ID :
202415
Sat, 08/20/2011 - 11:12
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/202415
The shortlink copeid
SINGAPORE'S PRESIDENCY: WHO'S NEXT AFTER SR NATHAN?
By Tengku Noor Shamsiah
SINGAPORE, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Come Aug 27, Singaporeans will again go to
the polls after a lapse of four months following their general election in May,
this time to elect their president after the incumbent, S.R. Nathan, completes
his term on Aug 31.
The polls will be the first contested election since the 1993 election when
Ong Teng Cheong won in a straight fight and it will also be the first
multi-candidate presidential race for Singapore.
Before 1993, the President of Singapore was chosen by Parliament. Following
amendments to the constitution enacted in 1991, the Presidency became a
popularly-elected office.
The first President elected by the people was Ong Teng Cheong, who served
from Sept 1, 1993 to Aug 31, 1999.
The current President of Singapore is Sellapan Ramanathan (S.R. Nathan), who
first became head of state in Aug 18, 1999 and is presently serving his second
term of office.
There are altogether four presidential hopefuls -- Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Dr
Tan Cheng Bok, Tan Kin Lian and Tan Jee Say -- for a six-year term as head of
state. The question now is who will win the hearts and minds of Singaporeans.
After nomination day on Wednesday, the four candidates shared their
strategies and visions on the republic's television channels aired in four
languages.
In his televised campaign, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, a former Member of Parliament,
said there was a growing desire for a clear distinction between the government
and the office of the president.
To strengthen the independence of the presidency, he proposed that the
government shift some of its operations away from the grounds of Istana, the
official residence of the president.
Cheng Bock, the former MP for Ayer Rajah for 26 years, suggested that the
offices of the prime minister and the Cabinet should not be housed in the same
compound as the president for this familiarity might attract unwanted suspicion
of undue influence.
It may sound drastic but, Cheng Bok said, he believed that this was the
correct thing for Singaporeans.
He also planned to introduce an annual statement for Singaporeans to
know whether the president was doing his job in safeguarding the reserves, the
people's Central Provident Fund, the appointment of civil servants, charitable
activities, and national identity programmes in the arts, sports and culture.
On the other hand, Tan Jee Say, a former senior civil servant, said that the
president must be independent of the ruling party and not be influenced
or hampered by past ties.
Referring to his three opponents, he described them as honourable men,
but had been members of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) for 20 to 30
years until they resigned from the party, with two of them having quit only very
recently.
Jee Say said that while being members, "they ate, slept, walked and breathed
PAP."
"Do you now expect them to have a breath of fresh air?" he asked.
He claimed that mentally and emotionally, it might be very difficult for
them to think differently from the ruling party and challenge their former
colleagues and friends.
Unlike them, Jee Say claimed that he did not have the same emotional baggage
that they carried because he had never been a member of the PAP.
Assuring that he would represent the nation with confidence, dignity and
a steady hand to protect the reserves, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan
hoped that voters put their trust in his years of experience.
He said they could not afford to confuse matters just to score political
points.
Saying that there was simply too much at stake now for political games, Tony
said he hoped that the voters would consider the two most important roles of the
president.
"At home, the president stands for all Singaporeans and has to be
independent and above politics. Abroad, the president is Singapore's face to the
world."
Tony said the president must be fair, knowledgeable and balanced, especially
when called on to resolve disputes between different organs of the state.
The president, he said, has to carry the country's flag with confidence and
dignity as well as having the stature to stand with world leaders and represent
their country.
Tony also stressed that the second important role of the president was to
protect the nation's financial reserves.
"This responsibility is what makes our presidency special and is why
we are having an election," he said.
Meanwhile, Tan Kin Lian believes he will be able to "think out of the box"
and take a different perspective from the government on issues as he has never
been an MP or minister.
To help him keep in touch with the people, the former chief of NTUC Income,
a co-operative insurance society, said he would form a President Personal
Council comprising people from many segments of society.
Saying that he came from a humble background, Kin Lian said he has a car but
often travelled by bus and MRT.
"I understand the struggle of many people who find it difficult to earn
enough to meet the cost of living, have to travel in crowded public transport
daily and have to face the competition for jobs. I am close to the ordinary
people in Singapore," he added.
Singaporeans expressing the hope that
the new president should be someone independent with a heart for the people.
Commenting on the presidential elections, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
said, "We have decided it's best we leave Singapore voters to choose. I have
expressed my view. I think Dr Tony Tan is eminently qualified and a very good
candidate.
"But I leave it to Singapore voters to make their judgment and I have every
confidence that they will make a good judgment."
With four hopefuls in the mix, there is a likelihood that Singapore's
next elected president could garner less than 50 per cent of the popular vote.
On whether that would affect the president's mandate, Lee said,” Our system
is first past the post...and whoever wins, wins. That's the way the rules are
and that's the basis on which we contest."
The president's position is largely ceremonial but the 1991 constitutional
amendments gave the president certain reserve powers over government expenditure
of financial reserves and appointments to key public offices such as the Chief
Justice, the Attorney-General, the chairman and members of the Public Service
Commission, the Chief of Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police.
The president also has certain powers of oversight over the Corrupt
Practices Investigation Bureau and decisions of the government under the
Internal Security Act and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.
-- BERNAMA
SINGAPORE, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- Come Aug 27, Singaporeans will again go to
the polls after a lapse of four months following their general election in May,
this time to elect their president after the incumbent, S.R. Nathan, completes
his term on Aug 31.
The polls will be the first contested election since the 1993 election when
Ong Teng Cheong won in a straight fight and it will also be the first
multi-candidate presidential race for Singapore.
Before 1993, the President of Singapore was chosen by Parliament. Following
amendments to the constitution enacted in 1991, the Presidency became a
popularly-elected office.
The first President elected by the people was Ong Teng Cheong, who served
from Sept 1, 1993 to Aug 31, 1999.
The current President of Singapore is Sellapan Ramanathan (S.R. Nathan), who
first became head of state in Aug 18, 1999 and is presently serving his second
term of office.
There are altogether four presidential hopefuls -- Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Dr
Tan Cheng Bok, Tan Kin Lian and Tan Jee Say -- for a six-year term as head of
state. The question now is who will win the hearts and minds of Singaporeans.
After nomination day on Wednesday, the four candidates shared their
strategies and visions on the republic's television channels aired in four
languages.
In his televised campaign, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, a former Member of Parliament,
said there was a growing desire for a clear distinction between the government
and the office of the president.
To strengthen the independence of the presidency, he proposed that the
government shift some of its operations away from the grounds of Istana, the
official residence of the president.
Cheng Bock, the former MP for Ayer Rajah for 26 years, suggested that the
offices of the prime minister and the Cabinet should not be housed in the same
compound as the president for this familiarity might attract unwanted suspicion
of undue influence.
It may sound drastic but, Cheng Bok said, he believed that this was the
correct thing for Singaporeans.
He also planned to introduce an annual statement for Singaporeans to
know whether the president was doing his job in safeguarding the reserves, the
people's Central Provident Fund, the appointment of civil servants, charitable
activities, and national identity programmes in the arts, sports and culture.
On the other hand, Tan Jee Say, a former senior civil servant, said that the
president must be independent of the ruling party and not be influenced
or hampered by past ties.
Referring to his three opponents, he described them as honourable men,
but had been members of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP) for 20 to 30
years until they resigned from the party, with two of them having quit only very
recently.
Jee Say said that while being members, "they ate, slept, walked and breathed
PAP."
"Do you now expect them to have a breath of fresh air?" he asked.
He claimed that mentally and emotionally, it might be very difficult for
them to think differently from the ruling party and challenge their former
colleagues and friends.
Unlike them, Jee Say claimed that he did not have the same emotional baggage
that they carried because he had never been a member of the PAP.
Assuring that he would represent the nation with confidence, dignity and
a steady hand to protect the reserves, former Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan
hoped that voters put their trust in his years of experience.
He said they could not afford to confuse matters just to score political
points.
Saying that there was simply too much at stake now for political games, Tony
said he hoped that the voters would consider the two most important roles of the
president.
"At home, the president stands for all Singaporeans and has to be
independent and above politics. Abroad, the president is Singapore's face to the
world."
Tony said the president must be fair, knowledgeable and balanced, especially
when called on to resolve disputes between different organs of the state.
The president, he said, has to carry the country's flag with confidence and
dignity as well as having the stature to stand with world leaders and represent
their country.
Tony also stressed that the second important role of the president was to
protect the nation's financial reserves.
"This responsibility is what makes our presidency special and is why
we are having an election," he said.
Meanwhile, Tan Kin Lian believes he will be able to "think out of the box"
and take a different perspective from the government on issues as he has never
been an MP or minister.
To help him keep in touch with the people, the former chief of NTUC Income,
a co-operative insurance society, said he would form a President Personal
Council comprising people from many segments of society.
Saying that he came from a humble background, Kin Lian said he has a car but
often travelled by bus and MRT.
"I understand the struggle of many people who find it difficult to earn
enough to meet the cost of living, have to travel in crowded public transport
daily and have to face the competition for jobs. I am close to the ordinary
people in Singapore," he added.
Singaporeans expressing the hope that
the new president should be someone independent with a heart for the people.
Commenting on the presidential elections, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
said, "We have decided it's best we leave Singapore voters to choose. I have
expressed my view. I think Dr Tony Tan is eminently qualified and a very good
candidate.
"But I leave it to Singapore voters to make their judgment and I have every
confidence that they will make a good judgment."
With four hopefuls in the mix, there is a likelihood that Singapore's
next elected president could garner less than 50 per cent of the popular vote.
On whether that would affect the president's mandate, Lee said,” Our system
is first past the post...and whoever wins, wins. That's the way the rules are
and that's the basis on which we contest."
The president's position is largely ceremonial but the 1991 constitutional
amendments gave the president certain reserve powers over government expenditure
of financial reserves and appointments to key public offices such as the Chief
Justice, the Attorney-General, the chairman and members of the Public Service
Commission, the Chief of Defence Force and the Commissioner of Police.
The president also has certain powers of oversight over the Corrupt
Practices Investigation Bureau and decisions of the government under the
Internal Security Act and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.
-- BERNAMA
