Elected President, MP or consumer rights activist?

As the days go by, I am getting more and more apprehensive about Mr Tan Kin Lian’s announcement to stand for public office. Here is my comment to him posted in his blog.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=11702093&postID=588316133778485102&isPopup=true (posted at 10.17 am)

Mr Tan,

I have commented a few times before that you have done a good job. I still feel that you are doing a fine job.

I don’t wish to dampen the mood, but I think it isn’t wise to do two major things at once. I feel that if you do wish to get into politics, it should be done AFTER the investor crisis is resolved, OR, when elections are called.

In doing both at the same time, there may be adverse effects, which are:

1. Your opponents will wait eagerly like hawks, hoping for the killer move to pin you down that all your hard work at Hong Lim is really nothing but a prelude to garner popular vote, for your entry into politics.

2. You will be able to garner many supporters who have absolutely no interest in the credit crisis. They may then pressure you to divert your energy towards politics, rather than assist you in your original intent – ie to help the layman on the street to recover their losses.

It would sadden me if we get to see that your original intention to help the laypeople gets hijacked due to one or both of the reasons above.

The above are just my thoughts. Of course, the final decision is yours. In any case, it is a little too late to back off now. You have more or less committed yourself publicly.

Good luck and all the best to you.

It does not take much effort to search the web to know that this is a hot topic. Many netizens have urged and egged Mr Tan to go for it.

It looks like my worst fears are beginning to come true. Some of these supporters Mr Tan has garnered have no interest in the credit crisis. They are only interested in seeing Mr Tan being elected.

That being the case, what will happen to Mr Tan’s original cause? That is to help investors who have been misled to recover their losses?