The late Ong Teng Cheong “stress-tested” Singapore’s elected presidency through disagreements with the government, proving that a leader hailing from the establishment could exercise independence. That assessment comes from former Senior Minister S Jayakumar, who reflected on the constitutional milestone during an exclusive interview with CNA.
Establishment Roots and Friction
Professor Jayakumar pointed out that Mr Ong brought political weight to the office, having previously served as deputy prime minister before stepping into the presidency in 1993.
That establishment background did not prevent friction. Throughout his term that ended in 1999, Mr Ong found himself locked in notable administrative disputes with the government.
Tribunal Battles and Public Break
Those clashes included a 1994 dispute over Article 22H, which was resolved through a constitutional tribunal. The friction culminated on July 16, 1999.
Approaching the end of his term, Mr Ong held a press conference to announce he would not seek re-election and to raise challenges he faced working with the government.
Safeguarding Reserves and State Power
Mr Ong expressed disappointment over what he saw as insufficient cooperation from civil servants on certain matters, along with concerns over a possible drawdown on the reserves.
The elected presidency was written into law in 1991. That legislative leap shifted the office from a post elected by Members of Parliament to one elected by voters in a nationwide election, tasked with safeguarding the reserves and key public sector appointments.
Parliamentary Rebuttal and Ministerial Defenses
In the aftermath of the press conference, then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and then-Finance Minister Richard Hu addressed the parliament. According to Professor Jayakumar, both leaders “took pains to deal with every one of Ong Teng Cheong’s points”.
They argued that the facts showed a misunderstanding by President Ong Teng Cheong, who did not come back to rebut it, Professor Jayakumar said.
Reshaping the Wicket-Keeper Model
Professor Jayakumar also recounted the internal political maneuvering that shaped the presidency’s design long before Mr Ong took office.
Younger ministers of that era pushed back against Lee Kuan Yew’s original “wicket-keeper model” proposal, which they felt granted the president excessive powers. Professor Jayakumar noted that Mr Lee was willing to listen and modify his proposal, and he hopes his account dispels the myth that Mr Lee was a dictatorial leader who brooked no dissent.
