With the looming election for the office of the Elected President (EP), it is no surprise that the criteria for potential candidates are once more scrutinised by the general public. The office of the EP is, in many ways, one that is unique to Singapore. But do people actually understand the role of the EP?
In a nutshell, the EP is someone who is supposed to be above party politics. He or she holds certain keys in Government, such as, among other things, the safeguarding of our national reserves. However, it is an office that is largely ceremonial in nature. While holding the position as the official Head of State, the powers of the EP are limited, and it is a role that has virtually no political power. Yet, it is also important to observe that all of our past EPs have been people who have held high positions in the establishment and who have been viewed as friendly with the People’s Action Party (PAP).
As a result of the EP being above party politics and holding various keys in Government, the EP has been seen as a way to challenge the status quo and as a way to maintain checks and balances within the PAP-dominated party. This was certainly seen when former PAP member Tan Cheng Bock attempted to contest the role of the EP. While he narrowly lost out to former PAP stalwart Tony Tan in his first attempt, his second attempt never took off as a change in criteria rendered Mr Tan ineligible.
While some have observed that the timing was coincidental and opined that these changes were brought to ensure that the PAP’s preferred candidate, Halimah Yacob, got the plump role and it is also noted that in her entire tenure, Madam Halimah never raised any serious objection to anything the PAP did.
Given the consternation caused when Madam Halimah became EP as a result of a walkover, one could perhaps argue that no matter what the PAP said, the EP is seen as a way to counter the weight of the PAP.
Wife of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Madam Ho Ching recently posted on Facebook that the office of the EP is not meant to create an independent voice. However, if this is indeed the case, why have the authorities taken so much seeming effort in this office? With the ostracisation that former EP Ong Teng Cheong faced, plus the change in candidate criteria which saw Madam Halimah take the role unchallenged, it does cause one to wonder why so much effort is being made to curate a role that is meant to have no effect on Singaporeans.
Whatever authorities might think, it is clear that some Singaporeans query the long list of requirements that the EP must have. Among other things, before candidates are given certificates of eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), they must be assessed to be individuals of integrity, good character and reputation.
Perhaps more significantly, there’s also a public sector requirement for would-be candidates, as they must have held office as Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, Attorney Attorney-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, Accountant-General or Permanent Secretary for at least three years or served as the chief executive of a key statutory board or government company, such as the Housing Development Board or GIC Private Limited, for at least three years.
And if the presidential hopeful is from the private sector, he or she must have held a top corporate executive position for a minimum of three years.
Additionally, the company’s average annual shareholders’ equity during its tenure must exceed S$500 million and maintain a net profit. The company cannot face liquidation or bankruptcy within three years after the candidate departs from their executive role.
Why such a laundry list of requirements for a role that is largely pomp and pageantry? Why not utilise a criteria that are used in member of parliament (MP) elections? MPs are the ones that hold actual political power with the ability to make change So, why not have EP qualifications that match MP ones?
Singaporean entrepreneur and philanthropist George Goh Ching Wah is the second person to have put himself forward for the office of the EP. The first was the ever-popular PAP Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
Mr Goh, who has been successful in his business, has recently faced scrutiny over his alleged tax evasion and use of offshore structures. Nothing has so far indicated that Mr Goh had broken the law, and given his seeming commitment to public service, does the fact that he wishes to contest the ceremonial role of the EP merit this degree of scrutiny?
As Madam Ho herself declared – the EP is not meant to be an independent voice, but rather a unifying figure who will be the official head of state. Shouldn’t more focus be placed on which candidate can unify Singaporeans?
While it may well be true that some Singaporeans do not understand the role of the EP, the stringent and seemingly unnecessary qualifications that EP candidates must have do not do anything to quell speculation that this office is indeed a PAP affiliated position disguised as a non-political one.