Publication: The Straits Times, p A42&A43 Date: 20 August 2011 Headline: What kind of campaign is befitting of a president?

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WHAT KIND OF CAMPAIGN IS BEFITTING OF A PRESIDENT?

Most peaple are clear hat a pr&dmM election camrpaign shauld be Werent frm that of a general election. EM in the heat of battle, candidates a d their supporters risk c d a t h g the h. Is there a danger that the presidential pols may resurrect the

baffle lines of GE2011? Could the presi- campaign end up polarising, rather than uniting, S i r e a n s ?

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Publication: The Straits Times, p A42&A43 Date: 20 August 2011 Headline: What kind of campaign is befitting of a President?

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It is difficult to pin down what share of the electorate harbours hopes of a president who will serve as a political opposition of sorts. There are indications that many Singaporeans instinctively know that the president's

role is different from that of an MP7s, although they may not be able to spell out these differences in detail. speeches are broadcast on television. Their campaign teams put up posters, chum out leaflets. hand out caps, pins and other colwrful paraphemah

When it comes to r a h , though, there is a difference. Each presidential candi- date can hold one rally, which means this campaign will be less raucous than the one in May, when rally speeche8 rang out from dl corners of the island every night.

The designers of the elected presiden- cy may have intended for the election to be dignified and above the political fray. But any electoral contest - by its nature - pushes candidates to take digs at their rivals and do what is needed to win.

Hence it is no surprise that some d- dates seek to leverage on the residual an- ger and unhappiness among Sbgaporeans in the wake of the general election.

National University of Singapore soci- ologist Tan Ern Ser said: "If electability hinges on harnessing GEtOlI issues, then it is not surprising that 'nw-endorsed' candidates would keep raising them."

To law lecturer Eugene Tan of the Sin- gapore Management University ($MU), these candidates are engaged in "political

entrepreneurship". which hg defined as &seeking to take ahantzge of the lack of understanding of the president's office to engage in rhetoric, posturing and one-up- maaship".

However, former Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong takes a different view. The presidwrtial election campaign has provid- ed a platform for a public debate on the role of the president, wMch will help raise political awarenw, he said.

He observed that some people are pushing for a more expansive interpreta- tion of the elected president's role.

"It is a discussion that should rightly be left to Parliament," he conceded, "but I am glad that candidates are bringing it up".

Are voters confused? MR ZULKTPLI worries that the presiden- tial election will be "a very confused" one.

He is concerned that the outcome witl be determined by peopIe "who choose the president not based on whether he can perform the constitutional function, but instead choose a president that can be an

alternative to the government". It is difficult to pin down what s h e

of the electorate harbours hopes of a pres- ident who will s m as a palitical opposi- tion of sorts.

There are indications that many Singa- poreans instinctive& know tbat the presi- dent's role is different from that of an MPysl although they may not be able to spen out these differences in detail. Dr Tony Tan is of the view that most

Singaporeans make a clear distinction. During this week's Straits Times

roun&able discussion, he cited his recent visit to Kovan city in Aljuded GRC, which was won by the Workers1 Party during the May polls.

He said he was warm1 y received by res- idents-

"People made it clear they understand the presidential election is one thing, the general election is another thing, and they are beginning to clearly differentiate the two and I thinlr that this is a good de- velopment." he said.

Mathematics academic Bernard Ee, 33, wrote to The Straits Times Forum to say tbat it would be "a grave mistake" for any presidential candidate to assume that he

possesses the platform to check or even audit the government of the day.

"That responsibility resides with the parliamentary opposition. If any candi- date asmmes he can champion opposi- tion causes or certain political dfiHatlons through the presidency, he has lost his ob- jectivity and neutrality, and cannot be an effective president," he wrote.

Mr Viswa said that while he noted some initial confusion, that has abated af - ter the Government's clarifications on the &dent's roles and powers.

And W, he feels, has resulted in the presidential election beginuing to take on a different tone compared with the gener- al election,

the h u e s raisad may be simi- lar, they are centred more on evaluating the character and cm-n of the candi- dates in taking a stand and acting in their capacity if elected." he said. Even online exchanges reflect a shift-

ing of the tfde. At the "1 cannot take it" Facebook

page, there is a sharp retort to one presidential candidate's repeated claims that he witl serve as a check and balance on the Government: "Right slogan,

wrong election." The hime Minister said tl& week that

he hoped public understanding of the elected presidency would improve wer time.

Obsarving that it was a new Institu- tion, created in 1991. Mr Lee Hsien Loong said: "These instincts and these senses of what these institutions and key appoint- ments are meant to do, and how they should function together, are things that gradually evolve over time. They cannot come quickly."

He added.. "I hope tbat progressively, as the years pass and as we work with dlf- ferent governments and different presi- dents, people win get a better feel of how it's meant to work.l'

This election marks oniy the second presidential contest in Singapore's histo- rp.

Candidates and voters alike are feeling their way forward. They will need time to become familiar with the contours of this uniquely Singaporean institution.

Source: The Straits Times O Singapore Press Holdings Limited. Permission required for reproduction.