THE ELECTED PRESIDENT

There’s lot of buzz, even disquiet among the common folks for the coming presidential election. I remember in the past, presidential elections was a non-vent, the attitude on the ground was apathetic. Who care about the new elected president, after all the expectation of the citizen is that the government will shoo in its own favourite for a walkover.

This time round, the interest on the ground seems very much aroused. Perhaps the proximity of this election was so close to the last general election is the cause. The PAP had a reduced percentage of popular vote as well as losing one GRC for the first time. During the election, the level of political awareness was raised especially in the uncontrolled electronic medias. A wind of political change is blowing over Singapore. The political awareness is definitely heightened especially the younger voters who in the past have remained silent and apathetic. This changing political landscape has brought out a number of presidential hopefuls to capitalise on this rare opportunity to mine this shifting trend.

Employing the time tested campaign strategy to win popular votes, many of the hopeful seems to campaign on the need to be the voice of the people, the conscience of the people, the guardian of the citizen. Each potential show no lack of effort to prove their independence, integrity and moral conscience. What these hopeful said is correct but the public somehow seems to believe that the president is there to oversee and check the government. This public perception is certainly misguided.

The citizen of Singapore must not be misled by some of this hopeful. The public must clearly understand the constitutional role of the president and the power that come with his office. In simple term, the president is a ceremonial head of state like the queen of England excepted that he is elected by popular vote. He is also different from the President of USA, Indonesia or Philippines where they have executive power. Only in extreme circumstances that he can step in. It’s like the entire football team which has been red-carded except the goalkeeper. In that position, the goalkeeper will play whatever positions to guard the goal mouth. If need to, he should even mount a one man striker.

What Singapore do not need is another power centre. This will create unnecessary controversies and distract the elected government to function efficiently. What we want is more quality opposition in parliament to raise the level of governance. The check and balance should be done in the parliament. The voices and ears of the people should be the elected MPs.

My only concern in this presidential election is the president’s annual remuneration of over $4 million. This should be reviewed to no more than $200,000. The saving should go to the people who really need it. For someone who’s all the daily needs have been provided by the state and for public service to the nation, taking $4 million is surely obscene.