'Be very clear' on powers of President
FORMER deputy prime minister S. Jayakumar has called on the public and potential presidential candidates to be "very clear" about what an elected president can and cannot do.
Professor Jayakumar, 71, said yesterday that he is "surprised and disappointed" by some of the "statements and claims" made by potential presidential candidates.
While he did not name those responsible, he said:
"Some of their statements seem to imply that the President is a centre of power unto himself, distinct from the government of the day, and imply that he has certain executive powers. That is not the case."
Prof Jayakumar was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of his new book, Diplomacy - A Singapore Experience.
He held the Law Minister portfolio in the 1980s and was involved in the drafting of two White Papers and constitutional amendments - which brought about the making of the elected presidency.
He pointed out that an elected president has discretionary, custodial powers limited to certain areas.
These include the protection of reserves, Internal Security Act detentions, Corruption Practices Investigation Bureau investigations and restraining orders under the Religious Harmony Act.
"But, even in those areas, the President has no power to initiate decisions or policy. He has only blocking powers. (In) all other areas, the President is obliged, under the Constitution, to act on the advice of the Cabinet," he explained.
When asked, he said that he would not be running for the presidency.
Recently, former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian said that, if elected, he would influence the investment policies of Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corp, as one way of safeguarding the national reserves.
In his 316-page tome published by the Straits Times Press, Prof Jayakumar shares his reflections on selected events and episodes during his tenure as Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1971 to 1974, and as foreign-affairs minister from 1994 to 2004.
[Source]
FORMER deputy prime minister S. Jayakumar has called on the public and potential presidential candidates to be "very clear" about what an elected president can and cannot do.
Professor Jayakumar, 71, said yesterday that he is "surprised and disappointed" by some of the "statements and claims" made by potential presidential candidates.
While he did not name those responsible, he said:
"Some of their statements seem to imply that the President is a centre of power unto himself, distinct from the government of the day, and imply that he has certain executive powers. That is not the case."
Prof Jayakumar was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the launch of his new book, Diplomacy - A Singapore Experience.
He held the Law Minister portfolio in the 1980s and was involved in the drafting of two White Papers and constitutional amendments - which brought about the making of the elected presidency.
He pointed out that an elected president has discretionary, custodial powers limited to certain areas.
These include the protection of reserves, Internal Security Act detentions, Corruption Practices Investigation Bureau investigations and restraining orders under the Religious Harmony Act.
"But, even in those areas, the President has no power to initiate decisions or policy. He has only blocking powers. (In) all other areas, the President is obliged, under the Constitution, to act on the advice of the Cabinet," he explained.
When asked, he said that he would not be running for the presidency.
Recently, former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian said that, if elected, he would influence the investment policies of Temasek Holdings and the Government of Singapore Investment Corp, as one way of safeguarding the national reserves.
In his 316-page tome published by the Straits Times Press, Prof Jayakumar shares his reflections on selected events and episodes during his tenure as Singapore's Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 1971 to 1974, and as foreign-affairs minister from 1994 to 2004.
[Source]
