Make reasons for decision on eligibility of candidates public: Analysts

SINGAPORE — Following the issuance of the writ of election Monday (Aug 28), the two private sector presidential hopefuls reiterated the importance of a contest, while political analysts said the committee determining their eligibility should explain its decision although the Constitution does not require it to do so.

This is because next month’s Presidential Election, besides being the inaugural reserved election, will be the first using revised criteria for private sector candidates, said analysts.

The Elections Department told TODAY that successful applicants will be handed a certificate of eligibility by Sept 12, the eve of Nomination Day.

Whichever way the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) decides, it should explain in adequate detail why Mr Farid Khan Kaim Khan and Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican do or do not qualify to run for president, said analysts. Both helm companies that fall significantly short of the S$500 million minimum shareholders’ equity criterion.

Dr Gillian Koh, deputy director (research) at the Institute of Policy Studies, said: “Unfortunately, because of the very explicit criteria, the two hopefuls who do not meet the automatic qualification criteria will have to make up for the stark shortfall by proving they have the qualities that are demanded by the deliberative track of qualification.”

In all previous Presidential Elections, where a person’s application for the certificate of eligibility is turned down, the PEC issued a statement “giving broad indicators as to why a particular person was not granted a (certificate)”, said Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan. For example, it might explain that a person did not meet the paid up capital requirement.

Mr Tan Jee Say’s and Mr Tan Kin Lian’s applications in the 2011 Presidential Election were approved after deliberation, noted Assoc Prof Tan. Mr Farid and Mr Marican will thus likely have to show that they have the necessary experience and expertise, “notwithstanding their falling short in terms of running a company of the requisite financial size”.

“That’s where it would be a tall order for these men. On paper, they fall short by quite a significant margin, and I think the likelihood of there being a contest is quite low,” Assoc Prof Tan added.

To National University of Singapore political scientist Bilveer Singh, this election is a show of how much the PEC is willing to “bend backwards so that the other two candidates can be brought in” for a contest.

While a contest will ascribe “all the legitimacy” to the winner, Dr Singh said it “does not matter” if there is no contest, citing how the late S R Nathan “did superbly well”.

Ultimately, the “temperament of the office holder is crucial”, he added.

“The two candidates have been quite open in saying that they don’t qualify on financial (criteria), but they were hoping to be considered on their contributions on other aspects ... Only (Mdm Halimah Yacob) qualifies (through) the front door.”

This is because the former Speaker of Parliament, who resigned from the position earlier this month, had occupied the role for more than three years.

Mdm Halimah, 63, said yesterday Singapore Business Federation chairman Teo Siong Seng would be her proposer. Mr Marican and Mr Farid have not decided on their proposers.

“A contest will be good for Singapore,” said Mr Marican, 67, adding that he is “awaiting eagerly” the decision on whether he will be given the go-ahead to join the race.

The chief executive of Second Chance Properties has pledged to donate his presidential salary to “smaller, underfunded charities”.

Mr Farid, 62, chairman of marine services company Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific, called for a “fair and transparent election” — one that provides Singaporeans an opportunity “to uphold democracy and to show the world how multiracialism is adopted and practised in Singapore”.