Hiatus-triggered model ‘strikes the right balance for Singapore’

SINGAPORE — A “hiatus-triggered” model to ensure minority representation in the presidency will be adopted by the Government, with the Government seeking advice from the Attorney-General on aspects of the proposal. 

In its White Paper issued on Thursday (Sept 15) responding to the Constitutional Commission’s recommended changes to the Elected Presidency, the Government also called the safeguard “race-neutral”, as it would guarantee that all racial groups would be represented, and commended it for striking a balance between maintaining multi-racialism as a long-term goal and ensuring minority representation in the meantime. 

The proposed mechanism will ensure that Presidential Elections are reserved for a minority race that has not been represented in the office for five consecutive terms. 

The next Presidential Election is due by next August. Law Minister K Shanmugam said last week that the Government was asking the Attorney-General for advice on certain aspects of the commission’s proposals to ensure representation of all the major races in the office of the President.

“The Government will announce its position once the AG has given his advice and the Government has considered it,” said Mr Shanmugam then.

In the White Paper, the Government noted that such a mechanism does not compromise on Singapore’s “meritocratic ideals” — a minority President would also have to meet rigorous eligibility criteria to be contest.

The Government also reiterated the commission’s point that despite significant progress, Singapore is not yet a “post-racial” society. This was reflected in a recent survey by Channel NewsAsia and the Institute of Policy Studies, where many respondents said they found it more acceptable for a member of their own race to be the President and Prime Minister, over other races.

“While this does not mean that a candidate from a minority ethnic group will never be able to overcome racial barriers, these findings underscore that race remains a significant factor for many Singaporeans, and that voting choices can, and are swayed by racial factors, quite apart from the merit of candidates,” noted the Government.

It also noted how other countries have adopted multi-racial representation in Presidential office, such as Switzerland, where the Presidency is rotated amongst seven Federal Council members from various cantons, language regions, and parties.

In Canada, the Governor-General post is rotated between English-speaking and French-speaking persons, while in New Zealand, racial minorities are appointed to the post of Governor-General from time to time. 

The world is seeing a trend of “explicitly race-based politics” which “work up and exploit populist sentiments”, the Government said, citing the debates on immigration policy intertwined with racial arguments during the European Union referendum campaign in Britain earlier this year. In Singapore, racial harmony could easily unravel, the Government warned. 

The President is the prime unifying figure symbolising Singapore’s multi-racial identity and the Republic loses an “important element of multi-racialism if particular racial minorities are never represented in the office of President”.

“Every Singaporean has to be able to identify with the President, and to know that a member of his community can and will become President from time to time,” the Government said.