Tan Kin Lian plans to convey people's aspirations 'similar to a monarch' if elected as President

SINGAPORE: Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian on Wednesday (Aug 23) said he plans to convey the feelings and aspirations of Singaporeans in the style of a "monarch" if elected as President. 

Speaking to reporters before a walkabout at ABC Brickworks hawker centre in Bukit Merah, Mr Tan said that many countries around the world have monarchs such as kings, queens and sultans, who meet with prime ministers regularly to convey the feelings and aspirations of the people.
 
"I may not be the monarch. But if I’m elected by one million people, majority in this election, I will play that role and that’s the role of the monarch to convey to the government the feelings and aspirations of the people," said Mr Tan.

He added that after being elected, the President has to "do the duties similar to a monarch", which has been the practice in many countries. 

Mr Tan also pointed out how monarchs in other countries have stepped in when there is political upheaval, reiterating that "I do not consider myself the monarch" and that he will play the role "on the mandate of the people".

The former NTUC Income CEO was formally nominated as a presidential candidate, alongside former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song and former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam on Tuesday.

COMPARISON WITH MONARCHY "NOT ENTIRELY APT": ANALYST

Associate Professor Eugene Tan of Singapore Management University (SMU) told CNA that there are already existing and "more representative mechanisms" for a President to convey the aspirations and feelings of Singaporeans.

These include meet-the-people sessions, REACH - the government’s feedback and engagement unit - as well as dialogues and the parliament.

On likening the presidential role to a monarch, Assoc Prof Tan said: "The comparison of the presidency with the monarchy is not entirely apt. Singapore’s President has custodial powers which monarchs do not. "

Earlier on Wednesday, Mr Tan also read out a statement from his website where he said the President has "tremendous soft power due to the prestige of his office and from the strong mandate that he had received through the presidential election".

In comments to CNA, SMU's Assoc Prof Tan said the President has "no inherent soft power" and that it has to be earned instead. 

"Furthermore, there is little, if any, soft power where a President does not command the trust and confidence of the elected government of the day.

"If so, there is then no possibility of a President shaping or influencing the government policies or laws," he added. 

He also explained that the President has “no free rein to do as he wishes” if the role, function, and power is vested in another office-holder or entity.

"To do so would generate institutional anarchy as the President would be usurping the role, function, and power of another constitutional actor," he said. 

Singapore’s constitutional framework also "explicitly recognises" that the country remains a parliamentary system of government even with the President having specified custodial powers, Assoc Prof Tan pointed out.

This means that the control and general direction of policy and laws is with the elected government of the day headed by the Prime Minister who is assisted by the Cabinet. 

“Both are, in turn, accountable to parliament and, ultimately, to the people,” he added.

WANTS OPEN LINE OF COMMUNICATION 

Mr Tan also said on Wednesday that it would be a "very good arrangement" for the President to meet with the Prime Minister as well as other ministers regularly.
 
"If (the arrangement is) not there, I would invite them. But if it’s already there, it will be quite a good arrangement because we're carrying on something that's going on quite well," said Mr Tan.

According to explanatory material on the role of the President shared by the  Elections Department (ELD) on Tuesday, the Cabinet has the "general direction and control of the government". It also highlighted that the President cannot express public views on legislation or government policy without being advised to do so by the government. 

ELD also said on Tuesday that candidates have made a statutory declaration that they have read this explanatory material.

The material also highlights that the President can also represent Singapore internationally in accordance with the foreign policy and advice of the government but he cannot pursue a different foreign policy from the government.

When asked how he would represent Singapore on an international stage, Mr Tan said the "politician (who) decides international foreign policy is the finance minister and the Prime Minister", and that the President "should not interfere".

"A President is not a politician," he said. "The interest of Singapore is to promote international cooperation, international trade, international peace and to be friendly with neighbouring countries with the major powers, and with all other countries that are important to Singapore.

"I have every confidence I know what the priorities are as the President to represent Singapore internationally."

WANTS POWER TO SET INVESTMENT POLICY FOR SOVEREIGN WEALTH FUNDS

Mr Tan also said that he wants the President's role to include the power to set the investment policy for the country's sovereign wealth funds, saying that this is a "fundamental duty". However, he also said that he is aware that this is not under the purview of the President. 

"If I'm in charge, I will want to make sure the investment policies of the past reserves are carried out prudently and properly," he said. “They may be different from what is being done now. But it is a separate method.” 

Dr Felix Tan, a political analyst at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU), told TODAY that Mr Tan will not be able to do so should he be elected as he does not have the constitutional powers to do so.

While he can make recommendations on policy, "at the end of the day, it is up to the Cabinet, the government of the day, to decide", said Dr Tan, adding that the President cannot overturn the constitution.

SMU'S Assoc Prof Tan added that while a President may attempt to offer his opinions, there is no legal obligation or moral duty to receive or accept these views.

"In fact, the sovereign wealth funds can ignore any request by the President seeking to offer his views on the sovereign wealth funds' investment policies," he said in comments provided to TODAY.

On Wednesday, Mr Tan also declined to comment on questions about his "pretty girls" social media posts.

The topic has been at the forefront after a TikTok video showing several posts went viral over the weekend.

Before filing his nomination on Tuesday, Mr Tan released a statement claiming that he was the target of a "smear campaign" over the posts.

However, checks by CNA on Wednesday showed that the statement has been removed both from Mr Tan's website and Facebook page. 

A post on the social media platform from Tuesday morning where Mr Tan said he "totally" rejects AWARE's claims that he "objectified" women has also been taken down.

Mr Tan declined to comment on CNA's queries on why the statement and posts were taken down.

Additional reporting by Loraine Lee.