CNA Forum: PE2023 Presidential candidates discuss independence, integrity, and impartiality in non-politicisation

SINGAPORE: On Monday (28 Aug) at 9 pm, the spotlight was on three prominent contenders vying for the 2023 Presidential Election (PE2023) as they engaged in a live forum hosted by Mediacorp CNA in Singapore.

The trio of Presidential contenders comprises distinguished individuals: Mr Ng Kok Song (75), the former GIC investment chief; Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam (66), a former senior minister of the People’s Action Party; and Mr Tan Kin Lian (75), the former NTUC Income chief.

During the hour-long live broadcast, these candidates fielded questions from CNA’s Otelli Edwards.

They delved into topics ranging from their suitability for the presidency to their strategies for fostering unity and cultivating a more compassionate society.

When asked how they would wield their powers impartially as the elected President of Singapore, Mr Tan Kin Lian emphasized a crucial consideration: identifying the challenges faced by the people.

He stressed that a President’s understanding of these issues and the potential solutions is of paramount importance.

He emphasized the vital need to prioritize addressing the issues themselves, rather than “politicizing” them, irrespective of the source of proposed solutions.

In challenging problem-solving scenarios, intertwining solutions with the identities of Party A or Party B is counterproductive and unhelpful, Mr Tan asserted.

“I do not believe in politicking, because it’s taking away time that should be going to understanding the problem and solving the problem.”

“I do not agree with the framing that any solution is politicising, I think we should focus on the problem, and use all available resources and knowledge to see what is the best way to solve the problem that the country and the people are facing.”

He emphasized that Singapore continues to grapple with longstanding issues that have persisted for decades, including the low birth rate and the increasing challenges of daily life.

These problems, he emphasized, demand comprehensive attention and solutions that transcend political affiliations.

Ng Kok Song reiterates staunch “Independence”

On the other hand, Mr Tan’s contender Ng Kok Song, has once again emphasized his unwavering “independence,” highlighting that he is not aligned with any specific political faction.

“I do not belong to the People’s Action Party (PAP), I do not belong to any opposition party, so there’s no better safeguard to have a non-politicized presidential election to have candidates who do not have any political affiliations.”

Ng Kok Song articulated that when candidates receive backing or endorsement from particular political entities, a potential “danger” arises, wherein the President’s ability to act impartially could be compromised due to influence from the agendas of these political parties.

Tharman challenges simplistic labels in evaluating Presidential candidates

Meanwhile, Mr Tharman strongly contested Ng’s suggestion and reiterated the importance of avoiding “simple labels“.

“This is a contest between individuals, who have to be assessed on their character, whether they have the spine, whether they have the track record, whether they’ll be able to keep the trust of the people who are electing them.”

He dismissed the notion of relying solely on whether someone has been affiliated with a political party as “extremely simplistic”.

Mr Tharman further elaborated that this perspective would have excluded notable figures in history, including the late President Ong Teng Cheong, as well as former candidates like Mr Tan Cheng Bock and President Tony Tan.

“It  would have ruled out also a whole set of people who may not be members of a political party but who have owed their positions to their bosses who were ministers in the government of the day.”

He pointed out that this reasoning extends to senior civil servants and individuals holding influential roles in the public sector, who often owe their positions to political authorities.

“Are they obligated to their bosses because of that? Not necessarily, it depends on the individuals.”

“Let’s say, if you have a private company you have a construction company that depends on government contracts, or you have a fund management company that depends on government monies.”

“Does that make you not independent? Not necessarily, it depends on your character and your track record.”