Veteran diplomat S. R. Nathan was confirmed yesterday as the city-state's next president without a vote being cast, after two other candidates were barred from running under unique eligibility rules. Tan Soo Phuan, 63-year-old leader of the little-known Democratic Progressive Party, and 58-year-old private tutor Ooi Boon Ewe both failed the Presidential Elections Committee's screening test, letting the Government's candidate walk in. 'We don't want some private tutor or failed politician to demean the post of President,' Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong told Parliament. An election and public holiday scheduled for August 28 will now be cancelled. Under the constitution, eligible candidates must not only show they have 'integrity, good character and reputation', but they also must have held high public office or have headed a statutory board or a private firm with capital of more than S$100 million (HK$464 million). Critics say this rules out almost anyone not close to the country's current elite. Candidates are also supposed to be independent and apolitical. Yet Mr Nathan was clearly hand-picked by Mr Goh's cabinet. Mr Nathan, formerly head of Singapore's secret service and a career senior civil servant, was proposed by Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew, whose People's Action Party has governed Singapore since its creation 40 years ago. Officially, 75-year-old Mr Nathan was nominated by the National Trades Union Congress. In reality, the Government has made little secret of the fact he is its choice. Outgoing head of state Ong Teng Chong, a former deputy prime minister chosen as the government candidate in Singapore's first presidential election in 1993, informed Mr Goh in February that he wanted to seek a second six-year term. However, Mr Goh yesterday revealed he could not offer the Government's support after the cabinet discussed 63-year-old Mr Ong's health in April, based on two medical reports. He said Mr Ong's lymphatic cancer had changed from low-grade to high-grade a year ago, casting doubt on his ability to discharge the president's duties for another six years. However, Mr Ong, on announcing his plans to retire, made it clear he felt fine and said his cancer had gone into remission. Mr Goh yesterday rejected suggestions Mr Ong was pushed out. He admitted there had been some misunderstandings, but claimed their working relationship had been strong. 'The cabinet would have been happier if Mr Ong had been able to continue for another full term,' said Mr Goh. He admitted to Parliament that Mr Nathan had not been asked to undergo a medical check, even though he is 12 years older than Mr Ong and had a heart bypass operation a few years ago. Joshua Jeyaretnam, veteran leader of the Workers' Party, who was ruled ineligible to contest the presidency in 1993, accused the Government of cheating Singaporeans out of an election. Mr Nathan will take office on August 31 after his formal nomination today.
