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PRESS STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
COMMITTEE ON APPLICATIONS FOR CERTIFICATES OF ELIGIBILITY |
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The President of the Republic of Singapore
is the post of highest honour and responsibility. He is vested with the
custodial powers to protect the country¨s financial reserves against a
profligate government and has veto powers over key appointments. |
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As Head of State, the President must be a
person of integrity, good character and reputation. He must also have
the experience and ability to effectively discharge the functions and
duties of the office. |
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For this reason, the process to certify
candidates for election to the office of the President is rigorous. |
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The Constitution of the Republic of
Singapore provides for the Presidential Elections Committee to
scrutinise aspiring candidates to ensure that they have the necessary
credentials to be elected to the office. The Constitution requires the
prospective candidate: |
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a. to satisfy the Committee that he is a person of
integrity, good character and reputation; and
b. when he applies for qualification under Article
19(2)(g)(iv) of the Constitution, to satisfy the Committee that he,
having held office for a period of not less than 3 years in such
position of seniority and responsibility in such organisation or
department in the public or private sector as described in Article
19(2)(g)(iv) of the Constitution, has such experience and ability in
administering and managing financial affairs as to enable him to carry
out effectively the functions and duties of the office of the President. |
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The Presidential Elections Act requires a
candidate to apply to the Committee for a Certificate of Eligibility.
Extracts of Article 19 of the Constitution and section 8 of the
Presidential Elections Act are attached. |
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APPLICATIONS RECEIVED |
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At the close of applications on 6 August
2005, the Presidential Elections Committee received 4 applications in
total. The applicants were: |
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a. Mr Kuan Yoke Loon, Andrew;
a. Mr Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu;
b. Mr S R Nathan; and
c. Mr Ooi Boon Ewe. |
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The Committee met on 12 Aug 05 and
deliberated on each application. |
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CERTIFICATE ISSUED |
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The Committee issued only one certificate of
eligibility on 13 August 2005. Mr S R Nathan is the incumbent President
of the Republic of Singapore. He has all the credentials for the office
of the President and is well regarded and respected for his public
service. |
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The Committee considered Mr Nathan as a man
of integrity, good character and reputation. He did not apply for
qualification under Article 19(2)(g)(iv). Mr S R Nathan has been issued
with the Certificate of Eligibility. |
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UNSUCCESSFUL APPLICATIONS |
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Mr Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu and Mr Ooi
Boon Ewe did not satisfy the Presidential Elections Committee that they
had the prerequisite experience and ability to effectively carry out the
functions and duties of the office of the President. |
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a. Ramachandran Govindasamy Naidu. He was employed under
the Commonwealth Forces from 1946 to 1987. He retired from service as a
Senior Store Keeper.
b. Ooi Boon Ewe. He claimed to be the sole proprietor of
a realty business. The licence for the business had, however, expired at
the time of his application for a Certificate of Eligibility. |
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Their career history obviously showed that
they did not hold any similar or comparable position of seniority and
responsibility in any other organisation or department of equivalent
size or complexity in the public or private sector as those mentioned in
the Constitution. |
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The Committee was further of the opinion
that they could not have the experience and ability in administering and
managing financial affairs as to effectively discharge the duties and
responsibilities of the office of the President. |
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As for Mr Andrew Kuan, the former Group
Chief Financial Officer of JTC, the Committee assessed the seniority and
responsibility of that position as being not comparable to those
mentioned in the Constitution and he therefore could not have the
experience and ability in administering and managing financial affairs
as to effectively discharge the functions and duties of the office of
President. |
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All the three applicants have been formally
notified that they have been unsuccessful in their applications for the
COE. |
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PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
13 AUGUST 2005 |
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Source:
www.gov.sg Press Release 13 Aug 2005 |
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Presidential Election: Only S R Nathan qualifies
