Indian origin leader says ‘Singapore shouldn’t be a welfare state but a welfare society’
By Ivan Lim | Singapore
Mr. Tharman, the president-elect of Singapore, is brimming with ideas and plans to ensure Singapore is “more than just another small nation”.
“I will strive to create a “future where we are taken seriously in the world, we are a partner of choice, and where we can project our voice of reason internationally,” Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in his victory speech last night to cheering supporters.
“Singapore shouldn’t be a welfare state but a welfare society,” he said.
Mr. Tharman has a formidable track record of helming various key portfolios in the Cabinet. He is also exceptionally popular as a Member of Parliament having been re-elected with a high 70-plus per cent of the popular votes. He serves in the G-20 Group, and World Economic Forum as well as the United Nations Summit of the Future – roles that would enhance his stature as president internationally.
The presidential election was held on September 1, 2023. The post of the elected president has been created specifically to protect the reserves built up over the decades from being depleted by any government of the day through populist policies. With a popular mandate, the president is constitutionally empowered to disapprove the budget or bills tabled by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet if these involved drawing on the reserves they had not accumulated during their term of office.
Additionally, the elected president can also disapprove or revoke the appointment of key public office holders – from chief justice to chief of defence and police commissioner – if he disagrees with the advice or recommendation of the authority concerned.
The Indian-origin former Senior Minister Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam took 70.4 per cent of the 2.5 million nation-wide votes cast against 15.72 per cent and 13.88 per cent respectively for rivals Ng Kok Song, a former chief investment officer of the state sovereign wealth fund (GIC) and Tan Kin Lian, a former CEO of the union insurance co-operative (Income).
Despite the rivals’ efforts to put Mr. Tharman on the defensive, two renowned diplomats cum academic, Professor Tommy Koh, and Mr. Kishore Mahbubani had endorsed him for president.
The three presidential contenders had faced the nation on TV to spell out their vision and mission, They had also faced off at two Q & A forums on national TV to speak about they would serve the nation and carry out their custodial, ceremonial and community as well as international roles and responsibilities as elected President.
The spectacular result put paid to his rivals’ efforts to paint Mr. Tharman as a pro-establishment figure who could not be counted upon to stare down a high-spending prime minister intent on drawing down the state coffers.
Both Mr. Ng and Mr. Tan had portrayed themselves as “independent” of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and vowed to put a stop to the party’s “ownself check ownself” culture, and hold the government to account for any misuse of power or misconduct.
The “maverick” presidential hopeful had allied with opposition party chiefs to woo voters on a common platform of change and push for an independent president.
Mr. Tan also sought to exploit popular unhappiness with the rising cost of expensive public housing, Central Provident Fund withdrawal and national service to win votes.
In these he drew flak from his opponent Ng and from commentators that he was politicizing the presidency.
In contrast, Mr. Tharman had avoided crossing swords with his rivals to keep focused on appealing voters on his public service record. “You will not get surprises with me. What you see is what you get”.
The electoral outcome shows that most Singaporeans rejected the politicizing the president’s roles and of playing by the rules in not getting political parties taking sides and getting into the fray.
The final analysis: The presidential candidates’ performance during their TV face-off made up minds and voters gave the stamp of approval and mandate for Tharman to be the ninth president.
He will be inaugurated on Sept 14, succeeding Madam Halimah Yacob who will complete her six-year tenure.
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Ivan Lim is a senior journalist of Singapore, and former President of Seoul-based Asia Journalists Association.
