PE Nomination Day: Tan Jee Say wants to be govt's auditor - 17Aug2011

SINGAPORE: Presidential candidate Tan Jee Say has said that if elected, he would like to play the role of an "auditor and gatekeeper" to the government.

Speaking at a news conference on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Tan said he would like to remind Singaporeans about the primary role of the Elected President, which he said is to act as a check on a possible rogue government.

But Mr Tan stressed he would like to have a "good working relationship based on mutual respect and frankness" with the government to discharge his duties under the Constitution.

Earlier, Mr Tan was accompanied by a few hundred supporters at the Nomination Centre.

They included Mr Andrew Kwan, former JTC chief financial officer, who did not get the Certificate of Eligibility for the Presidential Election for the second time.

Mr Kwan said he was supporting Mr Tan, as they were old school mates from Raffles Institution.

Mr Tan later made his way to MediaCorp after filing his nomination papers, to prepare for the presidential candidate broadcast.

He then chaired a news conference where he said he would like to focus his campaign on the Elected President's primary role.

"You must see what is the core role, why do you change the Constitution from an appointed president to an elected president?" Mr Tan said.

"So that is the purpose, we must remind people all the time and I'm not opposing the government.

Mr Tan unveiled his campaign symbol, the shape of a heart, which he said stands for conscience and empathy.

When asked what he meant by being a gatekeeper to the government, Mr Tan said: "The government should not cross the line. It could happen in any way, extravagant spending like the Youth Olympic (Games), that's crossing the line".

Mr Tan added he would speak with the prime minister on issues in private but if a compromise cannot be reached, he would make the issue public.

On whether such an approach may be outside the president's custodial powers, Mr Tan pointed to the "moral authority" of the President, which he does not consider the second seat of power.

Under the Constitution, the president has blocking powers in only five specific areas, which include the reserves and key appointment holders.

On all other matters, the president has to act on the advice of the prime minister and Cabinet.

Mr Tan stressed he would like to have a "good working relationship based on mutual respect and frankness" with the government.

On his non-custodial role, Mr Tan said he would like to play a "unifying role" to Singaporeans and promote volunteerism among the population.

When asked by reporters about an earlier incident where his supporters had reportedly jeered at presidential candidate Tony Tan at the Nomination Centre, Mr Tan said he felt it was not "correct".

Mr Tan said he could not control the crowd as it was made up of mixed groups of supporters.

But he added he would address this issue with his supporters.

Mr Tan said: "I'm not anti-establishment. I'm for Singapore and my views are for the good of the country."

Campaigning will stretch over the next nine days and Mr Tan Jee Say has ruled out house-to-house visits saying he would concentrate his outreach efforts on public areas such as shopping malls, bus and train stations as well as markets.

Mr Tan said he'd also take his campaign online to his Facebook page and his website.

Mr Tan has confirmed he will hold a night-time rally but details have not been firmed up.

He added he estimates his campaign budget would run up to about S$200,000, and he would appeal for donations via his website from Wednesday night.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Singapore
• 154thmedia
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• PE
• presidential
• election
• 2011
• Tony
• Tan
• Kin
• Lian
• Cheng
• Bock
• Jee
• Say
• nomination
• day

[burtmurdoch]

We must do audit on these rogue peoples'.

[gignus1]

I starting to think TJS is a good man in his own right especially after hearing what his nephew had spoken about him.

But sorry mr TJS, not that I don't want to vote for u but u really don't have the overall package and personality I'm looking for in a president. Beside, your belief system makes me think that u are going for the wrong office. You are good man perhaps, but u don't have what it takes to b our president. Sorry.

[ReeAlcoholiday]

nice tie.

[boomzsg]

I like to ask Tan Jee Say if the Government has failing what would he have done better? He probably does not have an answer. It is very easy to point out a person's mistake but it is harder to congratulate a person for his good doing.

SO IF YOU WANT A PRESIDENT FOR A DISCOUNT YOU KNOW WHO TO VOTE

[boomzsg]

He says he has no connection with the political party PAP and claims that other presidential hopeful are puppets of PAP. He has connection with SDP and are puppets for them too.

[boomzsg]

Yes we should vote for Tan Jee Say. He say we pay too much for the President S$4.2million a year.  Jee say thinks we should pay 20-40 times civil servant salary.

VOTE FOR TAN JEE SAY for a PRESIDENT FOR A DISCOUNT! CHEAP! CHEAP!

He say he understand investments better and Temasek Holding got it wrong. Nick Leeson understand investments too but brought his company down.