New campaign rules to ensure EP hopefuls run dignified races

SINGAPORE — To increase television airtime for candidates, presidential hopefuls will participate in two televised forums — instead of one previously — in the lead-up to the Presidential Elections (PE). They will also deliver campaign statements through Presidential Candidate Broadcasts across 17 television and radio channels — four more than the last PE.

Campaigning guidelines were set out by the Elections Department (ELD) on Tuesday (Aug 29), a day after Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong issued the writ of election. Other departures from past polls include candidates having to make a statutory declaration that they understand the President’s role, and a voluntary undertaking to campaign in a manner that is “dignified, decorous and consistent” with the highest office of the land, said the ELD in a press release. It added: “The focus of the Presidential Election campaign should ... be on the suitability and integrity of candidates to discharge these functions, while maintaining the dignity of the office.”

Nomination Day will fall on Sept 13, with nominations slated to take place at the People’s Association auditorium at King George’s Avenue. Should there be more than one eligible candidate, voters will head to the polls on Sept 23.

So far, three people have indicated an intention to contest. Mr Farid Khan Kaim Khan, 62, chairman of marine services provider Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific, and Mr Mohamed Salleh Marican, 67, chief executive of Second Chance Properties, submitted their application forms last week.

Former Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, 63, has said she would submit her application “in due course”.

If there is only one eligible candidate, the Returning Officer will declare him or her the elected President on Nomination Day, and the candidate will start serving as President the following day.

During the parliamentary debate on the Presidential Elections (Amendment) Bill in February, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing said the Government would tweak campaign rules to discourage divisive electioneering, and do away with designated rally sites. Candidates hoping to hold rallies will need to find the sites themselves and apply to the police for a permit, after the close of nomination proceedings. 

Rallies featured in the hotly contested 2011 polls, which Dr Tony Tan won narrowly. Some candidates had promised to pursue particular policies if they were elected, despite this being beyond a President’s constitutional remit.

With the removal of designated rally sites, television will become the key mode of campaigning. Candidates will be given 10 minutes of airtime to make their campaign statements on two days: Sept 14 and Sept 21. 

They will take part in two 90-minute forums on Sept 16 and Sept 19. 

The first forum is hosted by The Straits Times, where candidates will answer questions posed on social media platforms in a programme live-streamed on Singapore Press Holdings’ social media platforms in the day. A recording will air on Mediacorp television channels on the same night. 

The Mediacorp forum on Sept 19 will be broadcast live on selected TV and radio channels, and on Toggle. Questions will be sourced from TV audience and social media.

Candidates must declare all Internet campaigning platforms to the Returning Officer. They will also have to submit any films related to their campaign to the Infocomm Media Development Authority for vetting before exhibiting or distributing them. 

Ahead of Nomination Day, the three potential candidates have been actively reaching out to the public through social media. In response to queries, the ELD said relevant election laws will apply only to successfully nominated candidates during the campaign period, between the close of Nomination Day and the end of the eve of Polling Day.

The coming Presidential Election is reserved for the Malay community, following changes to the Elected Presidency passed by Parliament in November last year. Presidential hopefuls will have to cap their campaign budget at S$754,982.40. Under the Presidential Elections Act, campaign expenses are limited to 30 cents per registered voter or S$600,000, depending on whichever is higher. Over 2.5 million voters are eligible to vote in next month’s Presidential Elections.

TIMELINE OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNING BROADCASTS

Sept 13: Nomination Day
Sept 14: 1st presidential candidate broadcast (10min) to air across 17 Mediacorp TV channels, Mediacorp and SPH radio stations
Sept 16: 1st televised forum to be livestreamed on SPH social media platforms in the morning/early afternoon
Sept 19: 2nd televised forum to be broadcast live on Mediacorp TV and radio channels and Toggle
Sept 21: 2nd presidential candidate broadcast (10min) to air across 17 Mediacorp TV channels, Mediacorp and SPH radio stations
Sept 22: Cooling-off Day