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Elected President

Singapore instituted legislation for an elected president to help safeguard the financial reserves. The powers of an elected president in Singapore came into effect on 30 November 1991 and was first exercised by the reigning President Wee Kim Wee. The first elected President, Ong Teng Cheong, was voted in on 28 August 1993 and sworn in on 1 September 1993.

Background
The idea for Singapore to have a new kind of president to help safeguard the financial reserves was first broached by then Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew during his walkabout at his Tanjong Pagar Constituency on 15 April 1984. This was again raised by the Prime Minister during the National Day Rally speech on 19 August 1984.

Legislative Action
On 27 July 1988, then Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, tabled the first White Paper, Constitutional Amendments to Safeguard the Financial Assets and the Integrity of the Public Services, on the Elected President in Parliament. The White Paper described proposals to amend the Constitution and stated the rationale for the proposals.

By March 1990, the government decided that it would go ahead with the legislation on the expanded powers of the elected president. On 27 August 1990, a second White Paper, Safeguarding Financial Assets and the Integrity of the Public Services: The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No 3) Bill, was put up. Three additional safeguard roles were added for the President: Internal Security Act, Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act and CPIB investigations. Following lengthy debates in Parliament, a Select Committee comprising 12 members including key cabinet ministers and one opposition member was appointed to look into issues and make recommendations. The Select Committee's report, Report of the Select Committee on the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment no. 3) Bill No. 23/90, was presented to Parliament on 18 December 1990. In January 1991, the Bill and its amendments were passed into law and came into effect on 1 February 1991.

Under the amended constitution, the person who is to be elected as President should be a Singapore citizen, at least 45 years old with at least three years experience as Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament, Judge or Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court, Auditor-General, Accountant-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission or Permanent Secretary, Chairman or Chief Executive Officer of a company with paid-up capital of at least S$100 million. The Elected President has a six-year term and has veto powers over the spending of national reserves and monetary policies as well as over the appointments of key positions in the Civil Service, government companies and statutory boards. In addition, the President appoints the Prime Minister (who Parliament must have approved by a majority vote) and has the right to withhold consent for the dissolution of Parliament. The President is also not allowed to hold any other office nor engage in commercial enterprise.

The amendments which gave the President powers to safeguard the reserves and integrity of the public services came into effect on 30 November 1991. The Government appointed a Chairman and two members to the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC). Chaired by Public Services Commission Chairman Lee Hee Seng, the committee determines the suitability of candidates for the Elected Presidency. A certificate would be issued to prospective candidates only when the committee is satisfied that the person is of good integrity, character and reputation and has the ability and experience in financial management necessary for the job. Then reigning President Wee Kim Wee exercised the new powers from end 1991 until 1 September 1993.

Criteria
Under the Elected President Act, the person who is to be elected President must not be less than 45 years old and must have not less than three years experience as minister, chief justice, speaker, attorney general, chairman of the Public Service Commission or permanent secretary, chairman or chief justice, speaker, attorney general, chairman or chief executive officer of a Statutory Board or of a company with paid-up capital of at least $100 million.

Powers
The elected president has a six-year term and has veto powers over the spending of national reserves and monetary policies as well as over the appointments of key positions in the Civil Service, government companines and Statutory Boards. In addition, the president appoints the prime minister (whom Parliament must have approved by a majority vote) and has the right to withhold consent for the dissolution of Parliament. Under the Constitution, the president is also not allowed to hold any office or profit or engage actively in commerce.

First Elections
Nomination day for the Presidential Election was declared on 18 August 1993 with 28 August 1993 being polling day. The PEC received four nominations but certificates were only issued to two, Ong Teng Cheong, who had resigned as Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the People's Action Party (PAP), and Chua Kim Yeow, former Accountant-General and retired Executive Chairman of Post Office Savings Bank.

Ong Teng Cheong received 58.7% of the votes and was sworn in as Singapore's first Elected President on 1 September 1993. Mr S R Nathan began his six-year term as the sixth President of the Republic and the second Elected President on 1 September 1999.



Author
Veronica Chee, Rajendran Munoo



References
Hussin Mutalib. (1994). Singapore's elected presidency and the quest for regime dominance. Singapore: National University of Singapore: Department of Political Science
(Call no.: RSING 320.95957 HUS).

Tan, K., & Lam, P. E. (Eds.). (1997). Managing political change in Singapore: The Elected Presidency. London, New York: Routledge.
(Call no.: RSING 320.95957 MAN).

Presidential Elections Committee: Three appointed. (1993, May 8). The Straits Times, p. 2.

Presidential election to be held on Aug 28. (1993, August 5). The Straits Times, p. 1.

He was governments first choice for Elected President. (1993, September 1). The Straits Times, p. 1.


Further Readings
Low, L., & Toh, M. H. (1989). The elected Presidency as a safeguard for official reserves: What is at stake? Singapore: Times Academic Press: Institute of Policy Studies.
(Call no.: RSING 339.35957 LOW)

Constitutional amendments to safeguard financial assets and the integrity of the public services. (1988). Singapore: Singapore National Printers: Government of Singapore.
(Call no.: RSING 324.22095957 SIN)

Singapore. (1991). Government gazette: Acts supplement (1990-1991). Singapore: Singapore National Printers.
( Call no.: RCLOS 348.5957 SGGAS)


Select Committee on the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment no. 3) Bill (Bill no. 23/90). [1990]. Report of theSelect Committee on the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment no. 3) Bill (Bill no. 23/90). Singapore: Singapore National Printers.
(Call no.: RSING 342.595703 SIN)

Safeguarding financial assets and the integrity of the public services: The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No 3) Bill. (1990). Singapore: Singapore National Printers.
(Call no.: RSING 324.22095957 SIN)

Singapore Chronicles: A special commemorative history of Singapore. (1995). Hong Kong: Illustrated Magazine.
(Call no.: RSING 959.57 SIN)

Select Committee [hearing on] the Elected President Bill (14.11. 90) [Videotape] (1990). Singapore: SBC.
(Call no.: R 324.6095957 SEL)

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation [1990]. Elected President [Videotape]. Singapore: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.
(Call no.: R 324.6095957 ELE).

Singapore Broadcasting Corporation [1988]. Elected President [Videotape]. Singapore: Singapore Broadcasting Corporation.
(Call no.: RSEA 324.7 ELE).

President's Office, Repoublic of Singapore. (2002). The Presidency in Singapore. Retrieved August 22, 2002, from www.istana.gov.sg/pro.html



The information in this article is valid as at 2002 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic.

Subject
Politics and Government
Presidents--Election--Singapore
Law and government>>Political process>>Elections

Librarian Recommendations
>> Singapore's Presidents
>> Ong Teng Cheong
>> S. R. Nathan


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