Law Minister surrenders after TanKinLian's statements

[makapaaa]

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[TD="class: row1, width: 150"]local123



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[TD="width: 100%"]Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:35 pm Post subject: Law Minister surrenders after TanKinLian's statements[/TD]
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[TD="colspan: 2"]Tan Kin Lian did a good job in check and balance on Law Minister's statements.
He should be our champion of check and balance on the govt.


http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/1145627/1/.html


PE: Shanmugam clarifies comments on President's role


SINGAPORE: Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has clarified his comments made at a recent forum about how influential the president can be.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event, Mr Shanmugam said that there are many areas where the Prime Minister has the duty to make decisions.

Although the President cannot direct the Prime Minister on these matters, he can give his views and his advice even in areas outside his Constitutional power.

Mr Shanmugam said it is untrue that only Government endorsed candidates can be influential.

"The quality of the advice will depend on the person giving that advice and a President who is wise, knowledgeable and experienced will obviously be more influential than another who doesn't have as much experience or as much wisdom," said Mr Shanmugam.

Mr Shanmugam said the office itself commands respect and whoever holds the office must be given the respect due.

And as the President is elected by the people, Mr Shanmugam said that the people's power to make the choice must be respected.

Mr Shamugam also responded to comments made by several other Presidential hopefuls who disagreed with him on the Constitutional Role of the President.

He said they are entitled to their views and felt it was not appropriate for him to comment further on their statements.

Mr Shanmugam said: "If there are disagreements, as previously it has happened before, we can always get it resolved through the courts. When you have check and balance, you must expect that sometimes there might be differences in views. And if there are differences in views, we have a structure and system in place to deal with those differences."[/TD]
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[makapaaa]

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[TD="class: row2, width: 150"]local123



Joined: 14 Dec 2009
Posts: 4937

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[TD="width: 100%"]Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:40 pm Post subject: [/TD]
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[TD="colspan: 2"]It is very clear that Tan Kin Lian has the gut and conviction to be our first President who can be a voice of the people to do check and balance on the govt even if he has not yet become the President.


Keep up the good job, MR TAN KIN LIAN.[/TD]
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[annexa]

http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=158087717599105

How is the President above politics?
by Dr Tan Cheng Bock on Saturday, 06 August 2011 at 19:10

I refer to the Strait Times article today (06 August 2011): “Law Minister debunks notions on what president can say”

The President is elected by Singaporeans. This office should be accorded due respect. I am therefore surprised by the Law Minister K Shanmugam's remarks which I quote, “Whether the president actually wields influence obviously depends on who the president is. If he is someone who commands little or no respect of the prime minister, then of course influence will be limited."

Is the Law Minister saying that the people's choice of the President matters little unless he is endorsed by the government? Then how is the President to be above politics?