Meritocracy should apply to Elected Presidency too

May the best man win — that is the hallmark of meritocracy, in which we have been brought up to believe. Social mobility has been possible, regardless of race, language or religion.

We extend the same belief to the Elected Presidency. We want someone with the executive ability to discharge the custodial role in safeguarding the nation’s reserves and unifying its people as a symbolic head of state, and not of the government.

There must be a perceived distance from the Government so that in times of need, he can say no to the establishment if he deems it fit. To do so, he needs a mandate from the people he represents.

If he is elected, instead of appointed, he would feel less pressure to act against his better judgment and would put the people’s interests foremost in his deliberations (“Whose mandate is stronger on custodial issues: EP or Parliament?”; Sept 20).

But a President has an ethnicity. Can he remain impartial? As a symbolic head, he must represent a people of diverse origins, hence the need for candidates of different races to reflect our social reality.

To intervene when a minority has not taken office as the symbol of the land for a protracted period may be necessary.

But the concern is that it smacks of affirmative action, which may generate an unintended perception that perhaps the best man may not be getting the job. This can be circumvented only if we are race-blind, but we are not there yet. There is also concern that not enough candidates meet the minimum criteria.

Just what do we want? A person who is capable of independent thinking, receptive to ideas from the Council of Presidential Advisers, who should be equally independent and diverse in profession and social mix, and exudes compassion to people of all races.

It must be clear that he does not subsume the Prime Minister as head of government and should thus be limited in his or her powers.

Whoever assumes the office would meet the same standards for merit and character, even if he or she is of a minority race.

If that person proves herself/himself, the race issue would slowly dissipate. Ultimately, the best person wins.