Is Tin Pei Ling the future of Singapore?
She's creepy, robotic, a family woman, a model daughter, teach savvy and aware of social media (albeit unresponsive to it), a product of the People's Action Party. She speaks with about as much conviction and charisma as a sack of old batteries. She talks in vague generalizations about working for the good of the people, the country. She's on Twitter and has replaced her old bikini beach photo with one of her in a white-collared shirt. She is 27 years old, happily married (to the Principal Private Secretary of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, planning to have children in the "near future") and devoted to her party. And yet, she doesn't appear to have any kind of political views whatsoever. This is PAP's attempt to reach out to the youth of Singapore, but it's such a hideous, unsightly attempt that one has to wonder if this is the right move.
Tin Pei Ling is young and politically inexperienced and comes across as incredibly immature. Her greatest regret in life is never having taken her parents to Universal Studios (they're not dead, in case that's what you're thinking). She is, more or less, a typical young woman with no genuine political aspirations, which begs the question: why is she going into politics?
The likelihood is that Tin Pei Ling will get into parliament at the forthcoming general election.
Choice quotes:
"The elderly, when I look at them, it reminds me of my parents and grandparents."
"My greatest regret is that I didn't manage to bring my parents to Universal Studios…"
"I'm someone who enjoys participation."
"I believe that with persistance many things can be done."
"There are two groups of Singaporeans who I feel for and would like to focus on. Firstly, in terms of youth. I believe that a conducive environment for youth to focus on excelling and achieving their dreams and aspirations is important. I also think that youth actually have a strong desire to want to do good for the community and for Singapore… Second is the elderly. I feel very strongly because when I see seniors they remind me of my parents and my grandparents so I would always imagine what I would do if they are my parents."
"I've always been interested in community as well as doing good for the country."
"I'm the kind who likes to be part of things."
"The biggest issue [facing Singapore right now]? I think different segments or different generations face different challenges and issues. For the younger Singaporeans it's about pursing their dreams, excelling, achieving their aspirations… For the rest of the Singaporeans, I understand that there are different kinds of issues… and of course in terms of the elderly in terms of wellbeing, physically, health wise and mentally we should really look out for them."
"My parents are very important to me…"
Vague much?
Snore