Sense And Nonsense by Tan Bah Bah
With Lee Hsien Yang having left the country after saying he would consider running in this year’s Presidential Election, the guessing game now switches to other contenders. Singaporeans had a taste of their ability to exercise their power to nearly over-ride what the government wanted when they nearly voted in Dr Tan Cheng Bock as President in 2011 over the establishment-endorsed candidate.
I quote Wikipedia: “The Elected President scheme was instituted in 1991 through a constitutional amendment which transformed the office of President into one directly elected by the people. The scheme conferred additional powers on the President that enabled him or her to act as a safeguard or ‘second key’ over Singapore’s rich financial reserves built up by the government.
But, with all its restrictions and narrow role, the EP has a big role to play in Singapore at this stage of its history.He did not live long enough to see another GRC fall to the Opposition. But he had always said that scenario was entirely possible, and he had aways said the fall of the PAP as government would come one day. Having a dual-key system would guard against a blatant run on the country’s reserves.
It is not such a bad idea even if there is a non-PAP President acting as another check on the government.