- Joined
- Nov 24, 2008
- Messages
- 24,163
- Points
- 113
The role of the Presidency is one of non-partisanship. The President has specific duties, one of which is to constitutionally protect and safeguard the National Reserves REGARDLESS OF THE PARTY IN POWER. His recent speech at the opening of parliament clearly shows his parrotting the govt. line and delivering govt. policies and planning as though he was a sitting minister and a senior member of the PAP. He has to remain neutral, his job calls for it. Obviously, we know his second cousin Gay Loong ask him to deliver the speech, but it begs the question of why he does not understand the political system of checks and balances and that the Presidency represents one branch while the PAP another? In the run up to the Presidential election, a lot was made of the fact that Tony Tan resign his posts and positions in the PAP, as he rightly has to. But judging by his speech, you would never know that he is not a card carrying PAP member. This is a clear illustration that true democracy is fake and non existence in Singapore.
Constitutional
The powers of the Elected President are set out in the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore and these powers largely fall into two categories - discretionary powers and non-discretionary powers.
Discretionary powers
The President has the power to veto or disagree with the Government’s proposals in the following areas:
Use of Past Reserves – i.e. Reserves not accumulated by the Government during its current term of office.
Appointment and removal of key office holders in the public service and in the statutory boards and Government companies which are listed in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
Changes to investment powers of the Central Provident Fund Board
Restraining Orders under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (Cap. 167A)
Continued detention under the Internal Security Act (Cap. 143)
Refusal of investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB)
The President’s discretionary powers provide an important check and balance to the Government with regard to preventing the misuse of the nation’s reserves and ensuring that the public service is impartial.
The President must consult the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) on matters relating to Past Reserves and the appointment and removal of key office holders (Article 21(3) of the Constitution). On other areas involving the President’s discretionary powers, consultation of CPA is optional (Article 21(4) of the Constitution).
If the President vetoes (i) the Government’s budget (on the basis that it is likely to lead to a draw on Past Reserves) or (ii) the appointment/removal of any key office holder, and the President’s decision is contrary to CPA’s advice, Parliament may overrule the President’s decision with a two-thirds majority vote.
On other matters involving the President’s discretionary powers, the President’s decision is final.
Constitutional
The powers of the Elected President are set out in the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore and these powers largely fall into two categories - discretionary powers and non-discretionary powers.
Discretionary powers
The President has the power to veto or disagree with the Government’s proposals in the following areas:
Use of Past Reserves – i.e. Reserves not accumulated by the Government during its current term of office.
Appointment and removal of key office holders in the public service and in the statutory boards and Government companies which are listed in the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution.
Changes to investment powers of the Central Provident Fund Board
Restraining Orders under the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act (Cap. 167A)
Continued detention under the Internal Security Act (Cap. 143)
Refusal of investigations by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB)
The President’s discretionary powers provide an important check and balance to the Government with regard to preventing the misuse of the nation’s reserves and ensuring that the public service is impartial.
The President must consult the Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA) on matters relating to Past Reserves and the appointment and removal of key office holders (Article 21(3) of the Constitution). On other areas involving the President’s discretionary powers, consultation of CPA is optional (Article 21(4) of the Constitution).
If the President vetoes (i) the Government’s budget (on the basis that it is likely to lead to a draw on Past Reserves) or (ii) the appointment/removal of any key office holder, and the President’s decision is contrary to CPA’s advice, Parliament may overrule the President’s decision with a two-thirds majority vote.
On other matters involving the President’s discretionary powers, the President’s decision is final.
