PM tells new president 'no cause to exercise' his powers

AS a government-backed veteran diplomat was sworn in late Wednesday as Singapore's sixth president, the Prime Minsiter said his government would give the president no "cause to exercise" his powers.

S.R. Nathan, 75, took over from President Ong Teng Cheong, whose departure was tinged with acrimony after he complained about his working relationship with the government which wields full executive power.

"As president, I have custodial powers under the constitution. These are to protect our past reserves and the dignity of the public service," Nathan said.

"I will exercise these powers in Singapore's national interests as my duty and conscience requires," he said.

Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, however, said his government would give Nathan no "cause to exercise" his powers.

"As I told President Ong when he was sworn in six years ago, my government has no intention of squandering the financial reserves which we have so painstakingly accumulated, nor depart from the cardinal principle of appointing the best officers to key positions on merit," he said.

Before his departure, Ong listed several problems during his six-year term and said some ministers and civil servants viewed his office as a nuisance.

The premier said Wednesday's Nathan's role would remain routine "so long as the government is honest, budgets prudently, and appoints public officers on merit.

"But it becomes critically important when an opportunistic government seeks to raid the reserves for political or other purposes, or to undermine the integrity of the public service to facilitate their misdeed," he said.

"Then as a goalkeeper, the president becomes our last line of defence. If he fumbles Singapore may never recover from an irresponsible or dishonest government."