President in global roles: Government must convince citizens of the benefits
THE impetus for Singapore’s latest proposal to amend the Constitution appears clear. If passed, it will create a legal framework for the president and ministers to accept appointments in foreign and international organisations in their private capacity – shortly after the election of a president who already has several global roles.
Introduced in Parliament on Monday (Nov 6) and due to be debated at the next sitting, the amendment Bill will enable the president “to perform foreign and international roles in his private capacity, when Cabinet advises that it is in the national interest for him to do so”. It will have similar provisions for ministers.
In a statement on the Bill, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) did not name President Tharman Shanmugaratnam. But the obvious conclusion is undeniable given the timing of the Bill, as well as the prominence of President Tharman’s past and current international roles.
In his presidential campaign, then candidate Tharman himself cited his high-level roles in global bodies as an indicator of his breadth and depth of experience.
This major advantage for a presidential candidate, however, might be seen in a different light when he becomes president.
One objection might be that the president and ministers should devote their full attention to Singapore. As a candidate, President Tharman himself noted that the demands on the office have grown, in the face of profound global risks and uncertainties.
A possible response to this is that serving in international bodies, even in personal capacities, can still be in the service of Singapore. As the PMO statement says: “Accepting such positions can enhance Singapore’s international standing and help to advance our national interest.”
During the presidential election, a common sentiment was that it would be a waste if becoming president prevented Tharman from continuing to contribute internationally. This proposed framework could thread that needle.
President Tharman’s role in flying Singapore’s flag on the world stage may be all the more crucial in this time of leadership transition, as the fourth-generation leaders continue to gain international exposure.
A second, greater objection – which has already surfaced on social media – is about the risk of conflicts of interest.
One might ask if Singapore could become obliged to accept recommendations made by international bodies where the president or ministers serve in key roles; or conversely, whether the neutrality of such international bodies might be seen to be compromised.
To this objection, the proposed framework appears to provide a safeguard: it allows for the Cabinet to “advise the president against saying or doing anything” in performing his international roles. The president must also relinquish the role if Cabinet so advises. Similar safeguards apply to ministers, where the prime minister may instruct them accordingly.
Yet this could be seen as an uneasy compromise. It erodes the very meaning of holding such a role, potentially reducing the likelihood that international organisations will extend such invitations.
Given the ruling party’s overwhelming majority in Parliament, even the higher bar for passing a constitutional amendment should be easily met. Yet the upcoming debate on the Bill still matters – as a chance for the government to justify the need for this enabling framework, not just to Members of Parliament but to the greater public.
