TODAY-Nov 6
Legislative changes aimed at allowing the President and ministers to accept appointments in foreign and international organisations in their personal capacities, if it is in the national interest for them to do so, were proposed in Parliament on Monday (Nov 6).The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) tabled amendments to Singapore’s constitutional laws, saying in a media release that accepting such positions can enhance Singapore’s international standing and help to advance the national interest. Foreign and international organizations typically invite individuals to serve in their private instead of official capacities, PMO said. However, the Constitution currently does not empower the President — as the head of state — to take up public roles where he acts in his private capacity. If passed, the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Amendment No. 3) Bill will enable the President to perform such roles when the Cabinet advises that it is in the national interest to accept and hold that role, PMO added. The current President, Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam, was sworn in on Sept 14 after winning a landslide victory at the Sept 1 polls. The former Senior Minister resigned from all positions in the government and the People’s Action Party to stand in the presidential election. In 2017, he became the first Asian to be appointed chairman of the board of trustees of the Group of Thirty (G30), an independent global council of economic and financial leaders. He is still holding that position. Mr Tharman also currently co-chairs the Global Commission on the Economics of Water as well as the advisory board for the UN Human Development Report and is on the World Economic Forum’s board of trustees. Read more at: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/singapore-proposes-new-laws-president-ministers-hold-roles-foreign-and-global-organisations-2298296
