s future in the hands of people like her. This is why I follow attack articles like this fervently. A lot of people do not realise that in Singapore, politicians are role models to many impressionable youths and it is these youths that will become scholars and go on to lead our public sector. TPL is not a good role model. Her inability to recognise the blouse button’s purpose is a very clear indication of her ability to only follow what the popular should be doing without understanding the logic behind it.
I can go on and on but I shall stop here and restate my stand.
I love your article, Ms Victoria Ting, and I am already a fan. I just hope to see more from you and I will share this article with all my friends. Jia you!!
(Time for the major change, people)
April 22nd, 2011 at 11:54 pm
Congrats Victoria,
You write and articulate your views well beyond your age. Singapore needs youths like yourself who can cut through the online abrasive comments and present a honest assessment of the real issues at hand.
It is the youth of today that has the most vested interest to ensure they are well represented for the future.
Look forward to your next installment.
over 40yr old professional
April 23rd, 2011 at 12:12 am
Very well written, Victoria.
April 24th, 2011 at 9:37 am
By the way, she is not a senior advisor in E&Y. She is a senior associate. That is like 2nd or 3rd rung from the bottom of the corporate ladder and probably about 4 rungs before a partner.
April 24th, 2011 at 11:30 am
I wonder if they regret nominating her? Because of her, they will have lesser votes.
April 25th, 2011 at 11:56 am
I still cannot tell if she’s running for herself, or somebody else is running her because there isn’t anybody else who is able and willing (even her 40 yo husband may be better), and that she is a trusted inductee to their inner circle, trusted to do their bidding. More of the same, is possibly the only ideology she really represents, if there actually is any.
April 25th, 2011 at 12:08 pm
i can’t help but wonder what victoria might say of nicole seah?
April 25th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
What the PAP needs to do is to account to voters with regard to the risk that will be taken when Ms Tin is voted to parliament. If voters do vote Ms Tin into parliament on account of her “potential”, Ms Tin and the PAP has to lay out in clear, specific terms (with evidence, of course!) Ms Tin’s areas of potential and extent of potential. For example, does she display potential in being a leader? is she perceptive towards the needs of Singaporeans? Does she display logic and clarity in thought?
By voting Ms Tin into parliament, the trade off is that more experienced candidates such as Ms Sylvia Lim, Mr Chee Soon Juan etc are not given a chance to contribute although they do have a fair share of quality ideas and opinions. The PAP has failed to address this concern and that is indeed a telling sign. Is the PAP running a calculated risk?
The election process is a platform for candidates to prove their worth in order to gain votes. The process is simple. Prove themselves first, then gain votes. If Ms Tin is unable to prove herself, perhaps because she has not been given the chance to, she must explain to voters why they should take the risk.
Sadly, Ms Tin’s lack of potential is seen in her response that her “biggest regret is not taking her parents to Universal Studios”. Her trivial response reveals her lack of maturity and very evidently reveals her lack of understanding towards the struggles that Singaporeans face. How can she serve Singaporeans who have been through difficult periods such as death of loved ones, failure in career, bankruptcy when her understanding of the term “regret” is that shallow? Is she unaware that many Singaporeans are plagued with regrets that have significant consequences? Of course, it is understandable that at age 27 she has had no major regrets that have impacted her life in any way, but as a candidate that openly says that she can connect with the ground, her response seems to be that of a young child, ignorant of the many real problems that adults face. On the other hand, Ms Nicole Seah made a very mature and logical response, and that pleases me very much.
April 26th, 2011 at 1:02 am
Nice compare and contrast with Palin, Vic
Ms Tin is supposed to have gone through rigorous rounds of interviews to be selected as a candidate. But based on everything she has said and done so far, I’m really starting to question how rigorous the selection process is. Personally, I want her in Parliament as much as I want Palin to be president of the USA.
“[MM Lee] said the People’s Action Party is fielding 24 new candidates of proven character, of high calibre, and with a track record of performance that showed they will not fail in taking on responsibilities.
This, after the Party combed the whole of Singapore to select those with the highest integrity and ability to chart the way forward for the country.”
from: http://news.xin.msn.com/en/singapore/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4797933
April 27th, 2011 at 11:43 am
What do I expect of a 27 yo young person in our midst, who is bold (or brash) enough to enter the lions’ den of politics? I applaud her courage and youthful confidence. As I am a senior citizen, I will give her enough time to grow and blossom. Under the tutelage of proven mentors, hopefully she will mature into the sort of leader we need to bring Singapore into the future. If she fails to make the grade, it is acceptable to me. At least we have given her the opportunity to prove herself and to draw out her talents and gifts. She will leave quietly if the work is not her cup of tea. I have no doubt she will make compelling and contributing citizen in many other ways.
I am not sure of the fairness and logic of comparing this 27 yo young person Tin Pei Lin, to Sarah Palin, a working mother in her 40s, who is vying for the highest office in her land.
As TPL is part of the PAP ticket, I will expect her to understand what they stand for, and to agree with their philosophy and policies in general. If she finds them objectionable at the outset, she is probably in the wrong party. So why are people surprised she seems to agree with everything the PAP stands for? I may belong to a different era, where if we are part of an organisation, we voice our concerns in private, but present a united front in public.
We know she is expected to work with the young, and her answer is to help them live their dreams. What are the dreams of the young then? TPL seems unable to articulate examples according to the postings. I can safely say that personally, as a mother of 3 kids and 2 grandkids, I can see these youthful dreams among my family members continuing to change, morph and evolve as they grow and mature.
This state of affairs is agreeable with me, considering I am still pondering over this profound question for myself in my twilight years. After working for 37 years. and raising my family, have I managed to live my dream?
April 27th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
I’m in JC2 and I found this article concise, engaging and easily understandable. Really answered my questions as to why people dislike Ms Tin. Thanks a million for a fantastic article.
April 28th, 2011 at 9:26 am
This is a very written article. It is very objective, no showing of emotion in the approach. I think the PAP should read this article carefully and convince the voters with similar approach. Your article is also an indication of how the young generation of Singaporeans see things in perspective.
April 28th, 2011 at 1:19 pm
An excellent piece of work. This gives me hope that Singapore has a bright future ahead with youths of this calibre. Great article!!!
April 29th, 2011 at 10:46 am
Are you sure you’re only 20 years old? Great article and very perceptive.
April 29th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
What nobody here seems to have mentioned is… no one is voting for TPL… so what if you don’t want TPL? the question is, do you think SM Goh has not done a good job? they’re weighing SM Goh against NSP… TPL’s weight (or lack thereof) is buffered by the People’s PM (if memory serves, that’s what SM Goh was called…)
If people vote SM Goh, TPL gets a free pass into Parliament.
with all due respect, I believe that Ms Nicole Seah has shown that young people can be bold, articulate and thoughtful. She is younger too.
Perhaps it may be unfair to compare Pei Lin to Palin but what about Xue Ling vs Pei Lin?
May 1st, 2011 at 12:17 am
Brilliant… I think we are really lack of balance view and articles in this time where decision is most crucial. Who say we are lack of talented Singaporean? I feel personally we have zoom in our focus that we forgot to widen our view.
There are people that refused to identify that education give us a starting platform to build on our own future, but not one that have scholarship will have a soul and humanity. Human are very complicated being, we should let them prove their worth before handing over the baton.
I hope you can share with us you views on Nicole Seah from the opposition too . Thank you.
May 2nd, 2011 at 11:01 pm
See how unpopular this gal is from page link below:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/I-do-not-want-Tin-Pei-Ling-in-Parliament/144764052259319
or just seach for I do not want Tin Pei Ling in Parliament on facebook!
May 3rd, 2011 at 9:03 pm
What I care about a candidate is whether can he/she does the work, not about her past, about her past relationships or sex life. Her choice to me smells a lot like crony-ism and nothing about meritocracy!
May 6th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
The PAP’s choice of this candidate puzzles me as well. Were there no better ones available?
Good piece. Consider running for office in a few years?
May 25th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
TPL inspired/installed “Kate Spade” Spirit to our Youths! Congratulation to Singapore