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[h=1]Singapore[/h][h=4]Home > Breaking News > Singapore > Story[/h]
[h=3]Aug 6, 2011[/h][h=1]Tan Jee Say: 'I will speak up on issues of conscience'[/h]<!-- by line -->By Tessa Wong
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[h=4]'If I'm elected President, I would not betray the people's trust and would speak up for them,' he said, adding that he would have the moral authority to do so because he would have been directly elected by the people. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN[/h]<!-- story content : start -->
PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Mr Tan Jee Say said on Saturday night that if elected President, he would not be doing his duty if he does not speak up on 'issues on conscience'.
'I think the mission of the President is to provide checks and balances on the Government and the President would not be doing his duty if he doesn't speak up, whenever the Government crosses the line or fails to deliver its promises to the people. He has the moral authority to do so because he has been directly elected by the people. If I'm elected president I would not betray the people's trust and speak up for them,' he said.
Mr Tan was responding to comments made on Friday by Law Minister Mr K Shanmugam that the President can only act and speak as advised by the Cabinet. Mr Tan added: 'But I would not abuse my speaking rights. My approach is to always speak privately and confidentially with the Prime Minister, and convey my concerns to him about certain aspects of the policies.'
He said that he would not pursue further if changes were made. 'But on fundamental issues of conscience, I reserve the right to speak up, when the concerns of the people are not adequately being taken care of,' said Mr Tan, citing the casino issue as one example.
Asked if the President speaking up may cause confusion among citizens on the role of the President, Mr Tan pointed out that PAP members of Parliament have spoken up against the Government in the past on issues like the casinos and foreign workers. 'Are they confusing people? They are not. So why should the President be accused as confusing the people when he disagrees with the PAP?'
Mr Tan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) dinner on Saturday night. Mr Tan is a former SDP election candidate.
[h=3]Aug 6, 2011[/h][h=1]Tan Jee Say: 'I will speak up on issues of conscience'[/h]<!-- by line -->By Tessa Wong
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Mr Tan Jee Say said on Saturday night that if elected President, he would not be doing his duty if he does not speak up on 'issues on conscience'.
'I think the mission of the President is to provide checks and balances on the Government and the President would not be doing his duty if he doesn't speak up, whenever the Government crosses the line or fails to deliver its promises to the people. He has the moral authority to do so because he has been directly elected by the people. If I'm elected president I would not betray the people's trust and speak up for them,' he said.
Mr Tan was responding to comments made on Friday by Law Minister Mr K Shanmugam that the President can only act and speak as advised by the Cabinet. Mr Tan added: 'But I would not abuse my speaking rights. My approach is to always speak privately and confidentially with the Prime Minister, and convey my concerns to him about certain aspects of the policies.'
He said that he would not pursue further if changes were made. 'But on fundamental issues of conscience, I reserve the right to speak up, when the concerns of the people are not adequately being taken care of,' said Mr Tan, citing the casino issue as one example.
Asked if the President speaking up may cause confusion among citizens on the role of the President, Mr Tan pointed out that PAP members of Parliament have spoken up against the Government in the past on issues like the casinos and foreign workers. 'Are they confusing people? They are not. So why should the President be accused as confusing the people when he disagrees with the PAP?'
Mr Tan was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) dinner on Saturday night. Mr Tan is a former SDP election candidate.
