He also says he doesn't listen to the world when he is doing his work. Should he go for the president election of United States? 
'Although I've been quiet, I've been doing work'
by Loh Chee Kong 04:47 AM Jun 08, 2011PORT LOUIS (Mauritius) - After 12 years in office as the Republic's second Elected President, Mr S R Nathan - who has yet to decide whether to run for a third term - indicated yesterday that he had many thoughts on the role and how he has performed it, including the highlights and challenges of his tenure and criticism that he had been "doing nothing".
But Mr Nathan, 87, who was speaking to the Singapore media at the end of a state visit to Mauritius, would not elaborate despite repeated requests from journalists - at least not now, not when the country is poised for its most hotly-contested Presidential Election to date.
Mr Nathan said all will be revealed in his memoirs, which are expected to be published in September. "When that book is published, you will know that, although I've been quiet, I've been doing work."
Mr Nathan said his age was a factor he would consider when deciding whether he would contest the election. He added: "I have to think of my age. People say, 'This old man, what the hell is he still there, wanting to do it? Some others think I'm doing nothing, so it's a waste of time for them to think of me. But all this noise will always be there in the world. You have a sense of what you want to do and you just do it because if you listen to the world, your work will never be done."
Mr Nathan acknowledged that there is a perception that he had not been as aggressive in his approach as his predecessor, the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, who was Singapore's first Elected President.
Said Mr Nathan: "There are voices saying that but I can't answer them. I know the limitations of the Constitution and what you have to do. So I'm not there in a boxing match."
Mr Nathan declined to be drawn into whether the role of the elected presidency has to evolve in response to the new political landscape. Doing so would be unfair, he reiterated, as it is for the presidential hopefuls "to think what they want to do and to face the realities" eventually.
Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian, who confirmed that he will put himself forward for election, has proposed to clarify the role of the President, should he be elected.
On Mr Tan's plans, Mr Nathan said: "You must remember that the Presidency operates on the Constitution - and what is possible and what is not possible is determined by that ... I won't want to belittle his enthusiasm. If he can do it, good luck to him."
Still, Mr Nathan pointed out that the elected presidency has to "strike roots" as well as "adjust to changing situations". He added: "It's a new institution and Singaporeans must understand that there's a difference between that institution and the executive Government."
On his work over the past dozen years, Mr Nathan said: "Often I ask myself: What have I done? (I have) done nothing ... It's hard for me to quantify. I mean it's not like building a housing estate and saying I've got so many units and so on. We can't ... It's a very intangible thing. You may have to go round (asking) the people in the heartland and see how many of them were satisfied with whatever I did or whatever I did not do."
And it is the heartlands that the presidential hopeful will have to appeal to, Mr Nathan noted. He said: "Each one should have a fair chance of presenting their viewpoint, of convincing the heartlands that they are the most suitable person to lead them. Most of my time over the last 12 years, I've endeavoured to develop a bond with the people of the heartlands and I value that very much."Additional reporting by Hoe Yeen Nie
'Although I've been quiet, I've been doing work'
by Loh Chee Kong 04:47 AM Jun 08, 2011PORT LOUIS (Mauritius) - After 12 years in office as the Republic's second Elected President, Mr S R Nathan - who has yet to decide whether to run for a third term - indicated yesterday that he had many thoughts on the role and how he has performed it, including the highlights and challenges of his tenure and criticism that he had been "doing nothing".
But Mr Nathan, 87, who was speaking to the Singapore media at the end of a state visit to Mauritius, would not elaborate despite repeated requests from journalists - at least not now, not when the country is poised for its most hotly-contested Presidential Election to date.
Mr Nathan said all will be revealed in his memoirs, which are expected to be published in September. "When that book is published, you will know that, although I've been quiet, I've been doing work."
Mr Nathan said his age was a factor he would consider when deciding whether he would contest the election. He added: "I have to think of my age. People say, 'This old man, what the hell is he still there, wanting to do it? Some others think I'm doing nothing, so it's a waste of time for them to think of me. But all this noise will always be there in the world. You have a sense of what you want to do and you just do it because if you listen to the world, your work will never be done."
Mr Nathan acknowledged that there is a perception that he had not been as aggressive in his approach as his predecessor, the late Mr Ong Teng Cheong, who was Singapore's first Elected President.
Said Mr Nathan: "There are voices saying that but I can't answer them. I know the limitations of the Constitution and what you have to do. So I'm not there in a boxing match."
Mr Nathan declined to be drawn into whether the role of the elected presidency has to evolve in response to the new political landscape. Doing so would be unfair, he reiterated, as it is for the presidential hopefuls "to think what they want to do and to face the realities" eventually.
Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian, who confirmed that he will put himself forward for election, has proposed to clarify the role of the President, should he be elected.
On Mr Tan's plans, Mr Nathan said: "You must remember that the Presidency operates on the Constitution - and what is possible and what is not possible is determined by that ... I won't want to belittle his enthusiasm. If he can do it, good luck to him."
Still, Mr Nathan pointed out that the elected presidency has to "strike roots" as well as "adjust to changing situations". He added: "It's a new institution and Singaporeans must understand that there's a difference between that institution and the executive Government."
On his work over the past dozen years, Mr Nathan said: "Often I ask myself: What have I done? (I have) done nothing ... It's hard for me to quantify. I mean it's not like building a housing estate and saying I've got so many units and so on. We can't ... It's a very intangible thing. You may have to go round (asking) the people in the heartland and see how many of them were satisfied with whatever I did or whatever I did not do."
And it is the heartlands that the presidential hopeful will have to appeal to, Mr Nathan noted. He said: "Each one should have a fair chance of presenting their viewpoint, of convincing the heartlands that they are the most suitable person to lead them. Most of my time over the last 12 years, I've endeavoured to develop a bond with the people of the heartlands and I value that very much."Additional reporting by Hoe Yeen Nie
... n u call dat work! ... :oIo:
