(In Malay)

After four years having him as President, we can see for ourselves how well the description fits the character of our President. In point of fact, this has always been his character. The assumption of office has only brought it into the highlight. In my view, two vital aspects have now emerged. First, the sharpness of his mind and the depth of his understanding of life has enabled him to maintain the dignity of the high office of President that he holds. Indeed, the dignity of this high office has been reinforced and it has gained even more respect and higher esteem. Second, his concern for the people, for people of all strata and of all walks of life, from the healthy to the feeble, from the common man to men of position, these have made him into someone in whom they could place love, at the very least place a little bit of love. And what is most important is that he served a people of a variety of races and religions: Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasians, and others, who are Buddhists, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, etc, and he performs this task without there existing or without him creating any class barrier, much less a dividing wall. In this way, solidarity is forged or welded. To him, position does not blind the eye, rank does not corrode the heart, his feet always stand firmly on the ground. This has brought him ever higher respect and adulation from the people. His unassuming character and his highly sympathetic and tolerant nature should be emulated by the people. He represents all of us and he represents the whole Singapore society.

This has led me to conclude that in the midst of our society exists a President whose heart lies in the people. He embodies the meaning caputured by the concept "a People's President". Thus he deserve to be called a "People's President". His election as President of the Republic of Singapore is a fitting one.

On that note, I fully support the motion moved by the Hon. Prime Minister.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and the Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Tang Guan Seng) (In Mandarin): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I support the motion by the Prime Minister to elect Mr Wee Kim Wee as President of the Republic of Singapore for a further term of four years.

Undoubtedly, President Wee is the best Presidential candidate. He is truly the People's President. During his four-year term of office, he has built up an image of one who is unassumingly simple and approachabe and has shown a high moral character of, kindness, and sincerity which have won the hearts of all our people.

In a multi-racial country like Singapore, as the President of a country occupying the highest office of the country, in order to be the symbol of unity of people of various races, he must have the support of all the races, including the minorities.

President Wee is the first ethnic Chinese President of our country. But, as the Member for Jalan Besar GRC has pointed out, he has been able to supersede racial barriers and win the support and respect also of our Malay and Indian compatriots. His success, of course, has to do with his "sociable personality". But I feel that the more important reason is that he regards our Malay and Indian compatriots as brother, and has deep and sincere feelings for them.

President Wee came from a very common family. At first he was a clerk. Later he became a press reporter, then a diplomat. Four years ago, he became our President. Although there is a great change in his status and position, he still maintains his usual plain and gentle manner. He is really a great personage devoid of ostentatious pomp and show. It is this precious quality that has endeared President Wee to people of all walks of life.

In the past, President Wee rendered his services to better the welfare of the blind and the deaf, and he also contributed to SATA. When he became the President, he carried on with his concern and support for social welfare services, particularly for the fund raising programmes for the Community Chest, helping to contribute some warmth to the less fortunate people in our Community.

Sir, at 73 now, he is still able to carry on as usual as in the past four years paying close attention to the affairs of the State and providing encouragement to our people on major issues such as civil defence, transport, education, and so on. He attended various ceremonies, functions and receiving guests and the common people warmly. At the same time, he is also paying much attention to the life and welfare of the common people. One telling incident was a press report in March this year which said when the President was recuperating from an illness, he remembered a malay disabled artist who was neither a relative nor a personal friend. Nonetheless, the President asked his personal doctor to do a medical check-up on the artist He also recommended an artist to cultivate her talent.

As a Chinese saying goes, "Few men ever reach seventy". when he could have retired and enjoyed his later years. But when the country calls for his services again he comes forward to offer himself resulutely. This spirit of keeping national interest above self calls for emulation by all our people. Sir, once more let me express my support for the Prime Minister's motion.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh (Non-Constituency Member): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, we in the Workers' Party fully support the election of Mr Wee Kim Wee as President of the Republic of Singapore for a further term of office. I also fully endorse the sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister and the other two speakers before me. On this issue, I would dare say that both Government and the Opposition, although Mr Chiam has not yet spoken, have complete identity of views.

Singapore has been most fortunate in having Mr Wee Kim Wee as President. He is friendly and he gets on very well with everyone. He is unassuming, he is well-respected, and popularly accepted as President of Singapore by people of all strata in our society. Far back in 1985 when Mr Wee was first elected President of Singapore and I was asked my personal opinion about him, my answer then was that Mr Wee was the most suitable choice and that the Government had done a good job in electing him. Today, I would like to say the same again. I believe that Mr Wee is easily the best choice in the land for this high office.

However, we in the Workers' Party, and I dare say the great majority of people in Singapore, have been most disappointed that the President has not agreed to remove the conviction of our Party Secretary-General, Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam, though of course we realize that the President has no choice in the matter.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Dr Lee, if you could confine your comments to the Election of President.

Dr Lee Siew-Choh: Another related issue, Sir, is the Elected President. When first elected President in 1985, there was some uncertainty as to how long Mr Wee Kim Wee would remain in office. The Prime Minister had said then that Mr Wee's term of office might be less than four years. Those words were widely interpreted as semi-official intimation that the Prime Minister would soon step down from the premiership and that he would then take over from Mr Wee to become the first Elected Executive President of Singapore. It would appear, Sir, that the time-table of Government plans have now been changed. Or have these plans been shelved? I am sure the Prime Minister would like to enlighten the House on such an important matter, if not today then in the near future.

Finally, Sir, let me say that we are all indeed very happy to learn that Mr Wee has fully recovered from his recent illness. It is my earnest hope and, I believe, that of all the people in Singapore that the President and Mrs Wee Kim Wee will continue to enjoy the best of health during the next four years and long after that to a ripe old age.

Mr K. Shanmugam (Sembawang GRC): ( In Tamil): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am happy to support the motion standing in the name of the Hon. Prime Minister.

Of all the motions accepted by this House till tocay, I have no doubt that this motion to re-elect Mr Wee Kim Wee as the President will get the overwhelming support of all the people. Before his election as President, Mr Wee Kim Wee has served our country in various posts and fields. In 1985 and this year, many Members who have known him well, have described him and spoken about his character and qualifications. I do not know him personally. Like other citizens, I have seen him in public functions. It is not difficult to understand why people like him. Anyone who sees him will know his unassuming attitude and character. His smiling face, his easy and loving manner in which he talks to the people have won the hearts of all the people. He does not exhibit the arrogance of power. Nor does he exhibit the overwhelming pride which goes with that post. Mr Wee is indeed a true and excellent President of the people.

Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, the word "People's President" has been mentioned by the speakers who spoke before me. We have used these words in different contexts. That shows his true character. He is indeed a President of the people. There is a Tamil proverb which very aptly describes in four words how Government leaders should behave. It says, "people follow their king". The meaning of this proverb is that the conduct and character of Government leaders set an example for the people. The state of the nation reflects the state of its leaders. This is very important indeed, more so for the highest post in the nation. In fact, President Wee acts as an example for all citizens of Singapore. We look at President Wee and are proud to say that he is our President. I give my wholehearted support to this motion to re-elect him as President.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I rise to support the motion to extend a further term of four years for Mr Wee Kim Wee to be President of Singapore. Sir, all the nice things have already been said and I support the sentiments thereof.

Sir, I am also very glad to hear that Mr Wee Kim Wee has recovered from his two major surgeries earlier this year, and I wish him all the best of health.

Dr Aline K. Wong (Tampines GRC): Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of the motion standing in the name of the Hon. Prime Minister to elect Mr Wee Kim Wee for a further term of four years as President of our Republic.

During the last four years of his service as our President, Mr Wee has endeared himself to the whole nation. By his quiet dignity, his friendly and courteous disposition, a common touch and a genuine concern for the unfortunate in society, Mr Wee has earned the very enviable reputation of being the People's President. Those who have known him before he became President in August 1985 have always known these qualities in him. And for those of us who got to know him only after he became President have also had plenty of opportunity to admire those qualities in him. When Mr Wee was taken ill in January and February this year, the amount of "Get Well" wishes he received was ample evidence of the deep affection which our people have for him.

Sir, the Head of State is the symbol of the unity, the loyalty and the spirit of the people. From his humble background, Mr Wee has achieved the distinctive career as journalist, diplomat, Chairman of SBC and President of our Republic. He is the very symbol of our system of meritocracy where every person irrespective of family or educational background can develop his or her potential to the fullest. Younger Singaporeans who have taken our system for granted would do well to remember that meritocracy is not always practised in other countries.

But what I find most touching in Mr Wee's acceptance of nomination for re-election is his sense of duty to the nation. In August 1985 when the Prime Minister moved the motion to elect Mr Wee as the Fourth President of our Republic, he spoke of how Mr Wee, happy and content with his life as he had lived it, agreed to take up office as a matter of responsibility. I am sure that even now he is accepting re-election out of a sheer sense of responsibility. Public life demands hard work and personal sacrifices. At his age and given his recent illness, Mr Wee does not flinch from his sense of service to the nation. Other people would have, and understandably so, chosen to retire to the comforts of a quiet life with the children and grandchildren. It is therefore an act of supreme commitment to the country that Mr Wee has consented to serve a further term.

Finally, Mr Wee has come to be known as a fatherly figure also. It is therefore most apt that he will be presiding over a period when we are engaged in introspection over our core values. It is my sincere wish and I am sure the wish of my colleagues in this House that Mr Wee would, after his re-election, continue to guide us with his wisdom, rich life experience, in our identification of this set of core values so that our younger Singaporeans can grow up on a solid foundation.

I support the motion.

Question put, and agreed to.

That this Parliament, in accordance with Article 17 of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, elects Mr Wee Kim Wee as President of the Republic of Singapore for a further term of four years to commence immediately after the expiry of his present term of office. [Applause.]