Ian On The Red Dot

I haven’t really watched Star Search over the years so I’m not quite sure of the norm regarding the Guest-Of-Honour who gives out the top prizes. Neither am I posting this because our President is getting about 3 million a year. He could be getting any amount and I’ll still post this.

The point is simply this. Why is the President of Singapore giving our prizes at a talent competition? Seriously. Why?

Firstly, our President is probably a busy man - his schedule packed with important stuff. Attending a talent contest doesn’t mean he isn’t doing anything. But giving out the prizes does mean something.

What it does mean is this. Or maybe what it could possibly mean.

1. Someone or some people over at Mediacorp has an inflated opinion of the importance of this talent show. These are the ones who probably thought that the President of Singapore was a fitting choice to be the one giving out the rewards.

2. The same people might have a diminished view of the role and status of the President of Singapore.

3. Someone working for the President has no filtering skills. I know that ultimately the President could have said ‘NO’, but the fact that he was even in a position to have to make such a decision says something about the people working for him. I can and do understand his patronage of the President’s Star Charity Show. But Star Search? It is a talent contest. There has to be some sense of proportion. No?

4. Sure, having the President might lend the event some prestige but that is only if the people respect the role of the President. And to me, getting the President to give out the awards does nothing but make a mockery of the Presidency.

And President Nathan and the people of Singapore deserve better.