The Constitutional Commission has in its recommendations for the Elected Presidency advocated a system where once every 30 years, if no candidate of a particular race has served in the presidential office, an election will be held for people of that specific race.

The proposed changes, comprehensive as they appeared, were nonetheless met with a resounding 'meh' from the general public.

There were some who even expressed disillusionment with the process.

Which is worrying, especially when the idea of giving minorities an better shot at the presidency is in fact a rather commendable one.

So, why haven't people rallied around the idea of giving minorities a heightened chance at the presidency?

It's a tough question to answer, but this tweet, for instance, might prove instrumental in laying the foundations for why some might find this push underwhelming.

They legit got a group of four chinese people to talk about ~racial equality~ in future presidential elections pic.twitter.com/zOdY1a9ff9

— ❀ ✿ ❁ ✾ ✽ ❃ ❋ (@dollylama__) September 5, 2016

The minorities are a minority in the push for more minority involvement

Much has been said about the need for a more diverse range of potential presidents.

But there hasn't been much diversity in the ones who are saying it.

And this isn't just from us — PM Lee also acknowledged the lack of groundswell demanding a change in election guidelines.

Here is what he said in his recent TV appearance on Channel NewsAsia:

"We are not in a situation where the minorities are demanding something, and the majority is pushing back and saying we don't want."

"I'm pushing this not because I feel pressure from the minorities... but because I think it is a right thing to do."

"Nobody is asking, but I think it is something we ought to do, and do now, for the long term of Singapore."

That survey CNA did on race

In fact, one of the more cited sources to justify the change in electoral criteria was the survey that CNA did for their race documentary.

In it, they noted that those of a particular race were more likely to vote for a candidate of the same race.

But that is more an inference than a platform for minorities to air their views.

If a survey was used, in no small part, to justify the need for a change based on abstract questions about race, why not just conduct another survey asking whether minorities would want this electoral criteria change?

Could some people feel uncomfortable answering the question? Sure.

But at the very least, the voices of minorities would be heard.

Because right now, the voices most audible in the push for reform lack the very same diversity they are calling for.

More on the Elected Presidency and its recommended changes:

Why was there no mention of gender in the Commission’s report on Elected Presidency?

Everything you need to know about the Constitutional Commission’s recommendations for the Elected Presidency in 60 seconds

This is the proposed job application form for Singapore’s Next Top President

Everything you don’t need to know about the history of Elected Presidency in S’pore

Will Malay candidates be given priority this coming Presidential Election?

Based on the Commission’s recommendations, Tan Kin Lian will be the only losing Tan automatically eligible for Presidency

Top image from Twitter user @dollylama__

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