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Opinion

Why Singapore will survive its latest political scandal

Chirag Agarwal says governance is regarded as serious business in the city state, with many Singaporeans taking a pragmatic view of politics, while high ministerial salaries and strict curbs on political lobbying keep the government clean

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Chirag Agarwal says governance is regarded as serious business in the city state, with many Singaporeans taking a pragmatic view of politics, while high ministerial salaries and strict curbs on political lobbying keep the government clean
Chirag Agarwal
Like any other country, Singapore has its political scandals too. But the ruthless efficiency with which they are nipped in the bud, allowing the country to get back to more serious issues, is admirable. Illustration: Craig Stephens
Like any other country, Singapore has its political scandals too. But the ruthless efficiency with which they are nipped in the bud, allowing the country to get back to more serious issues, is admirable. Illustration: Craig Stephens
Don’t let the ongoing political saga in Singapore fool you. Running a government in the city state remains serious business.

A scan of the headlines in Singapore over the past month would suggest multiple political crises are brewing there.

First, former presidential candidate Dr Tan Cheng Bock filed an application in the High Court challenging the basis of the upcoming presidential election, where only a Malay candidate is allowed to stand, precluding him from running (he is Chinese).
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Back in 2011, Dr Tan lost a heated four-way contest to current president and former deputy prime minister Tony Tan by a razor-thin margin of 0.35 per cent, or 7,382 votes.

The role of a president in Singapore is largely ceremonial, with an added responsibility of safeguarding the country’s accumulated reserves. As the head of state, the president is supposed to represent the people. Ensuring that, over time, there is one from every community in a multiracial country makes sense.

What’s behind Singapore’s move to boost presidential chances of ethnic minorities?

Muslims attend prayers on June 25 to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Al-Mukminin Mosque in Singapore. In the upcoming presidential election, only Malay candidates are allowed to stand, under rules that seek to ensure there is a president from every community in the multiracial country. Photo: Reuters
Muslims attend prayers on June 25 to mark the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan at Al-Mukminin Mosque in Singapore. In the upcoming presidential election, only Malay candidates are allowed to stand, under rules that seek to ensure there is a president from every community in the multiracial country. Photo: Reuters
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