Republic of Singapore

Reporter: Mylene S. Pilongo BSE IV-Social Science

Republic of Singapore
"MAJULAH SINGAPURA"
Reporter: Mylene S. Pilongo BSE IV-Social Science

Flag of Singapore Coat of Arms of Singapore
Republic of Singapore

Politics of Singapore
 The politics of Singapore takes the form of a parliamentary
representative democratic republic whereby the President of
Singapore is the head of state, the Prime Minister of Singapore is
the head of government, and of a multi-party system.
 Executive power is exercised by the cabinet from the
parliament, and to a lesser extent, the President. Cabinet has the
general direction and control of the Government and
is accountable to Parliament.

Politics of Singapore
 Legislative power is vested in both the government and
the Parliament of Singapore. The legislature is the parliament,
which consists of the president as its head and a single
chamber whose members are elected by popular vote.
 The role of the president as the head of state has been,
historically, largely ceremonial although the constitution was
amended in 1991 to give the president some veto powers in
a few key decisions.

Political Background
 Singaporean politics have been dominated by the People's
Action Party (PAP) since the 1959 general election when
Lee Kuan Yew became Singapore's first prime minister.

 The Economist Intelligence Unit classifies Singapore as a
"hybrid" country, with authoritarian and democratic
elements.
 Freedom House does not consider Singapore an
"electoral democracy" and ranks the country as "partly
free".
 Reporters Without Borders ranked Singapore 140th out
of 167 countries in its 2005 Press Freedom Index.

 It has also been alleged that the PAP employs censorship,
gerrymandering and the filing of civil suits against the
opposition for libel or slander to impede their success.
 Several former and present members of the opposition,
including Francis Seow, J.B. Jeyaretnam and Chee Soon
Juan perceive the Singaporean courts as favourable
towards the government and the PAP due to a lack
of separation of powers.

Political Climate
 Singapore has consistently been rated as the least-
corrupt country in Asia and amongst the top ten
cleanest in the world by Transparency International.
 The World Bank's governance indicators have also rated
Singapore highly on rule of law, control of corruption and
government effectiveness.

Political Climate
 Although Singapore's laws are inherited from British
and British Indian laws, including many elements of English
common law, the PAP has also consistently rejected liberal
democratic values.
 Laws restricting the freedom of speech are justified by claims
that they are intended to prohibit speech that may breed ill
will or cause disharmony within Singapore's multiracial, multi-
religious society.

EXECUTIVE (President)
President
The President of the Republic of
Singapore is Singapore's head of state.
Tony Tan Keng Yam
The President's official residence
is the Istana.

 The executive authority of the nation is vested in the President
and exercisable by him or her or by the Cabinet or any minister
authorized by the Cabinet.
 However, it is the Cabinet that has the general direction and
control of the Government, and in most cases the President
exercises powers in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet
or a minister acting under the Cabinet's general authority.
Constitutional position and role

 As a component of the legislature together with Parliament,
the President is also jointly vested with the legislative power
of Singapore. The President's primary role in the exercise of
legislative power to make laws is assenting to bills passed by
Parliament.
"Be it enacted by the President with the advice and consent of
the Parliament of Singapore, as follows:"

 The President has been called "Singapore's No. 1
diplomat".
 In addition, he or she contributes to the nation's external
relations by undertaking overseas trips on Cabinet's advice.
 Presidents have also used the office to champion charitable
causes.

 The powers of the President of Singapore are divided into those
which the President may exercise in his or her own discretion,
and those he or she must exercise in accordance with the advice
of the Cabinet of Singapore or of a Minister acting under the
general authority of the Cabinet.
 In addition, the President is required to consult the Council of
Presidential Advisers (CPA) when performing some of his
functions.
Powers

 A guarantee may only be given or a loan raised by the
Government if the President concurs, and his or her approval is
also needed for budgets of specified statutory boards.
 Has personal discretion to withhold assent to any bill in
Parliament providing directly or indirectly for the direct or
indirect variation, changing or increase in powers of the Central
Provident Fund Board.
Powers

 The President is also empowered to approve changes to
key civil service positions, such as:
- Chief Justice,
- Attorney-General,
- chairman and members of the Public Service Commission
- Chief of Defense Force
- Commissioner of Police
Powers

 He or she also appoints as Prime Minister a Member
of Parliament (MP) who, in his or her personal
judgment, is likely to command the confidence of a
majority of MPs.
 The President has certain powers of oversight over
the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau.
Powers

◉He or she must be a citizen of Singapore.
◉He or she must not be less than 45 years of age.
◉His or her name must appear in a current register of
electors.
◉He or she is resident in Singapore on Nomination Day
and has been so for a total period not less than 10 years;
Qualifications

◉He or she must not be subject to any of the following
disqualifications:
(a) being and having been found or declared to be of unsound mind;
(b) being an undischarged bankrupt;
(c) holding an office of profit;
(d) having been nominated for election to Parliament or the office of
President or having acted as election agent to a person so nominated,
failing to lodge any return of election expenses required by law within the
time and in the manner so required;
Disqualifications

(e) having been convicted of an offence by a court of law in
Singapore or Malaysia and sentenced to imprisonment for a term of
not less than one year or to a fine of not less than S$2,000 and
having not received a free pardon, provided that where the
conviction is by a court of law in Malaysia, the person shall not be
disqualified unless the offence is also one which, had it been
committed in Singapore, would have been punishable by a court of
law in Singapore;
Disqualifications

(f) having voluntarily acquired the citizenship of, or exercised
rights of citizenship in, a foreign country, or having made a
declaration of allegiance to a foreign country;
(g) being disqualified under any law relating to offences in
connection with elections to Parliament or the office of President
by reason of having been convicted of such an offence or having
in proceedings relating to such an election been proved guilty of
an act constituting such an offence.
Disqualifications

◉He or she must be a person of integrity, good character and
reputation.
◉He or she must not be a member of any political party on the
date of his or her nomination for election
◉He or she must have for a period of not less than three years
held office —
Qualifications

(a) as Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, Attorney-General, Chairman
of the Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, Accountant-
General or Permanent Secretary;
(b) as chairperson or chief executive officer (CEO) of the Central
Provident Fund Board, the Housing and Development Board,
the Jurong Town Corporation or the Monetary Authority of
Singapore;
Qualifications

(c) as chairperson of the board of directors or CEO of a company
incorporated or registered under the Companies Act with a paid-up
capital of at least $100 million or its equivalent in foreign currency; or
(d) in any other 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 which has given him 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 President.
Qualifications

The strictness of these
qualifications led to
the 1999 and 2005
elections being “walkovers”
as S.R. Nathan was the only
qualified candidate on
nomination day.

 The person elected to the office of President assumes office
on the day his predecessor ceases to hold office or, if the
office is vacant, on the day following his election. Upon his
assumption of office, the President is required to take and
subscribe in the presence of the Chief Justice or of another
Justice of the Supreme Court the Oath of Office, which
states:
Assumption of office and disabilities

I, [name], having been elected President of the Republic of
Singapore, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully
discharge my duties as such to the best of my ability without
fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without regard to any
previous affiliation with any political party, and that I will
bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic, and that I will
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic
of Singapore.

 Once elected, the President shall:
- not hold any other office created or recognized by the
Constitution;
- not actively engage in any commercial enterprise;
- not be a member of any political party; and
- if he or she is a member of Parliament, vacate his or
her seat in Parliament.
Assumption of office and disabilities

EXECUTIVE (Cabinet of Singapore)
 The Cabinet of Singapore forms the Government (executive
branch) of Singapore together with the President of Singapore.
 It is led by the Prime Minister of Singapore who is the head of
government. The Prime Minister is a Member of
Parliament (MP) appointed by the President who selects a
person that in his or her view is likely to command the
confidence of a majority of the Parliament of Singapore.

 The other members of the Cabinet are Ministers who are
Members of Parliament appointed by the President on the
Prime Minister's advice.
 Cabinet members are prohibited from holding any office of
profit and from actively engaging in any commercial
enterprise.
 The Cabinet generally directs and controls the Government
and is collectively responsible to Parliament.

 Ministers may be designated by the Prime Minister to be in
charge of particular ministries, or as Ministers in the Prime
Minister's Office.
 Singapore's ministers are among the best paid in the world.
 Prior to a salary review in 2011, the Prime Minister's annual
salary was S$3.07 million, while the pay of ministerial-grade
officers ranged between S$1.58 million and S$2.37 million.

 Singapore inherited a Westminster system of government from
the British.
 In such systems, there is an overlap between
the executive and legislative branches of government.
 The head of state, who is the President of Singapore, is a
member of both the executive Government of Singapore and
the Parliament of Singapore but plays a minimal role in them.
Structure of government

 Executive power lies in the hands of the Cabinet, which is made up
of the Prime Minister of Singapore (the head of government) and
other Ministers. At the same time, the Prime Minister and Ministers
are also Members of Parliament (MPs).
 Following constitutional reforms in 1991, the office of President
was transformed from an appointed to an elected post. Thus, both
the President and MPs are elected to their posts by the citizens of
Singapore in separate elections.
Structure of government

 The President appoints as
Prime Minister an MP who,
in his judgment, is likely to
command the confidence of
the majority of the MPs.
 The Prime Minister is
the head of the
government of the Republic
of Singapore.
Appointment of Cabinet
Lee Hsien Loong

 The President also appoints other Ministers to the Cabinet
from among the MPs, acting in accordance with the Prime
Minister's advice.
 Before entering on the duties of their office, the Prime
Minister and other Ministers must take and subscribe (sign)
the Oath of Allegiance and an oath for the due execution of
their offices before the President.

 Cabinet members are prohibited from holding
any office of profit or actively engaging in any
commercial enterprise.
 In addition, they are required to comply with a Code
of Conduct for Ministers.

 The President must declare the office of Prime Minister vacant if
the Prime Minister resigns his office, or if the President, acting
in his discretion, is satisfied that the Prime Minister has ceased
to command the confidence of a majority of the MPs.
 In the latter situation, the President is required first to inform
the Prime Minister of his evaluation in this regard, and if the
Prime Minister requests him to, the President may dissolve
Parliament instead of making a declaration of vacancy.
Vacation of Office

 Other Cabinet ministers must vacate their office if they resign, or if
their appointments are revoked by the President acting in
accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister.A person who has
vacated his or her office as Minister may, if qualified, be
subsequently appointed again as a Minister.
 The Prime Minister and other Ministers who make up the Cabinet
do not vacate their offices upon a dissolution of Parliament, but
continue in their posts until the first sitting of the next Parliament
following a general election.
Vacation of Office

 The Prime Minister may, by giving written directions, charge
any Minister with responsibility for any department or
subject.
 In practice, this is done by issuing notifications that are
published in the Government Gazette.
Responsibilities of Ministers

It is hereby notified for general information that, pursuant to Article
30(1) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Prime
Minister has directed that Mr S. Jayakumar shall, with effect from 1st
April 2009, be charged with the responsibility for the following
matters:
(a) national security issues involving or affecting more than one
Ministry;
(b) Chairmanship of the Security Policy Review Committee;
(c) foreign policy issues involving or affecting more than one Ministry;
and
(d) foreign policy issues which involve legal negotiation or
international adjudication

 In 1994, a Prime Minister received a monthly salary of
nearly S$96,000 (about $1.15 million a year), while other
ministers earned about $48,900 a month ($586,800 a
year).
 In February 1996 it was reported that a survey of 19
countries by the World Economic Forum magazine World
Link had found that political leaders and senior civil servants of
Singapore had the highest salaries.
Remunerations

 In April 2007, the Prime Minister's annual salary
increased to S$3.1 million (US$2.05 million), about five
times that of the then President of the United
States George W. Bush who earned US$400,000.
 At present, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong remains
highest paid country leader with $1.7m annual salary.
Remunerations

 At present, persons who have reached the age of 50 years
and retired as MPs and who have served in this capacity for
not less than nine years may be granted a pension for the rest
of their lives. The annual amount payable is 1⁄30 of the
person's highest annual salary for every completed year of
service and 1⁄360 for every uncompleted year, up to a ceiling
of two-thirds of the Member's annual salary.
Pensions

 In addition, a retired MP who is at least 50 years old and has
for not less than eight years held the office of Prime Minister,
Deputy Prime Minister, Senior Minister or Minister may
receive an additional pension each year of 1⁄27 of his or her
highest annual salary for each completed year of service
and 1⁄324for each uncompleted year, subject again to a ceiling
of two-thirds of the office-holder's annual salary.
Pensions

Here’s a look at all the HIGHEST PAID POLITICIANS in Singapore.

Portfolio Minister Photo
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Deputy Prime Minister
Co-ordinating Minister for National Security
Teo Chee Hean
Deputy Prime Minister
Co-ordinating Minister for Economic and Social
Policies
Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Co-ordinating Minister for Infrastructure
Minister for Transport
Khaw Boon Wan

Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing
Minister for Communications and Information
Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs
Yaacob Ibrahim
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Grace Fu Hai Yien
Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen
Acting Minister for Education (Schools) Ng Chee Meng

Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education
and Skills)
Ong Ye Kung
Minister for the Environment and Water
Resources
Masagos Zulkifli
Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat
Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan
Minister for Health Gan Kim Yong

Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Law
K. Shanmugam
Minister for Manpower Lim Swee Say
Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong
Minister for Social and Family
Development
Tan Chuan-Jin
Minister for Trade and Industry
(Industry)
S. Iswaran
Minister for Trade and Industry
(Trade)
Lim Hng Kiang

Republic of Singapore

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Editor's Notes