SINGAPORE — Opposing the Government’s proposed changes to the Elected Presidency scheme, the Workers’ Party (WP) on Tuesday (Nov 8) suggested that a Senate be set up instead to take over the custodial duties of the EP, such as safeguarding the country’s reserves and overseeing key public service appointments.
On the second day of the debate on the constitutional amendment Bill, WP Members of Parliament also proposed having a national referendum to allow Singaporeans to choose between the proposals put up by the People’s Action Party (PAP) Government and the WP.
Elaborating on his party’s proposals, WP chief Low Thia Khiang said the proposed eight-member Senate will replace the current Council of Presidential Advisers (CPA).
A President will be appointed as the head of the Senate, with the appointment to take into account Singapore’s multiracial make-up. Parliament will also be allowed to overrule the Senate’s veto powers with a three-quarter majority.
Mr Low said a national referendum is overdue considering the change in Singapore’s political model – from a purely democratic parliamentary system to one where its powers are curtailed by an Elected Presidency.
“The change in the political system that we have now, with the Elected President, is drastic for me. It would change in the fundamental way where there will be deep implication in the future,” he said.
In calling for a senate to be set up, WP chairman Sylvia Lim argued that the symbolic and custodial roles of the Elected President present an inherent tension which would politicise the office.
She noted that this tension was noted by the Constitutional Commission tasked to review the Elected Presidency even though the issue was outside its terms of reference. “We disagree that the President should be an elected office, and should be tasked to safeguard the past reserves and the integrity of the public service. We thus oppose the Bill,” said Ms Lim.
In his speech, Mr Low also accused the PAP government of making changes to the Elected Presidency to further its own interest. He said that the 2011 Presidential Election — which former Cabinet Minister, Dr Tony Tan, won with a narrow margin — had caused uneasiness to the party.
The PAP Government’s proposed changes to the EP scheme were meant to stop this “frightening situation” from happening again in the next Presidential Election, Mr Low said. “We feel that the PAP is only concerned with its own interests, and leaving Singapore to face great risks in the future,” said Mr Low.
