Unchalleged president yet to prove if he has Ong's mettle

UNCHALLENGED, a 75-year-old state-backed civil servant has been declared president of Singapore for a six- year term beginning Sept. 1.

S.R. Nathan, who secured the presidency without a vote, was the only candidate who met the criteria set by an election committee. Two other aspirants were rejected.

Just last month, people here were wondering who would come forward to contest the presidency after the incumbent, President Ong Teng Cheong, announced he would not seek a second term.

Ong, Singapore's first elected president announced on July 16 that he was not eyeing re-election, citing difficulties in working with the government, among other reasons.

This was followed by a period of suspense, as nobody stepped forward as a potential candidate until Aug 6, a day before the deadline for submitting applications for eligibility certificates.

Only Nathan, Singapore's ambassador-at-large, met the criteria of the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), which screens potential presidential candidates, prior to awarding them the certificate of eligibility.

He presented his nomination papers and statutory declaration on Aug. 18 -- Nomination day -- and was declared the winner in a walkover. He will be sworn in as president on Sept. 1.

Nathan, who rose from the ranks, having started his career as an office boy, possesses vast experience in the local labor union - National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) -- and the civil service. He was High Commissioner to Malaysia and the ambassador to the United States, and is now the Director of Singapore's Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies.

Attesting to his capabilities, NTUC president John de Payua said: "My colleagues and I are delighted to give him our full backing as he played a key role in the founding years of NTUC."

However, many feel that an uncontested government-backed candidate lacks the moral authority to discharge his duties effectively. "Nathan is just a candidate supported by the government. He has yet to prove that he is able to carry out his role in questioning the key government decisions," said David Tan, a senior technician here.

According to the Singapore constitution, the elected president is empowered to question government's decisions. The post serves to safeguard the nation from rogue governments, and its main role is to ensure that the government exercises prudence in spending its reserves and making key public appointments.

In order to qualify as a presidential candidate, one must possess substantial executive or financial experience in government, a statutory board or a company with a paid-up capital of at least 100 million dollars for a minimum of three years.

Singapore's first presidential elections in 1993 pitted two highly qualified candidates. President Ong, who was then deputy Prime Minister, won over his rival, banker Chua Kim Yeow, with about 60 per cent of the valid votes.

Although President Ong was supported by the government in his presidential bid, he revealed his differences with the government over the use of the country's reserves to finance a package of measures to tide it through the recent economic crisis.

During a news conference last month, the president said he was "disappointed" that he was not consulted on the issue. "In the process, differences are bound to appear from time to time," said President Ong, stressing the fact that the elected Presidency is a relatively new institution, which is still fine-tuning its working relationship with the government.

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong commended Ong, saying: "He took his job seriously. He has helped us to test the powers and workings of the new institution...without fear or favor."

Hence, the sanctity of the elected presidency rests upon whether Nathan has the moral courage and integrity to exercise independent judgement against his supporters in parliament.

The idea of an elected presidency with powers to block the government was mooted by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father, in 1984 and debated upon for almost a decade before it was enshrined in the constitution in 1992.

In 1994, the government amended an article in the constitution, which stipulated that the President's veto would be final if a court ruled that the parliament was trying to amend the Constitution in order to reduce his power.

President Ong questioned the government's move and brought the matter before a Special Tribunal of High Court judges, who ruled in the latter's favor. Since then, the president's power has been significantly curtailed through more amendments to the constitution.

As Senior Minister Lee views it, the elected president should not have executive powers, other than preventing the government from spending the reserves indiscriminately or making bad appointments.

"You do not have two sources of executive power. The executive power is in the Prime Minister and his cabinet," he said an interview with the Straits Times.

Nevertheless, President Ong had set an exemplary precedent by mustering the moral courage and fortitude to question the government, despite the constitutional amendments that curbed his powers significantly during his tenure of office.

As for Nathan, he has yet to prove whether he possesses President Ong's mettle in the discharge of presidential duties.