Was the Government upfront about their intention?
Right from the beginning, minority representation was their concern.
When the Constitutional Commission Committee was set up in February 2016, one of the TERMS OF REFERENCE was to 'consider and recommend what provisions should be made to safeguard minority representation in the Presidency'.
So why is WP surprised that the reserved election has taken place now rather than later?
DURING THE REVIEW by the Constitutional Commission, over 100 people and organisations submitted their views to the Constitutional Commission Committee, including WP.
The WP were invited to present their views publicly, and make their case before the Constitutional Commission.
But they chose not to do so.
20 contributors were invited to give their views to the Constitutional Commission and the WP was the only one that declined the invitation.
Why did WP choose not to give their views publicly to the Constitutional Commission on a matter that concerned the highest office in the land?
UPFRONT OF NOT?
1. Safeguarding minority representation was one of the terms of reference for the Constitutional Commission during the review.
2. Law Minister Shanmugam said in a townhall dialogue on 15 September 2016 that the reserved election was a policy decision.
3. PM Lee said in Parliament on 8 November 2016 that the GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE how the count would start.
Quote:
When should the racial provision start counting? The Constitutional Amendment Bill states that the Government should legislate on this point and the Government intends to legislate when we amend the Presidential Elections Act in January next year."
Whether in Parliament or outside Parliament, the Government had made clear their intention right from the beginning.
Right from the beginning, minority representation was their concern.
When the Constitutional Commission Committee was set up in February 2016, one of the TERMS OF REFERENCE was to 'consider and recommend what provisions should be made to safeguard minority representation in the Presidency'.
So why is WP surprised that the reserved election has taken place now rather than later?
DURING THE REVIEW by the Constitutional Commission, over 100 people and organisations submitted their views to the Constitutional Commission Committee, including WP.
The WP were invited to present their views publicly, and make their case before the Constitutional Commission.
But they chose not to do so.
20 contributors were invited to give their views to the Constitutional Commission and the WP was the only one that declined the invitation.
Why did WP choose not to give their views publicly to the Constitutional Commission on a matter that concerned the highest office in the land?
UPFRONT OF NOT?
1. Safeguarding minority representation was one of the terms of reference for the Constitutional Commission during the review.
2. Law Minister Shanmugam said in a townhall dialogue on 15 September 2016 that the reserved election was a policy decision.
3. PM Lee said in Parliament on 8 November 2016 that the GOVERNMENT WILL DECIDE how the count would start.
Quote:
When should the racial provision start counting? The Constitutional Amendment Bill states that the Government should legislate on this point and the Government intends to legislate when we amend the Presidential Elections Act in January next year."
Whether in Parliament or outside Parliament, the Government had made clear their intention right from the beginning.
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