Singapore presidential election, 2005
Encyclopedia
The Singapore presidential election of 2005 was held to elect the President of Singapore
. The incumbent S. R. Nathan's first term was to end on August 31, 2005. The Writ of Election declared August 17 to be Nomination Day, and August 27 would have been declared Polling Day if more than one candidate were to stand nominated on Nomination Day.
After considering the candidates' applications, the Presidential Elections Committee issued a Certificate of Eligibility to Nathan, but declined to do so for the other candidates. On Nomination Day, Nathan was the only candidate to stand nominated. He was re-elected, and was sworn-in for his second term of office on September 1, 2005.
The applications were reviewed by the Presidential Elections Committee, which consisted of:
The Returning Officer was Tan Boon Huat, the Chief Executive Director of the People's Association
.
, where no candidate was judged eligible to run against a candidate endorsed by the People's Action Party
(PAP) government. However, there was little media coverage given to this debate and no polls been conducted on the public opinion regarding this matter.
On the other hand, there are consistent endorsement of Presidential Elections Committee's decision by political, trade union and business organisations. There are little media coverage on opposing views or interviews with rejected candidates.
A factor contributing to the lack of eligible candidate is the stringent requirement placed on the person who can be elected as President, as spelled out in the Constitution of Singapore
. There are only a few hundred people in the country who can be qualified and many of whom are in the rank-and-file of the People's Action Party
and therefore unlikely to challenge the candidate endorsed by the PAP.
Several commentators felt that the presidency had been undermined as an institution, and this sentiment was expressed in blogs http://www.newsintercom.org/index.php?itemid=354http://commentarysingapore.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_commentarysingapore_archive.htmlhttp://tomorrow.sg/archives/2005/08/15/no_chance_to_vote.html and in op-eds published in Today
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/67424.asphttp://www.todayonline.com/articles/67164.asp, a free newspaper. In contrast, Singapore's national newspaper, The Straits Times
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/review/story/0,5562,335510-1124488740,00.html?, and Channel News Asia http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/163027/1/.html had come out firmly to back Nathan on his re-election as Singapore's President.
President of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
. The incumbent S. R. Nathan's first term was to end on August 31, 2005. The Writ of Election declared August 17 to be Nomination Day, and August 27 would have been declared Polling Day if more than one candidate were to stand nominated on Nomination Day.
After considering the candidates' applications, the Presidential Elections Committee issued a Certificate of Eligibility to Nathan, but declined to do so for the other candidates. On Nomination Day, Nathan was the only candidate to stand nominated. He was re-elected, and was sworn-in for his second term of office on September 1, 2005.
Candidates
21 application forms for the Certificate of Eligibility required to contest were collected, and forms were submitted by four candidates.The applications were reviewed by the Presidential Elections Committee, which consisted of:
- Andrew Chew Guan Khuan, Chairman of the Public Service CommissionPublic Service Commission (Singapore)The Public Service Commission , Singapore , is constituted under Part IX of the Constitution of Singapore and its constitutional role is to appoint, confirm, promote, transfer, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over public officers in Singapore.The PSC also retains two key...
- Lim Siong GuanLim Siong GuanLim Siong Guan is the current Group President of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation .-Biography:Lim was educated at the Anglo-Chinese School, Singapore. He was awarded the President’s Scholarship to study at the University of Adelaide, Australia, where he graduated with First Class...
, Chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory AuthorityAccounting and Corporate Regulatory AuthorityThe Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority is a statutory board under the Ministry of Finance of the Singapore Government. ACRA is the national regulator of business entities and public accountants in Singapore... - H R Hochstadt, a member of the Presidential Council for Minority RightsPresidential Council for Minority RightsThe Presidential Council for Minority Rights is a non-elected government body in Singapore established in 1970, the main function of which is to scrutinize most of the bills passed by Parliament to ensure that they do not discriminate against any racial or religious community...
.
The Returning Officer was Tan Boon Huat, the Chief Executive Director of the People's Association
People's Association
The People’s Association was established in Singapore as a statutory board on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion. PA commemorated its 50th Anniversary in 2010....
.
Eligible
- S R Nathan, President of the Republic of Singapore (incumbent)
Declared ineligible
- Kuan Yoke Loon AndrewKuan Yoke Loon AndrewKuan Yoke Loon, commonly known as Andrew Kuan is the managing director of executive search firm Blue Arrow. From 2001 to 2004, Kuan was the group chief financial officer of the Jurong Town Corporation, one of four designated statutory boards that confer eligibility to contest in the presidential...
, former chief financial officer of Jurong Town Corporation (JTC). Independent media in Singapore widely speculated that the PAP government was not prepared for Kuan's candidacy, with the Think Centre NGO accusing the state media of "badmouthing" him.
- On August 9, Prime MinisterPrime ministerA prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Lee Hsien LoongLee Hsien LoongLee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
called for all candidates to be open about their records, so that Singaporeans could make an informed judgment on them. He also encouraged Andrew KuanKuan Yoke Loon AndrewKuan Yoke Loon, commonly known as Andrew Kuan is the managing director of executive search firm Blue Arrow. From 2001 to 2004, Kuan was the group chief financial officer of the Jurong Town Corporation, one of four designated statutory boards that confer eligibility to contest in the presidential...
's former employers to come forward, speak freely and tell Singaporeans what they knew about him.
- On August 11, Kuan's former employer, JTC called a news conference to provide details on the circumstances leading to Kuan's resignation in July 2004. Chong Lit Cheong, chief executive officerChief executive officerA chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of JTC said that Andrew Kuan's work at JTC had been unsatisfactory since his first year there and he had been asked to resign twice in 2003 and 2004. No details as to how his work was unsatisfactory were provided, other than a note that no fraud or other crime was involved, and he needed "quite a fair bit of hand holding". In reply, Kuan noted that he had worked at JTC Corporation for 37 months, which had extended his contract several times, and he had been given performance bonuses and a raise during this period. Another company, Hyflux, also publicly criticised Kuan.
- Later, Kuan was disqualified by the Presidential Elections Committee for failing to meet the criteria for running for president. The committee said Kuan's seniority and responsibility as JTC's Chief Financial Officer were not comparable to those required by the Constitution. A presidential candidate is required to have had experience as the chairman or CEO of a statutory board, or of a company with a paid-up capital of at least $100 million (Singaporean dollarsSingapore dollarThe Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
).- Ooi Boon EweOoi Boon EweOoi Boon Ewe is a Singaporean politician. He is most notable for attempting to contest various elections, general and presidential.-Politics:Ooi entered the politicial arena in the presidential elections in 1999...
, real estate executive. His application for the Certificate of Eligibility was rejected by the Presidential Elections Committee due to his lack of experience and ability required by the Constitution. - Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu. His application for the Certificate of Eligibility was rejected by the Presidential Elections Committee due to his lack of experience and ability required by the Constitution.
- Ooi Boon Ewe
Media coverage and public opinion
The unopposed nature of President Nathan's candidacy has sparked debates in Singapore about the country's political systemPolitics of Singapore
The politics of Singapore takes the form of a parliamentary republic whereby the President of Singapore is the head of state, the Prime Minister of Singapore is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the cabinet. Cabinet has the general direction and...
, where no candidate was judged eligible to run against a candidate endorsed by the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP) government. However, there was little media coverage given to this debate and no polls been conducted on the public opinion regarding this matter.
On the other hand, there are consistent endorsement of Presidential Elections Committee's decision by political, trade union and business organisations. There are little media coverage on opposing views or interviews with rejected candidates.
A factor contributing to the lack of eligible candidate is the stringent requirement placed on the person who can be elected as President, as spelled out in the Constitution of Singapore
Constitution of Singapore
The Constitution of Singapore is the supreme law of Singapore and it is a codified constitution.The constitution cannot be amended without the support of more than two-thirds of the members of parliament on the second and third readings . The president may seek opinion on constitutional issues...
. There are only a few hundred people in the country who can be qualified and many of whom are in the rank-and-file of the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
and therefore unlikely to challenge the candidate endorsed by the PAP.
Several commentators felt that the presidency had been undermined as an institution, and this sentiment was expressed in blogs http://www.newsintercom.org/index.php?itemid=354http://commentarysingapore.blogspot.com/2005_08_01_commentarysingapore_archive.htmlhttp://tomorrow.sg/archives/2005/08/15/no_chance_to_vote.html and in op-eds published in Today
Today (Singapore newspaper)
Today is a free English-language compact in Singapore published by government-owned MediaCorp print media arm. It is distributed from Monday to Sunday....
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/67424.asphttp://www.todayonline.com/articles/67164.asp, a free newspaper. In contrast, Singapore's national newspaper, The Straits Times
The Straits Times
The Straits Times is an English language daily broadsheet newspaper based in Singapore currently owned by Singapore Press Holdings . It is the country's highest-selling paper, with a current daily circulation of nearly 400,000...
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/sub/review/story/0,5562,335510-1124488740,00.html?, and Channel News Asia http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/163027/1/.html had come out firmly to back Nathan on his re-election as Singapore's President.
External links
- He ran away from home when he was 16 by Zuraidah Ibrahim and Lydia Lim - Ministry of Education.
- Release medical report of S R Nathan
- Government Gazette on Presidential Elections Committee 27 May 2005