By Alicia
Wong | SingaporeScene – 3
hours ago
The Prime Minister's Office releases guidelines for the
Presidential Elections campaign. (Property images phot …
Candidates in Singapore's upcoming Presidential Election, due by
31 August, will be allowed to campaign through new media.
Each of them will also be given two blocks of 10 minutes of TV
air time by MediaCorp, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said
on Friday in a statement
outlining the key elements of the presidential campaign.
The first broadcast for a presidential candidate will be aired
the day after Nomination Day. The second broadcast will be aired on
the eve of Polling Day, an exception to the cooling-off period
where election advertising is not allowed.
The PMO said the Presidential Election campaign should "differ
fundamentally" from the General Election campaign because of the
different roles of the elected President and government.
Calling for the process to be "dignified and above the political
fray", the PMO noted the President should have "the status of a
person who has the direct mandate of the people to perform an
important national function on their behalf".
The President's key role is to be the custodian of Singapore's
reserves and ensure only people of integrity are appointed to key
public sector jobs, said the PMO, adding that the President should
not to support or oppose the government or advance his own
agenda.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan and former NTUC Income
chief executive Tan Kin Lian are the presidential hopefuls to have
filed their
eligibility papers for the election. Dr Tan Cheng Bock,
the third candidate, has yet to file his forms.
According to the PMO, MediaCorp will produce a TV profile of
each candidate and broadcast a joint TV interview with all the
candidates. Candidates will also be allowed to hold one rally at a
designated location.
"TV will be a major medium of the campaign because of its wide
reach at the national level. This medium will also allow voters to
assess the candidates in a manner in keeping with the decorum and
dignity of the office of President," the PMO said.
Films concerning the candidates or election remains subject to
the restrictions of the Films Act. But individuals will be allowed
to exhibit and distribute live recordings of lawful election
activities on the Internet, so long as the film does not distort or
dramatise the activity and the film is not materially altered, it
said.
The PMO also cautioned political parties from using their party
names and symbols in campaigning because the elected President is
to be non-partisan.
Civic, business and professional bodies can endorse candidates
but not carry out any activity aimed at promoting a candidate's
election of defeat.
Under the Presidential Elections Act, candidates are allowed to
spend 30 cents per registered voter or $600,000, whichever is
greater.
Dr Tony Tan said he welcomed "clarity on the guidelines".
"I agree that the role of a President is fundamentally different
from that of a Member of Parliament," he said in a statement.
"My campaign team and I look forward to working creatively and
appropriately within the guidelines issued. Our goal for the
campaign remains unchanged -- to reach out to all
Singaporeans so that I may share their concerns and
aspirations. That is why I seek to be of service to the
nation again."
The Presidential Election is expected to be held in the last two weeks of
August.
