Presidential election: Focusing on independence perhaps misses the point
THIS year marks not just Singapore’s 58th birthday, but three decades since the first presidential election was held. Since then, the city-state has had four presidents, of whom two were elected uncontested. As the race for the presidency heats up again, it is useful to reflect on what Singaporeans want in a president.
So far, at least three men have thrown their hat in the ring. And even if their eligibility is still up in the air at this point, all three hopefuls have begun some form of outreach activities in recent weeks, going around the island to meet Singaporeans from all walks of life. While the three – former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song and businessman George Goh – come from varied backgrounds, it’s apparent that they all connect well with the community. They each have also taken pains to emphasise that they are “independent” in their own ways.
At one end of the spectrum is entrepreneur Goh, who boasts of having had no political affiliations whatsoever, while former minister Tharman, given his illustrious career as a policymaker and establishment links, has taken to highlighting his “independence of mind” and track record. Indeed, his supporters, describing Tharman as a thought leader and public intellectual, note that independence is the “hallmark” of such roles: “You cannot be a thought leader if you’re not independent.” Somewhere in between perhaps is investment guru Ng who, like Goh, has never been part of any political party, although many might consider him to be a tad closer to the establishment given his 42 years in public service.
Yet, does being “independent” simply mean not being always aligned with the government of the day? And how important would, or should, non-partisanship be as a factor for voters? In fact, one wonders if the focus on independence misses the point, given that the president does not have executive powers, and does not make or shape policy.
While the president must be – and be seen to be – politically neutral, publicly, they must speak and act according to Cabinet advice, particularly on matters of legislation or government policy. It is simply not the job of the president to bring the electorate’s voice to Parliament or to exert influence over policies. Neither can the president veto policies they disagree with, despite aspirational statements to that effect voiced by some candidate-hopefuls past and present.
Instead, the critical powers the president possesses are custodial, with discretionary vetting and veto rights over the country’s reserves, and key public service appointments. The president also has the responsibility to safeguard the country’s religious harmony and internal security.
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Beyond those custodial powers conferred by the Constitution, the president, as head of state, is first and foremost a symbol of national unity, who should be able to inspire and rally the diverse segments of Singapore society, especially in these trying times. Here, the president has many platforms available to champion worthy causes and spur people to do good for the community. And not least, the president is ultimately Singapore’s top official ambassador, representing the country in its diplomacy building and dealings on various fronts with the external world.
Voters would do well to assess carefully and deliberately the merits of the presidential hopefuls as they turn out, and decide who would best fulfil the unique role of Singapore’s next head of state.
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