When it comes to the crunch, the president must be able and willing to act independently
I REFER to The Business Times’ Aug 9 editorial, “Presidential election: Focusing on independence perhaps misses the point”.
On The Istana’s website, the constitutional duties and powers of the president of the Republic of Singapore are clearly stated.
Discretionary powers: As a safeguard against the government misusing the nation’s reserves, and as a custodian of the public service’s impartiality.
The president must consult the Council of Presidential Advisers in these areas.
Non-discretionary powers: For matters in which the president has no discretion, the president must act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a minister delegated with that power.
From this, it is clear the exercise of discretionary powers is the most important part of the president’s role. Otherwise, why do we even bother to have a president? Primarily as a safeguard against a rogue government that may squander our precious reserves, or compromise the integrity of our civil service.
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How then is the ability and willingness to act independently not important, or, for that matter, not the most important quality for a presidential candidate? Whether a person with a very long association with the current government can act independently when the need arises is a question voters need to answer.
You asked this rhetorical question: “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?”
The simple answer to the first question is “no”, but it does mean that when it comes to the crunch, the president must be able and willing to act independently. As to your second question, being able and willing to act independently does not necessarily equal partisanship. It is a false dichotomy.
Other expected roles of the president such as being a “symbol of unity” and Singapore’s top official ambassador come with the territory.
Ho Swee Huat
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