PM Lee knew the reserved presidential election would be unpopular and would cause the ruling party to lose votes

PM Lee made it clear at a PA Kopi Talk dialogue that he knew the reserved presidential election would be unpopular and would cause the ruling party to lose votes, but said it had to be done because it was the right thing to do. 

"Did I know that this subject would be a difficult one? That it would be unpopular and would cost us votes? Yes, I knew. If I do not know that these are sensitive matters, I cannot be in politics.

"But I did it, because I strongly believe, and still do, that this is the right thing to do," he said.

PM Lee said that while some people think that "we may be going backwards towards racial politics" with the reserved Elected President, the reality "is the opposite".

The current state of affairs, where Singaporeans of different races and religions live in harmony, is not a given, he said.

"THERE IS NOTHING NATURAL ABOUT WHERE WE ARE - multiracial, multi-religious, tolerant and progressive. WE MADE IT HAPPEN, AND WE HAVE GOT TO PROTECT IT, NURTURE IT, PRESERVE IT, AND NEVER BREAK IT."

Referring to the recently-concluded reserved election, Mr Lee said that three Malay candidates had put themselves up for the presidency, of whom two did not qualify.

"But they came forward," he added.

In the 2011 presidential election, there was not one Malay candidate, he noted.

"Was there a Malay candidate? Where were the Farid Khans and the Salleh Maricans? Why didn't they come? It did not cross their minds? No. So why didn't they come? Because they knew that in an open election - all things being equal - a non-Chinese candidate would have no chance," he said.

Citing President Halimah, who said when she was sworn in that she looked forward to the day when reserved elections are no longer needed, Mr Lee said: "I too hope that we will eventually not need such a mechanism to ensure minority representation."

But he said it would take time to work towards this ideal state.

"In climbing towards that ideal state, we need guide-ropes and guard-rails to help us get there and to prevent us from falling off along the way. The reserved election for the President is one such guard-rail," he added.