PM Lee Hsien Loong
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that getting a Certificate of Eligibility to contest the Presidential Election does not necessarily mean that candidates are all " equally qualified to be President" .
Speaking on the eve of Nomination Day, Mr Lee also stressed that it is important for Singapore to have a good President, and for the President to work closely with the government.
He added that his government will work with the man chosen by voters, whoever he is. Four hopefuls have been issued the Certificate of Eligibility. They are Dr Tony Tan, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Tan Kin Lian and Mr Tan Jee Say.
Meeting the local media at the Istana on Tuesday, Mr Lee said he felt the need to speak on the issue not because of what any of the presidential hopefuls has said, but because he felt Singaporeans need to know his views and he wanted to give them something to think about when they go to the polls.
Mr Lee reiterated the role and responsibility of the President under the Constitution.
The President has blocking powers in only five areas, such as over the country’s reserves and key appointments.
In all other areas, the President must act in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr Lee also took the opportunity to talk about how his government has worked with President S R Nathan.
He cited the example of how the government had drawn on the reserves during the 2008 global financial crisis.
The proposal was put to the President and the Council of Presidential Advisers who spent days thinking over the matter.
Mr Lee said: " They asked questions, they spent several days thinking the matter over, asked and finally, only after satisfying themselves that this was in Singapore’s best interest and the situation was serious enough to need the draw (on the reserves), that they approved the draw.
" The result was we were able to stabilise the economy, to boost confidence and to recover strongly when the storm passed, but also importantly, we were able to demonstrate how the presidential safeguards were meant to work and could work in a tight situation."
On the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister, Mr Lee said he made it a point to meet Mr Nathan for monthly lunch meetings.
The President, he said, will give his views freely but privately to the Prime Minister.
" We consider very carefully the President’s views although under the system, the final decision is made by the Cabinet," said Mr Lee.
Mr Lee said it is important for both the government and President to have a mutual understanding and constructive relationship and this is how he hopes to work with the next President.
He added that given the troubled global economic landscape, it is important that Singaporeans choose a capable President who can make well—judged decisions in the country’s best interests.
The President also plays an important ceremonial role.
Mr Lee reminded Singaporeans that the President is a unifying figure and he also represents Singapore on the international stage.
For example, Mr Lee said President Nathan’s grasp of international relations helped greatly to enhance Singapore’s friendly relations with many countries.
Asked if a candidate’s association with the ruling People’s Action Party could work against him, Mr Lee said " no" .
" When he becomes President, then he is in a different role, he’s no longer a PAP member and he no longer takes instructions from the party. He’s his own man, as Mr Ong Teng Cheong showed when he became President, and I think that is the way it has to work," said Mr Lee.
" Singapore is a very small society, and if you say you want people to come from completely different corners of the world and never had had any connection with one another, and then that counts as being independent, I think that is not possible," added Mr Lee.
Of the four presidential hopefuls, three have links to the PAP. Dr Tony Tan had served as deputy prime minister and Dr Tan Cheng Bock was a former MP, while former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian was a former PAP member.
While Mr Lee did not want to be drawn into commenting what he thinks of the aspirants, he did repeat his endorsement of Dr Tony Tan.
" I think Dr Tony Tan is eminently qualified and a very good candidate. But I leave it to Singapore voters to make their judgement and I have every confidence they will make a good judgement," he said.
If there is a contest on Nomination Day, Singaporeans will go to the polls on August 27 in the country’s first Presidential Election in 18 years.
— CNA/ir
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