Jun 10, 2011
Presidential election: Jayakumar's reality check for candidates
By Elgin Toh & Andrea Ong
'I'M NOT A CANDIDATE'
'No, I am not a candidate. I don't intend to run for the elected presidency. So that will put an end to that speculation.'
Professor S. Jayakumar, when asked during an interview with Insight if he will join the presidential race
What he said about president's role
'AS MINISTER for Law in the 1980s (and 1990s), I was very much involved in the drafting of the two White Papers and the constitutional amendments which brought about the elected president. In fact, I'm thinking of writing one of my next books about the making of the elected presidency.
So with that background, having been so closely involved, I must say I'm a bit surprised and disappointed over some of the statements and claims made by some of the would-be candidates about what they intend to do if they get elected.
Some of their statements seem to imply that the president is a centre of power unto himself, distinct from the government of the day, and implies that he has certain executive powers. That is not the case.
The president does have some discretionary, custodial powers in a few areas, mainly the protection of reserves, on key appointments, and he also has some custodial powers in ISA detentions, CPIB investigations and the restraining orders under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.
But even in those few areas, the president has no power to initiate decisions or policy. He only has blocking powers.
Other than those specified areas, in all other areas, the president, under the Constitution, must act on the advice of the Cabinet. That is the clear legal position.
I think it is good if all Singaporeans, especially candidates, are very clear about what exactly the role of the president is, what he can do, what he cannot do. I say that because I do worry that otherwise, there may be wrong expectations about the role of the president, and we should avoid that.'
Professor S. Jayakumar (above) signing Sembawang GRC MP Ellen Lee's copy of his book at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday. Prof Jayakumar recounts the development of Singapore's foreign policy in Diplomacy - A Singapore Experience. The guest of honour at the book launch was Dr Tony Tan, chairman of Singapore Press Holdings. -- ST PHOTO: LIM WUI LIANG
FORMER senior minister S. Jayakumar delivered a reality check to prospective presidential candidates yesterday, suggesting that some of them had inflated views of what the president could do.
Reiterating the legal limits to presidential powers, he said it would be good for all Singaporeans - especially candidates - to understand the president's role, so that nobody held wrong expectations.
'I am a bit surprised and disappointed over some of the statements and claims made by some of the would-be candidates about what they intend to do if they get elected,' he said.
These statements, he noted, implied that they thought the president was 'a centre of power unto himself, distinct from the government of the day', and had 'certain executive powers'.
As former law minister, Professor Jayakumar said, he had been intimately involved in the drafting of the two White Papers (in 1988 and 1990) mooting the elected presidency and the constitutional amendments that created the new institution in 1991.
He pointed out that the president had only 'discretionary, custodial power' in five areas:
The protection of reserves.
Key public sector appointments.
Internal Security Act (ISA) detentions.
Investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).
Restraining orders under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act.
Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.http://www.straitstimes.com/PrimeNews/Story/STIStory_678251.html