Elections do not change president's powers
By Tessa Wong
LAW Minister K Shanmugam said on Friday that the process of direct elections does not change the scope of the Elected President's powers as set out in the Constitution.
And the Constitution states that the President can speak on issues only as authorised by the Cabinet, he said at a Institute of Policy Studies forum.
"If a head of state challenges the Government, he will be acting unconstitutionally," Mr Shanmugam added.
The 1991 amendment to the Constitution, which made the presidency an elected position, gave the president veto powers in five areas, including the spending of past reserves.
He was speaking at an Institute of Policy Studies forum on the role of the roles, responsibilities and power of the elected president. Ambassador-at-large Professor Tommy Koh and constitutional expert Professor Thio Li-Ann also spoke at the forum, which was held at Orchard Hotel.
Every once in a while one of these over paid brainless goof will say something that is totally STUPID and therefore make themselves the laughing stock for the rest of their life.
What this Idiot basically is telling you that the incumbent do not fear the President as he is their Puppet.
“the President can speak on issues only as authorised by the Cabinet”
To me I think Shanmugam has just shot himself in both his feet.
He is showing how dumb he is and how arrogant the PAP is.
Now one more of these PAP guys go into the History of stupid quotes.
