Singapore has a short history since independence in 1965. We have from independence day, a total of 6 Presidents so far. They are Yusof Ishak (Malay), Benjamin Sheares (Eurasian), Devan Nair (Indian), Wee Kim Wee (Chinese), Ong Teng Cheong (Chinese) and S R Nathan (Indian).
We are a mutli-racial society. Our demography breakdown by ethnic groups shows 76.8% Chinese, 13.9% Malay, 7.9% Indian and 1.4% Others in the Census 200 survey (http://www.singstat.gov.sg/keystats/people.html).
We have had 2 past Chinese Presidents and 1 past and 1 present Indian Presidents. There seem to be an unwritten 'guideline' that our government seem to follow - there should be a rotation of the Presidency among the ethnic groups. Now, there seem to be this dilemma. Judging from the rotation, isn't it about time for a Malay President?
The big question will be - do you know of any suitable prominant Malay that the public know of? Let see who do we have - as of July-2005, we have 20 full ministers (including Prime, Senior and Mentor Ministers). Out of the 20, there are 16 Chineses, 3 Indians and only 1 Malay (Dr Yaacob Ibrahim). There are no other Malay full minister!
Although there are few Senior/Ministers-of-State in the Parliment, they are not around in politics for 'long'. The last well-known Malay Minister is Othman Wok who is already 80! How is the government going to find a replacement Malay to stand for Presidential Election 2005?
Without any suitable Malay candidate (suitable as in prominant and well-known to the public), the government is stuck with the incumbent, our respectable President S R Nathan! Otherwise, there will be grumbling among the Malay ethnic group, I guess.
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