Powers of the president of Singapore

Thus, a guarantee may only be given or a loan raised by the government if the president concurs, and their approval is also needed for budgets of specified statutory boards and state-owned companies that draw on their past reserves.

The president also possesses 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 to invest moneys belonging to it; and the borrowing of money, the giving of any guarantee or the raising of any loan by the Government if in the president's opinion the bill is likely to draw on reserves not accumulated by the government during its current term of office.

The term of office of the first elected president, Ong Teng Cheong, was marked by differences between him and the government concerning the extent of his discretionary fiscal powers.

[1] The sum was used to fund the government's Resilience Package consisting of two schemes aimed at preserving jobs and businesses due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession.

The Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment) Act 1991[10] granted the president certain executive functions to block attempts by the government of the day to draw down past reserves that it had not accumulated, and to approve changes to key Civil Service positions.

However, if his decision to do so is contrary to the CPA's recommendation, the refusal to concur may be overridden by a Parliamentary resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of all the elected Members of Parliament (MPs).

Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Walter Woon argued that such a change would make it too easy for a rogue government to circumvent the constitutional safeguards since "national security" was "such a wide thing that it would be possible to fit any sort of handouts within the rubric".

The reason for the change cited by the Minister for Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang was that since the range of new securities and assets was getting wider and more complex, this made it "very cumbersome" for the president to have to approve every new recommendation for such purchases.

At a press conference on 16 July 1999, the president announced he would not be seeking re-election, and referred to what he termed a "long list" of problems he had experienced when trying to protect the nation's past reserves.

The president expressed concern that accrual accounting would "allow a profligate Government to hide its lavish spending under the guise of capital expenditures".

[47] Speaking in Parliament on 17 August 1999, the Prime Minister said: The Government does not expect the President to agree with it on every issue where he exercises custodial powers.

"[49] In January 2009, the Government requested approval from President S. R. Nathan to draw $4.9 billion from past financial reserves to meet current budget expenditure, the first time it had done so.

The sum was used to fund the Government's Resilience Package consisting of two schemes aimed at preserving jobs and businesses due to the 2007–2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession: the Jobs Credit scheme, which provided employers with financial assistance to pay employees' salaries; and the Special Risk-Sharing Initiative, which helped mid-sized companies to obtain credit.

Subsequently, at a press conference on 17 February, the president explained that when the Prime Minister had broached the subject informally on 10 January, he had agreed at that stage to give every consideration to the proposal as he and the CPA were already aware of the Great Recession and how it was impacting the country.

The offices are:[57] As a result of changes to the Constitution effected in 1996, Parliament may overrule the president's decision with a resolution passed by not less than two-thirds of all elected MPs if he refuses to make or revoke an appointment contrary to the CPA's recommendation.

The clauses which Article 5(2A) applies to are: This provision, however, was not immediately brought into force when enacted, as the Government stated at the time that a grace period of at least four years was needed for modifications and refinements to the Elected President scheme to resolve unforeseen problems that arose upon implementation.

The Cabinet may, if it wishes, advise the president to refer to the Constitution Tribunal the question whether the bill in fact has the effect of circumventing or curtailing his discretionary powers.

When the provision is brought into force, the president will also be able to decline to assent to a bill seeking to amend the Constitution that has a direct or indirect effect of circumventing or curtailing his discretionary powers.

On the other hand, if the Tribunal decides to the contrary and the Government wishes to push the amendment through in the face of the president's opposition to it, the Prime Minister may opt to submit the bill to the electorate.

[84] Similarly, another candidate, Tan Jee Say, promised to be the "conscience of the people" and commented that for controversial issues such as the building of casinos the president's views should be taken into consideration and that he should be allowed to air them in public.

[85] Candidate Tan Cheng Bock expressed his opinion in a Facebook posting that read: "[T]he president must be seen not as a figurehead but as somebody the people can look to for support for some of the issues, national problems and so on. ...

[92] In the lead-up to the 2011 presidential election, in addition to the views expressed by the candidates and the Government, Singapore Management University (SMU) Chairman and Banyan Tree Holdings founder Ho Kwon Ping argued that because of the mandate given to the president as a result of being directly elected by the people, the president can be "the moral voice of the nation and the people".

[94] Ho wrote, "Ireland's directly elected but largely ceremonial president is explicitly compelled to get government approval for speeches on specific formal occasions, but is otherwise free to speak his mind.

And Irish presidents have taken to TV interviews and radio talk shows to expound their views on many subjects, so long as they do not directly criticise the government.

"[95] In response, SMU academic Wan Wai Yee opined that if the president were to be involved in public discussions, "it is not clear how he would implement his views, and how he would be held accountable".

[96] "[P]roblems would arise as to how the differences can be resolved and who would be held responsible for the outcome", and "[i]f the EP [Elected President] takes sides on political issues, the institution will inevitably become politicised, and with the high risk that it would be diminished as a result".

[100] The degree and effectiveness of such power has been the subject of much debate, with varying opinions among academics, politicians, presidential candidates, the public, and most importantly even between Presidents and the Cabinet.

[95] The Government has so far only appeared to implicitly endorse, and not oppose, two categories of soft power: the president's private influence in politics, and his public involvement in non-political affairs.

[104] President Ong Teng Cheong clearly influenced the issuance of the 1999 white paper by the Government which set out guidelines for interaction between the two institutions on matters relating to the nation's past reserves.

[106] Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has mentioned that he and Nathan had frequent meetings in which the president would comment on matters and he would consider his views.