My loyalty is first and foremost, to the people of Singapore. It has always been so, and will always remain so

I was in Nanjing for a long time this February for business and in one of our conversations with my colleagues I was asking about 岳飞 of the later Song period. 北宋末年，深受民族压迫的汉族、契丹族、渤海、奚等各族人民，"仇怨金国，深入骨髓"，纷纷自动组织起来反抗。The Hans were persecuted by the minority tribes and they were deeply sore with hatred. All his life, he was fighting for a single cause 精忠报国 - to serve his country with single-minded dedication and to unify his country. 收复故土，统一祖国的强烈愿望和要求。

He was willing to lay his life down for his country much to the admiration of the latter generations - not what he did then because he defied the emperor's edict to return from the battleground and insisted on fighting the enemy pushing them near defeat. Many distanced themselves from this apparently recacitrant general and some called for his execution because of his defiant. 诏书下了三次，岳飞都加以拒绝，不受开府仪同三司(一品官衔)的爵赏和三千五百户食邑的封赐。他在辞谢中，痛切地表示反对议和："今日之事，可危而不可安，可忧而不可贺。"并再次表示收复中原的决心，"愿定谋于全胜，期收地于两河，唾手燕云，终欲复仇而报国。"这无异于给宋高宗当头泼了冷水，从而更使赵构、秦桧怀恨在心。"但岳飞不顾个人得失，坚持抗战到底的立场，率领军队，联络北方义军，卓有成效地从事抗金战争，筹划收复中原、统一祖国，成为全国抗金民族战争中的有力支柱。

Our past President Ong's words: "My loyalty is first and foremost, to the people of Singapore. It has always been so, and will always remain so." warms my heart and he'll be judged on his merits, contributions, dedications and loyalty to Singapore. Many of us, I believe, share my sentiments.

I mused at the political dancing by opposition parties of all hues and colors. So much posturings like wearing kangaroo T-shirts and decrying the lack of democracy. I wonder who they truly represent? I am not sure if they have an inking of the type of democracy or the kind of country they wish they will want to live in? If the opposition takes a more people-centric approach like Low Thia Kiang and Chiam See Tong who truly walk their grounds and know the constituents, PAP will have a hard contest since it is the battling with the hearts and minds with genuine care and love for the people. Hearing Sylvia, I am convinced she is mostly logical and a Singapore-loving person as I am. Having said that, as in all political powers, the incumbent will ensure its survival and mindshare sustainability with the electorate and will work itself against all opposing forces. Then the challenge to the opposition really will be - win us if you can.

Whatever the outcome or the slate the opposition may wish to put up, it must always be done for the love of the people and 岳飞 steadfast loyalty and dedication to his country is admirable.

精忠报国的精神， 以民同行。