Singapore’s High Commissioner slams M'sian editorial on Elected Presidency
Singapore’s High Commissioner to Malaysia has slammed an editorial in newspaper Utusan Malaysia about the Elected Presidency, saying that the newspaper published “several baseless and mischievous allegations”.
Vanu Gopala Menon said these included the claim that in Singapore, “meritocracy was always being used as an excuse to discriminate against Malays”, “meritocracy was also open to manipulation”, and that “Malays became weaker and marginalised from the corridors of power”.
Written by the newspaper’s editors, the editorial was published on Sunday (28 May) under the pseudonym Awang Selamat.
The editorial was supportive of the move to reserve the upcoming presidential election for Malays.
It also highlighted that some parties, including former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock, were against the move. The editorial also commented on meritocracy in Singapore.
In Menon’s letter, published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website on Tuesday (30 May), he said that he wished to “set the record straight”. “Meritocracy is a key pillar of Singapore’s system of governance. Our citizens have access to equal opportunities, regardless of race, language, or religion, and our policies are tailored to that end,” he said.
Menon said that Singapore’s Malay community had made “significant social and economic progress over the past five decades, not because of privileges, but because of the community’s efforts in a fair and just society”.
In addition, Malay students have excelled and topped national examinations, said Menon.
“Singapore’s meritocratic system has never been ‘manipulated’ or “used as an excuse to discriminate” against Singapore’s Malay community, or any other community. We strictly prohibit our people, including the media, from using the issues of race, language, and religion to divide our society,” said Menon.
Menon added that the editorial may have misunderstood the amendments made to the Presidential Elections act. “First, the candidate in the reserved election must meet the same qualifying criteria as any other candidate who stands and wins in a non-reserved election,” he said. “Second, as the Head of State, the President is the symbol of the country, and represents all Singaporeans, not just his ethnic group,” said Menon.
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