Statement from Tan Kin Lian - Can the President speak?

I agree with the Law Minister Shanmugan on the duties of the President and how they are to be carried out, in so far as they are stated specifically and clearly in the Constitution.

I do not agree with his view that  the President cannot speak about anything else without the approval of the Government.

I find the Law Minister’s interpretation to be too narrow. It seemed to give the President less freedom of speech than an ordinary citizen of Singapore.

I wish to assure the Law Minister and the Government that, if I were elected as President, I would carry out the duties within the constitution and to bring issues of the people to the Government in a constructive and cooperative manner, and will help to find the solutions that are best for the people and for the Government as well. I believe that in most cases, there are many areas of common interest between the Government and the people.

I also pledge to the people that I will bring up issues that are legitimate and affect large numbers of people. I will be “the voice of the people” in conveying these issues to the Government.

I urge the Government to adopt a more open approach towards the issues of the people. There is no need to politicize these issues. If they are legitimate issues, let us adopt an open and constructive approach to solve them. Many of these issues are best solved when they are discussed openly in a forum and bring the views of the impartial experts and also the views of the people who are affected by them.

An open approach is more likely to bring better solutions. It allows the people to be engaged and understand the issue better. It removes suspicion and builds trust. This will be for the better of the future of Singapore.

I have looked at the constitution earlier about whether the President can be the voice of the people to bring issues to the Government. I do not find any requirement that the President should be “dumb”. I have also received advice from a lawyer who looked at the constitution and he confirmed my understanding.

I shall ask the lawyer to go through the constitution one more time to see if there are clauses that have been overlooked by me, and that support the interpretation of the Law Minister that the President cannot speak on any issue that differs from the actions taken by the Government.

If the reading of the constitution is not as narrow as stated by the Law Minister, I will proceed to contest the election (provided that I get the certificate of eligibility) and let the people decide if they wish to elect me on my platform to be the voice of the people and to work with the Government in a constructive and cooperative manner.

I believe that the Government will also find it wise to cooperate and respect the office of the elected President, in the interest of the people of Singapore.

Tan Kin Lian

Increase in Transport Fares

Reply to Shin Min paper


My view about public transport fares is contained in this statement

http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2011/07/statement-from-tan-kin-lian-public.html

I regret that the Public Transport Council has given approval for the fare increases at this time, while service levels have not yet been improved. I hope that the operators will follow through with the improvement in service for commuters by increasing the capacity of the bus and trains and provide shorter waiting and travelling times and more comfort for commuters.

I also hope that the public transport operators to give more concessions to the elderly, school children and the poor.

The Voice of the People and the Constitution

Response to Minister Shanmugan’s comments at IPS seminar,

Mr Shanmugan has presented a clear explanation on what are the constitutionally defined roles and responsibilities of our Elected President. If I am elected, as the constitutional Head of State, I would certainly uphold the letter and spirit of the law of our land and follow all the constitutional requirements expected of me.

In carrying out the duties of the President, I do not see a conflict between the constitutional requirements and the 5 values I espouse namely: Honesty, Fairness, Public Service, Courage and Public Service. These are the values I will apply in using the soft powers of the President.

In fulfilling my pledge to be the Voice of the People, I am pledging to be their interlocutor with the government as and when useful and appropriate. I note that he and Professor Tommy Koh revealed that the PM meets with the President weekly and I assume this convention will continue, whoever is elected. This mechanism ensures that substantial discussion could take place, if both sides are willing to have a dialogue.

During this period, leading up to polling day, each candidate must find the means to make themselves known and hopefully be forthright and truthful about how they intend to carry out their duties. As stated in my latest statement (http://tankinlian.blogspot.com/2011/08/voice-of-people.html) if elected, I intend to work in full co-operatrion with the government to find common ground on issues that the people feel strong about. I believe that a good government will be able to recognize a genuine call from the people and that the moral authority of the President will be sufficient weight for fair consideration.

Obviously, I will have to exercise discretion in raising the issues which are of greatest concern and urgency as well as those which are of real impact on Singapore and where there is need for confidentiality or discretion, I will know how to exercise this. I believe strongly that much can be achieved with a spirit of cooperation but it has to be both ways.