Taking the politicking out of the presidential election

by Wan Ting Koh

“I AM standing for elections, my slogan is ‘Voice of the People’, my vision is to improve lives for all Singaporeans.”

Sounds like something a political candidate said during the General Election last year? Well, it’s actually a statement made by presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian in the Presidential Election of 2011.

But this statement could be what lawyer Rey Foo was against according to his submission to the Constitutional Commission on the presidency. He wants candidates to refrain from making “grandiose promises” and suggested that the presidential electoral system be amended to declare such statements off limits, so that voters will not misunderstand the role of the President.

An ad hoc tribunal, he said, could be set up to monitor the conduct of presidential candidates during the election and to step in should any of their undertakings be breached.

“The whole reason being the office of the elected president has limited powers enshrined by the Constitution. The style of election that has been conducted in the past election was very similar to the political type of election. I don’t think that should be the case,” Mr Foo told the Commission chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon yesterday.

So if Mr Foo had his way, statements made by certain candidates in the 2011 presidential elections would have had the tribunal crying foul.

We decided to look at the four candidates in the 2011 presidential election to see how they might fare should Mr Foo’s suggestion be taken into consideration.

 

Mr Tan Jee Say

“In times of economic uncertainty, we must look within, within Singapore. We cannot count on multinational corporations, or these casinos. We must look to ourselves, our own people, our own talents. I want to build up our young, encourage the government to provide pre-school education for all Singaporeans, but not the type of education that is all about tests and scoring the highest marks… I want to build up our home-grown businesses…. I want to take care of our elderly… I want to take care of those who need help, the handicapped, the homeless, the learning disabled. We cannot be a society that leaves our own people behind in the pursuit of material gains that are never enough. These are my beliefs, this is the Singapore I want to see. I am sharing with you what is in my heart for Singapore. I believe in you. Give me your trust, and together we can build a Singapore for our tomorrows, not our yesterdays.”

During his rally speech on Aug 23, 2011, Mr Tan was careful to make statements that were general, stopping short of suggesting ways to resolve the issues he wanted to champion. In fact, in the beginning of his speech, Mr Tan outlined the key functions of the President.  Would Mr Tan have been clamped down on by the tribunal? Maybe not. But he did come close…

In clarifying the main thrust of Mr Foo’s submission, CJ Menon reiterated that Mr Foo’s main point was to identify a “fundamental difference” between the Elected Presidency (EP) and the Parliamentary Elections.

While the Parliamentary Elections that led to the formation of the G was one that includes the contestation of the right to shape the national agenda, said CJ Menon, the President has a ceremonial, symbolic role and custodial powers. Candidates who were making promises in elections are making them without the power to deliver them. They cannot, for example say that they want to “drive for better healthcare or public transport”, he said. Clearly, he agreed with the thrust of Mr Foo’s submission although the commission had many questions about the workability of his proposal.

 

Dr Tan Cheng Bock

“The Presidential Election is not the General Election.  You have to elect someone to the highest office of the land.  So it is only proper that we conduct the election in a dignified and orderly way.  Tonight we have chosen to hold an indoor rally. We think it differentiates us from an open rally. The agenda of a PE rally is different from a GE rally. The topics are limited, unlike the GE rally where day to day issues affecting individual Singaporeans are brought up.  It is often highly charged and at times electrifying and emotional…When we made decisions, these were big ones. So if anyone thinks I’m not good in the financial area, they better go ask LTA and SMRT. I will be able to look after your reserves… I cannot say I want to change the rules or give more money to National Servicemen. I will be ashamed if I make such promises that I cannot keep…The President must do this custodial role and not poke his nose in the planning and development of this resilience package. Because the President will have to approve the package, he cannot be suggesting what form it should take. This is a conflict…My worry is that in a crisis of this nature, there will be temptation to dip into the reserves as a first option. As this is your money, I will have to be guarded. Yet I will approve dipping into our reserves if the situation is such that your livelihood and jobs are at stake.  On safeguarding your reserves, it is extremely important that the President must be a person of independence, and must have good corporate governance expertise.”

Mr Tan Cheng Bock in his rally held in Singapore Expo on Aug 25, 2011, was careful to draw the line between the EP and the General Elections. He emphasised in his speech that the President could not make promises that he can’t keep.

Based on the comments, it seemed that Mr Tan and Mr Foo share the same view on how a PE should be conducted. Said Mr Foo: “The election process for EP should be different flavor as normal GE. Office of EP has limited powers enshrined by constitution, and the style of elections that had been conducted in past is very similar to a political election. I don’t think that should be the case.”

 

Dr Tony Tan

“The president is not a Member of Parliament. The president is not a super-MP, as some candidates appear to believe…So, a wise, experienced and steady president will be able to make a contribution to help Singapore get through the next financial and economic crisis…Everyone says we have four Tans in the race. Fewer people noted that we are all men. I’m confident that will change.”

Acknowledging that the G, and not the President, was the centre of power in Singapore, Dr Tan was careful not to make any promises although he held out the hope that future candidates would include a woman. His remarks would probably have passed by Mr Foo’s standards of not being “grandiose” or “populist”.

 

Mr Tan Kin Lian

“In recent years, Singaporeans have found life to be more difficult they face strong competition for jobs, higher cost of living, and have to travel in crowded public transport, they work long hours and lead a stressful life. Is this the life that you want? At this election, You can choose a president who can make life better for you…I have never contested any GE as candidate of political party. I can act independently in carrying out duties or president.During global financial crisis more than 10,000 lost their savings… I spoke out for them, in the future, when you have another major crisis, I will speak out for you as your president. To the young people of Singapore, there is hope for a better future for you. You have studied hard, you are prepared to work hard, you deserve a job that can pay you well. Enough to meet The cost of living to raise a family… save for retirement this is possible if you have the right leader. The leader to take care of the people. The leader who is willing to speak out for the people. The voice of the people. There are many issues that I have raised…you have the chance to vote for a president who can be a voice of the people, to work for a better life for all Singaporeans…”

Mr Tan Kin Lian’s speech, which was in Tamil, Malay, and Mandarin before the English version, had quite a bit of rhetoric that could have passed for the speech of a candidate for Parliament. He had also suggested better recognition for national servicemen, more help for the elderly poor, sandwiched middle-class families and the unemployed, who may need to withdraw some of their Central Provident Fund savings at the age of 55. He probably wouldn’t have passed Mr Foo’s test.

 

Here’s an update on the four Tans.

• Current President Tony Tan is not likely to seek a second term.

• Dr Tan Cheng Bock has already declared his intention to stand in the presidential election due August 2017.

• Mr Tan Jee Say, who attended Monday’s public hearing of the Constitutional Commission and heads the Singaporeans First party, is keeping his options open.

• Mr Tan Kin Lian has not made public his intentions and is now helping the Singapore Democratic Party to win the Bukit Batok by-election.

 

Featured image Istana Singapore by Flickr user Ice Moon. CC BY 2.0. 

If you like this article, Like the Middle Ground‘s Facebook Page as well!

For breaking news, you can talk to us via email.

The post Taking the politicking out of the presidential election appeared first on The Middle Ground.

- Wan Ting Koh