Top 45 Tan Cheng Bock Quotes

I believe the processes of good governance have gone astray. Specifically there is an erosion of transparency, independence and accountability.

I’ll welcome any competitor, no problem.

So far we have 4 open elections with no minority Malay President. So 2017 must remain an open election and if no minority Malay President wins in 2017, than a reserved election will be triggered in 2023.

I began my career as a medical doctor in Ama Keng, a poor village in Lim Chu Kang. The people I cared for were ordinary Singaporeans. They were simple people who despite their hard work, had barely enough for themselves.

If it’s of help to my candidates, I would like to go anywhere to give my candidates a boost.

If the PAP has a two-third majority, they will have the power to change important laws like the Constitution at will, whenever they wish.

When you face the shareholders, then you can feel the heat is on you. For 20 years I got to answer to my shareholders. It’s not easy.

I would love to work with the SDP, the Workers’ Party and with all the other small parties.

I’m prepared to mentor any political group, even PAP chaps can come to me, I’ll still mentor them. Because the objective must be very clear: you want to train people who will be good MPs. MPs who will think of Singapore first.

I want to work closely with the government but it doesn’t mean I become so weak and just toe the government line.

When I was asked to manage some issues in Europe for the government, I didn’t go to Parliament and just make a great speech and impress them. Instead, I will go down and discuss with those people about certain issues that we don’t agree, and over a glass of wine we talk about it and they say ‘okay, let’s forget it.’

We must never forget that Singapore is home for all races and this harmonious relationship must not be taken for granted.

I hope to encourage younger Singaporeans not to be so fearful.

I think the president must be very watchful of what is happening. The president cannot deal with the bread and butter issues of Parliament, but he cannot be a sleeping president.

Selling and telling are two different things. In politics, we sell ideas.

We got to put in place policies to ensure that those who are unemployed, what do we do for them?

I’m not sponsored by anybody but myself… I’m not sponsored by the PAP.

I want to relax for a while, maybe go back to my medical practice. I got a lot of old patients waiting for me.

At the end of the day, I connect very closely with the youth. I love the youth. I love the young people.

We are not starting a revolution. We are starting an evolution of change.

I think those who have followed my political life would have known that I don’t believe in just blind loyalty.

I’ve never followed my party… I’m no yes-man, I’ve never been a yes-man.

For the past 20 years, the PAP has had a strong monopoly. However, prosperity has not flowed to all Singaporeans.

If we stand together as Singaporeans, there is not a force in this world that can tear us apart.

The civil servants will always be there to look after this country. So don’t worry… Any political party taking power will have to work with the civil servants who are very well acquainted with running this country.

Protecting lives means reshaping national policies from a community healthcare angle.

At 18, they’re old enough to drive. The girls enter university, and the boys enter into National Service. Since they have a duty to defend our country, these 18-year-olds should also have the right to elect their leaders. They are mature enough.

The most important thing for Singapore is stability.

The president actually is there to complement the government in power. If they have done something that is not proper, it is the duty of the president to… discuss and to come to some common ground.

To be a unifying person, I think first you must have acceptance.

Simple people can bring very good knowledge to Parliament because they know the ground.

I was only a village doctor with a rebellious streak.

If you’ve got no base, it’s very difficult to function as an MP. You cannot be a ‘virtual’ MP, you must be a proper one.

The President must be above politics. He must not be a proxy to any political party. His interest must be national, not with a political agenda in mind.

I want to be a president and I will not change my thinking.

Any of us who wants to go to Parliament must have that responsibility to represent the people who voted us in.

You don’t have to go and criticize your opponents, how bad they are and so on. It is a contest of ideas. I got my ideas, you got your ideas right. We will let Singaporeans decide.

In life you cannot be captured by the past. If you’re not prepared to change for the future, you will stagnate.

One of my key areas of unification is to champion multiracialism. Multiracialism is vital to unity.

Never expect the votes to come.

I enjoyed Parliament being a proper elected MP.

Very important, the President must be seen not as a figurehead but as somebody the people can look to for support for some of the issues, national problems and so on.

I think you can fool people once but you can’t fool the people all the time.

As borders take time to reopen, we will make sure the Government spends our reserves to nurture strong local businesses. To grow local supply chains. And to encourage innovation. This is important because local businesses will be Singapore’s growth catalyst in our post-COVID economy.

The role of the president is to take care of your money, and that’s what I intend to do.