COMMENT | In my first commentary on the election published on Oct 12, I wrote: “Over the days leading to the hustings, hundreds of candidates will be making thousands of promises.

“Instant approvals of plans for development would be announced; there will be goodies for all and sundry and a guarantee of a better quality of life for everyone irrespective of their colour, creed or religion.”

Yes, every candidate has his vision and is making promises. Some border on absurdity. Few have talked about the impossibility, knowing well that they cannot be compelled to keep such promises.

If a photograph of four men dressed in party shirts squatting and pointing to a broken drain can be repellent, so could a promise of getting pandas to the Taiping Zoo.

Why paint yourself as a...