Nathan clinches Singapore's presidency as his "moral authority" questioned

GOVERNMENT-BACKED diplomat S.R. Nathan was confirmed Tuesday as Singapore's next president after two other candidates were barred from running under unique eligibility rules.

The Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) said an eligibility certificate had been issued to Nathan but not the other two -- a tutor and a leader of a minor opposition group -- as they did not meet the stringent requirements.

"Mr. Ooi Boon Ewe and Mr. Tan Soo Phuan did not satisfy the Presidential Elections Committee that they had met all the requirements for the issue of the Certificate of Eligibility ...," a statement said.

As there is no contest, the 75-year-old Nathan will be nominated as president on Wednesday, Nomination Day, and declared elected. A national polling day set for August 28 will be cancelled.

Nathan and the other two hopefuls had submitted their applications earlier this month to receive their certificate of eligibility from the PEC, which vets the applicants.

The presidency, previously a ceremonial office, was revamped by parliament in 1991 to allow Singaporeans to directly elect their head of state, whose executive powers include safeguarding the use of the national reserves and key appointments to public office.

Meanwhile opposition leader J. B. Jeyaretnam on Monday questioned the "moral authority" of Mr S. R. Nathan.

"Should we then continue with this pretence, this make-believe, that Singapore has an elected president," J. B. Jeyaretnam, a long-time government critic and secretary-general of the Workers' Party said in a statement.

"Has Mr. S. R. Nathan the moral authority? If he has, is it from the will of the people, or is it from the very same persons who he is required to check in the safeguarding of the people's monies."

Another Singapore opposition leader, Chee Soon Juan, last week said presidential polls must be held even if there is only one qualified candidate.

Jeyaretnam was disqualified from contesting the first presidential polls in 1993.

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