Introducing reserved elections for minorities ‘a judgment call’: K Shanmugam

SINGAPORE — Whether to have a hiatus-triggered reserved election to ensure minority representation in the Elected Presidency (EP) is a “judgment call”, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam during a forum, where the need to bring race back into the constitutional mix emerged as a central theme.

Alluding to his own career in politics as a minority, Mr Shanmugam on Friday (Oct 21) said there is a “vast difference in public perception” and “a process” from when he stood for elections as an “unknown 29-year-old” to his current standing as an anchor minister for his constituency in Nee Soon.

“Race can play a factor. How much of a factor is a judgment call…It can be enough of a factor among a certain percentage of the population such as to swing some votes. And that can lead to a situation where minority candidates can be shut out for a long period of time,” he said, reiterating that there are only nine African Americans senators in the United States’ 230 years of independence to date, of which only four are elected.

“When you have say two people of equal standing for elections. Is there anyone in this room who believes that not even 10 to 15 per cent of the population would be influenced by the factor of race? Our view was that we always deal with these problems well before they arise,” said Mr Shanmugam at the forum, which was organised by the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS).

Some have cited Mr Murali Pillai’s victory in the Bukit Batok by-election in May as proof that race no longer matters, but Mr Shanmugam called this “a false comparison”.

“When you vote in an SMC, remember the party is a significant factor… There’s a certain premium based on which party stands… Then the candidate carries a certain percentage,” he said.

The forum was attended by 223 leaders in the commercial, civic, academic and civil service fields. Among the speakers was Mr Benett Theseira, president of the Eurasian Association, who was unhappy that Eurasians would considered part of the “Indians and other minorities” community, in relation to the EP.

“Indians outnumbered Eurasians 20 to 1. So it makes it difficult for (there to be) an Eurasian president,” he said.

The issue of former Member of Parliament and 2011 presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock being excluded under the proposed eligibility criteria also resurfaced. An audience member asked if a referendum should be held so Singaporeans can decide if there is an urgent need for changes to kick in before the next presidential election, due by next August.

Mr Shanmugam said that in the 1980s, it took some five years for the EP system to be firmed up, because the Government was “shooting in the dark” amid the various suggestions raised. 
After the EP was introduced in 1991, less time was needed to pass constitutional amendments. “Do you think 25 years (with no update to the system) is too long? Unless you are saying (that) while we agree that the system ought to be updated, we think that you shouldn’t update it until certain individuals get the right to take part again… and I am sure you won’t say that,” Mr Shanmugam said.