Ng Kok Song warns against President-PM relationship that is 'too close'; difficult to carry out duties objectively

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SINGAPORE: It would be very difficult for the President to discharge his responsibilities in an objective way if his relationship with the Prime Minister is “too close”, said presidential candidate Ng Kok Song on Thursday (Aug 24) morning. Speaking to journalists before his first walkabout of the

SINGAPORE: It would be very difficult for the President to discharge his responsibilities in an objective way if his relationship with the Prime Minister is “too close”, said presidential candidate Ng Kok Song on Thursday morning.

Mr Tharman was, in turn, commenting on rival candidate Tan Kin Lian’s plan to use the President’s “soft power” to influence policymaking through private conversations with government leaders. “And the President must act in the best interests of the people of Singapore. So I think it will be very difficult for the President to discharge his responsibilities in an objective way, if he has too close a relationship to the Prime Minister.”

"That is not the responsibility of the President," Mr Ng said."The President’s responsibility in regard to safeguarding the reserves is to act as a check on the spending of past reserves. How that money is invested is not the area of responsibility of the President."“I’ve decided not to accept any donations, either financial donations or donations in time because I do not want to be beholden to anyone in standing for the presidency,” he added.

 

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