Yeoh Lian Chuan questions the limited scope and restrictive criteria of Singapore’s presidential elections.
SINGAPORE: Following President Halimah Yacob’s decision not to seek re-election, prominent lawyer and socio-political commentator Yeoh Lian Chuan has voiced concerns about Singapore’s elected presidency scheme, calling it “deeply flawed” and in need of fundamental changes. In a Facebook post on May 29, Yeoh highlighted issues such as the lack of genuine contests and the restrictive eligibility criteria for presidential candidates.
Yeoh observed that of the five presidential terms since the elected presidency was introduced, only one involved a real contest. He criticized the criteria that effectively limits candidacy to top corporate CEOs and former senior public officials, arguing that this excludes potentially qualified individuals from other backgrounds.
Yeoh also pointed out that the reserved election introduced in 2017 was “premature” and unnecessary, adding that the People’s Action Party (PAP) Government’s approach to the presidency may limit meaningful competition and representation. Referring to the 2016 Constitutional Commission Report, he suggested that even Commission members recognized the need for significant revisions to the scheme.
He noted, “Paragraphs 7.35 to 7.53 of the Report suggest that the Commission thought the institution could be fundamentally redesigned.” As Singapore heads into the next presidential election, Yeoh believes it is crucial to reevaluate the elected presidency to better reflect diverse leadership potential and address longstanding concerns within the current system.
