Letter To A First-Time Voter Of The 2015 Singapore General Election

9 September 2015

My dearest Daughter


Tomorrow is Cooling Day. This is when everyone drinks herbal tea to bring down the heat of haranguing since Nomination Day afternoon on 1 September.

 

You can’t think properly when you’re hot headed. So it’s good that there is no campaigning tomorrow. It’s good that we can all spend some time to think through the manifestos that each political party or individual has offered to woo our votes.

 

Most politicians have said they want to make Singapore a more liveable place. That’s good. We all want improvements. We want our sons and daughters to live better than us. And you will want your children to enjoy even high living standards, and be able to afford it.


I’m already a half-centurion. In another 50 years, I would probably be dead and gone. But you will be around, and so, too, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 

Be an involved parent. Give them a good education. Teach them right from wrong. Instill in them responsibility, honesty, integrity, resilience and good work ethics. Remind them there is no short cut to success and excellence demands that they put in 100 per cent effort, not a point less.

 

I want my great-grandchildren to be able to breathe clean air, always have drinking water, appreciate luxuriant greenery and blooms, and have time to enjoy the arts – dance, music, drama – as well as the simple things in life like flying a kite, fishing. I want them to be able to walk anywhere at any time and feel safe and secure. I want them to be able to enjoy eating out as much as they will relish cooking in.

 

Therefore, when we go to the polls on 11 September, we must vote in a team that is capable, a team that will not squander away our reserves intentionally or because they are incapable of management. We must vote in leaders who are understanding, kind, compassionate, caring, have wisdom and foresight. We must vote in leaders who will serve our people selflessly, regardless of their race, language or religion. We must vote in a team that can continuously bring progress and prosperity to Singapore, and make SG100 better than SG50.

 

Love,
Mami: >