Important qualities a president should have.

I refer to the article “Commentary: Three qualities of a good candidate for President” (Channel NewsAsia, Sep 10).

It states that “In my opinion, it is far more important to assess candidates’ abilities to perform the President’s constitutional duties, and base our assessment of the person who would eventually take up the Presidency on whether he or she is capable of discharging the Office’s constitutional duties and powers.

To do so, I believe that the President has to have three important qualities.

SAFEGUARDING SINGAPORE’S RESERVES

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PUBLIC SECTOR APPOINTMENTS

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COUNCIL OF PRESIDENTIAL ADVISORS

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In my humble opinion – the most obvious and most important quality of a presidential candidate is what I believe has not been mentioned and covered adequately in the several commentarities in the mainstream media so far on the presidential elections – that is to be independent and have the courage and willingness to stand up against or criticise the Government, if the President does not agree with the Government’s proposals to the President.

Otherwise, what’s the point of having a President in the first place as a check and balance on the Government – primarily in respect of the reserves and key appointments?

By the way, our Press Freedom ranking is 151st in the world.

Leong Sze Hian