Should an election still be held for an unopposed presidential candidate? Would some Singaporeans view the proposed changes to the Elected Presidency (EP) as the Government facilitating a preferred candidate next year?
These were among the questions raised on Sunday (Sept 18) in the latest of a series of dialogues on the EP scheme and the Government’s White Paper released on Thursday.
Responding to the question on whether an unopposed candidate should still secure a majority vote to become the President, Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said Singapore must ensure the voting process is not opened up to criticism and ridicule.
The scenario of an individual who steps forward to run for the position but does not get a majority vote could make Singapore a “laughing stock”, he said, as the country would not have a President and would have to call another election.
“We must balance between the ability to represent and also make the process something that doesn’t turn into a farce,” Mr Shanmugam said to the 1,300 residents and grassroots leaders from Central Singapore District who attended the dialogue.
He referred to how founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had won elections unopposed, with no question whether Mr Lee lacked the moral authority, given that he had presented himself for elections but no one wanted to contest against him.
“We have the rules — people can take part. If they don’t take part, then whoever takes part becomes the President. I think it’s a neater process,” he said.
Mr Shanmugam had spent about 40 minutes of the two-hour session at the Institute of Technical Education College Central explaining the Government’s response to the Constitutional Commission’s recommendations.
In response to a participant who doubted Singaporeans would vote for a minority candidate, Mr Shanmugam said that while the majority of Singaporeans are capable of voting for a minority President, race remains a factor within a segment of the population.
Referring to the Group Representation Constituency system, which guarantees minority representation in Parliament, he noted how it prevented people from discussing race during elections.
Another question asked was whether five terms, or 30 years, is too long before a reserved election is called for a particular race that has not had an Elected President.
To this, Mr Shanmugam said: “Many people would say we don’t need (a reserved election), many people will say we need it, and it cannot be 30 years (or) five terms — it should be shorter. The Government is trying to do what is right here.”
And on whether the Elected President from a reserved election would have the moral authority to disagree with the Government, he noted that regardless of race, the President has to meet the same qualifying criteria.
These candidates would also have to prove themselves and win the most number of votes if there is a contest. “I think such a person will have the credibility and competence to say no to the Government when necessary,” he added.
While there are potential minority candidates from the private sector, Mr Shanmugam declined to name any when asked if he could identify some potential Malay candidates under the higher qualifying threshold, given that it has been a while since Singapore had a Malay president.
To another question, he said the Council of Presidential Advisers should not be elected to avoid politicising their roles.
And on the suggestion that the qualifying criteria be pegged to a percentage of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, Mr Shanmugam said there could be other qualifying criteria to consider in future.
Speaking to TODAY, Bizlink senior trainer Zainbu Mohamed Ghouse, 57, felt that the session seemed to centre on the Government’s plans for the EP rather than on reaching out to the ground.
“We feel that the purpose of having this session was just for formality, just to let you know that you’re being heard, but it may not be the situation,” said Ms Zainbu, who is also a grassroots member with Jalan Besar Bendemeer Residents’ Committee.
But businessman Terry Lee, 47, who is a grassroots leader with Potong Pasir Neighbourhood Committee, said the session was useful to him, as he will be able to verbalise some of the issues raised to other residents.
Source: TODAY Online
