Government, Not President, Should Maintain Racial Harmony, Says MP Sylvia Lim

MP Sylvia Lim, representing the Workers' Party in Aljunied, has asserted that the duty of upholding racial harmony and law and order falls primarily on the government, not the president. She emphasized that while every individual has a role in this, the government is ultimately responsible and must be held accountable to the citizens through parliamentary structures. Lim pointed out that the president should not be tasked with maintaining public peace, as he is not directly answerable to parliament.

She raised concerns about the proposed process that would enable the president to review orders from ministers, warning that it could lead to significant risks. For example, if a president were to cancel a restraining order without valid justification, and the group involved turned out to be affiliated with a foreign hostile force, the government might deflect blame by claiming it had made appropriate decisions. Lim further explained that the president should embody unity and represent the state without becoming entangled in divisive decisions related to ethnicity.

In response, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam noted that Lim's worries regarding the president's enhanced powers center around judgment and accountability. He argued that parliament and public opinion provide essential checks on ministerial authority, but he also saw value in additional oversight through the Presidential Council and the president. He contended that having a directly elected president acting as a check on the powers of ministers is a judicious move, paralleling other legislation models in Singapore.

Lim countered Shanmugam's points by highlighting the potential for conflict if a president appointed by the people chooses to oppose a minister’s decisions, particularly in cases where the Presidential Council has also expressed dissent. She warned that such a development would undermine the president's role as a unifying figure and could unfortunately lead to polarization along racial lines, which is a dangerous path to pursue.

Shanmugam responded by describing the members of the Presidential Council as likely consisting of respected community and religious leaders who could help inform the president about the legitimacy of government restraining orders. He observed that the debate had turned on its head, with him advocating for a new layer of governmental checks while Lim seemed to be questioning the need for such oversight.