[S I M T A N]

Elected officials are required to take an oath of office. If they are Christian, they put a hand on the Bible and make a formal promise to fulfill the duties of the office according to the law. The popular Lawrence Wong must have really been feeling his oats since he was given that promotion.

On the debit side, there's some concern among other worries that he and his deputy who are both Christian may have a bias in favour of their brethren. These fears are groundless when you consider the national pledge with that familiar ring - regardless of race, language or religion - that we have made, and solemnly kept by state's officeholders. I believe he wants to be seen as a capable, fair and unbiased head of the govt in his closely-watched first foray into the premiership.

Quite a few here have a low opinion of Christians. Rest assured, Christian believers in important public positions will draw a line between private activity and public or state function, and they know that political decisions are made for secular rather than religious reason. The separation of church and state guarantees that govt and due process of law are free from the intrusion of the church and its moral standards.