Do you think the following proposal will be published by Today
or the Straits Times?
Dear Editor, TODAY,
I hope you will publish my proposal to review the current
constitution of Singapore in order to make it more relevant to our
changed circumstances :-
"The Constitution of a country usually sets out the basic rights of
citizens and defines the role of government and its component
branches.
In the new era of fast changing technologies, is there a need to
review its relevance to keep up with changes?
Is the role of government still valid as defined in the existing
constitution or should it be updated to reflect the needs and
aspirations of the people. Should the government be more dynamic or
should it be static and reactionary merely be concerned with
legalistic control of the population to maintain law and
order?
Should there be processes of government, to ensure accountability
and transparency in administration, justice, election processes and
empower the citizens to contribute to overall social, cultural and
economic competitiveness.
Specifically should the constitution help to ensure greater
accountability and transparency of governance, efficient and
effective functioning of the three branches of government, namely
the executive, legislature, judiciary supported by a non-aligned
civil service in the interest of all citizens.
Finally, should the executive provide leadership which is open and
accountable in arriving at policies, decisions and administration
so as to win over the participation by the citizens as human
resources?
A review of the constitution can be made to help bring about the
necessary changes to the way the branches of government are
conducting the administration of the country beyond accomplishing
their own immediate tasks.
There is a need to recognise that the top priority is more than
mere election and making laws or decisions affecting the citizens.
Therr is obviously a much arger scope of government one that is
empowering the collective talents, coordination, knowledge
applications and innovation in every field in collective nation
building, the key to the people's vibrancy and
competitiveness.
It is critical to look at the larger picture of motivating all
citizens in making collective efforts with coordination of
different branches of the government, to go about their respective
tasks among the legislature, executive, and judiciary. There should
above all be accountability and transparency and yet attaining of
unity of purpose.
It is therefore proposed to review the constitution in the context
of attaining the larger perspective of nation building. Only when
the constitution is open and able to involve citizens in
contributing to accountability, transparency, coordination and
unity of purpose that there could be collective leadership which
will empower growths in social, cultural and economic vibrancy as a
way of life essential to eliciting their contribution in diverse
aspects of nation buidling.
With this above-stated objective in mind, it is proposed to upgrade
the constitution as follows:-
(1) To unify the citizens by setting up the constitution as a
compact between the state and the citizens.
(2) To set up and safeguard the basic right of citizen including
freedom to speak up or air their views or suggestions on any aspect
of governing of the country.
(3) To safeguard the welfare and wellbeing of citizens and protect
them against any threats or exploitation from any external or
internal sources.
(4) To guarantee the right of citizens to elect the best
representatives based on the One-Man-One-Vote election process
without any hindrance.
(5) To provide for equitable multi-racial representation by
permitting for election of minority-race candidates receiving the
highest percentage of votes to be elected into parliament to
represent their minority race's interest in government of the
country.
(6) To ensure that any changes made to the constitution boundaries
or election processes or procedure will be prejudice the
constitutional right of citizens elect their choice of candidates
based on one-man-one-vote election system.
(7) To establish clearly defined hierarchy of government comprising
the collective body of elected representatives sitting as
legislature or parliament, as the supreme arbiter of government
with authority and power of censor and penalty over three branches
of government namely the executive, legislature, judiary
collectively supported by an overall civil service.
The government of the country should be higher than the ruling
party or the executive, legislature or judiciary and should have
the largest role of government to form committees and other bodies
to oversee any particular issue or problem. Citizens should be
encouraged to come forward to play their complementary role to
check on any errors or oversights or mistakes in the government and
play a pivotal role in diverse areas.
It is of primary importance to review the roles of the executive to
encourage overall growth involving participation by all component
branches and citizens.
Such review will then bring about changes in initiation and
formulation of more effective pro-people and pro-growth policies
and decision but to embrace the economic, social and cultural
aspects to involve the citizens in sustaining vibrancy and
competitiveness.
So to that extent, law making and enforcements should be the lowest
domination of government. The higher perspective should be to
encourage and empower the people in active participation in every
aspect of nation building and not to be restricted to laws and
enforcements by the executive.
Therefore, it is essential to define the role of government and
various component parties of government as follows:-
(a) Parliament (Legislature) - to debate and deliberate and give
approval to recommendations of the executive on policies,
decisions, proposals relating to administration of the
government.
(b) Executive - to initiate and formulate policies and laws for
approval of parliament and to implement policies and decisions
passed by parliament.
(c ) Judiciary - to administer justice over enforcement of laws and
adjudication of disputes and problems affecting the citizens.
It shall be the function of the civil service to carry out the
policies and decisions and implement the laws and their
enforcements passed by parliament.
(
Establish Rule of law, justice, fairness and equity
in conduct of laws.
(9) Establish low-cost independent panels with neutrality of status
and relevant expertise to administer all situations of conflicts or
potential conflict of interests, in election processes,
administration of government, approval of salaries and rewards of
government ministers, MPs and executives and adjudication of
justice and establishment of accountability and transparency in
administration of government.
The primary objective of the review should be clear - to build an
inclusive cosmopolitan society and increase the overall
participaton in all aspects of nation building. Secondarily the
review will help to correct or clarify any grey areas that might
lead to erosion of rights of citizens thereby undermining the
eventual evolvement of greater social, cultural and economic
vibrancy of the citizens.
By guaranteeing the citizens of basic rights of citizens, and
delineate the roles of the three branches of government, we will be
able to lay a strong foundation for the country one which will lead
to better collective leadership and shared responsibility and one
which will motivate citizens to contribute to larger aspects of
nation building.
Such a constitution will then help to lessen conflicts within
society, the surest and most certain way to prevent concentration
of power in any individuals or groups of individuals which might
lead to long-term instability.
It is envisaged that a pro-people and pro-growth constitution, will
fuel the growth of people creativity, entrepreneurship in all
aspects of nation building in the interest of all citizens
irrespective of belief, cult, race, religion or political views or
inclinations.
