These grey areas include understanding if a Minister’s request is for the public interest or for personal interest, he added.
“I think clear rules must be set for this … We’ve had the same government for 64 years, the distinction between civil service and government becomes blurred.”
He also added that Mr Tan Kin Lian’s thoughts about the reserves – that “not too much should be saved (such) that it burdens the people” – was something that he resonates with.
“UNITY TEAM”
About the support he is receiving from two of his former rival candidates, Mr Tan Kin Lian said he was “very happy” and described them as a “unity team”, adding that he will rely on “their valuable advice to reach the people”.
Highlighting that they had collectively received a combined 64.8 per cent of votes during the 2011 Presidential Elections, Mr Tan said the trio will offer to work with the government to achieve their common goal of making life better for the people.
“We will help the ruling government to be a better government by improving accountability and transparency through independent audit and scrutiny,” said the presidential candidate.
However, when asked if the two men would be nominated by him to be part of the Council of Presidential Advisers, Mr Tan Kin Lian said he has not asked them yet but that they are “excellent candidates”.
“I will ask them after I’m elected on Sept 1,” he said.
Mr Tan Kin Lian was also pressed about whether he can be considered independent considering multiple opposition politicians have voiced their support for him – such as Peoples’ Voice’s Lim Tean and People’s Power Party’s Goh Meng Seng.
To this, Mr Tan Kin Lian said that he has “always been independent in (his) thinking”.
“If you look at my past history, the last 15 years, I have expressed independent views on government policies as a private citizen,” he said.
He also added that he has not received any funding from political parties.
Mr Tan Kin Lian added: “If you play politics, you spend too much time fighting each other.
“I want to make sure that the views and aspirations of the people are conveyed to the government so that they are taken into account in the final decision that the government makes.”
This story was originally published in TODAY.