NOVEMBER 20 — So, Singapore officially embraced race-based politics last week when it announced that the next presidential election would be reserved for Malay candidates.

Singapore has, theoretically, elected its presidents since 1991 though tough eligibility criteria for potential candidates means that in effect most presidents have walked into office uncontested.

To be eligible, candidates must be granted a certificate of eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee and they must previously have held high office as a minister, Attorney General (or similar) or chairman of a major government or private corporation with paid up capital of at least S$100 million (RM308.9 million).

Now constitutional changes stipulate that the office of president must be occupied by member of a particular race if that race has not been represented in the presidency for five consecutive terms. Which means that for next presidential election candidates must meet all the above criteria and be Malay.

Firstly simply finding eligible candidates might be challenging but secondly — and crucially — why have we reached a point of such outright tokenism?

Have we failed so comprehensively in terms of normalising minority candidates within mainstream parties and processes that we now need to mandate their election?

Singapore president Tony Tan... in next year’s presidential election, a Malay will be chosen as the latest constitutional changes mandate the president will come from a particular race if that race has not been represented for five consecutive terms. — Reuters pic

While the idea of increasing minority representation is basically right, everything about this latest move strikes me as wrong. Fundamentally, minority-only elections only institutionalises race in our government and everyday life.

They would also make a mockery of Singapore’s supposed governing creed — meritocracy. So what happens if the best candidate for president in 2017 doesn’t happen to be Malay?

Explaining the decision in The Straits Times, Prime Minister Lee Hsieng Loong said: "Every citizen, Chinese, Malay, Indian, or some other race, should know that someone of his community can become president, and in fact from time to time, does become president,” he said.

As a minority Singaporean, this isn’t what I want: to see someone from my community represented from time to time. Rather I believe and hope what most Singaporeans, including myself, want is an equal chance to be represented at any level of government and that is something our current system is not delivering.

Minority-only elections don’t represent progress but rather imply minorities cannot compete in Singapore on a level playing field.

Besides, we’ve had minority presidents in the past, from Benjamin Sheares to SR Nathan, and of course Yusof Ishak. Most importantly, what minorities need to be assured of is that moves to create a token and occasional minority president don’t slam the door on the premiership.

For there’s no getting round the fact that in Singapore, the prime minister as head of government is the most powerful figure, and it needs to be abundantly clear this position is open to Singaporeans regardless of ethnicity, skin colour or gender.

* This is the personal opinion of the columnist.