SINGAPORE, Aug 22 — The nomination of three candidates eligible to run for president was completed successfully today.
The contest will be between former group chief investment officer of GIC Pte Ltd Ng Kok Song, ex-chief executive officer of NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Ltd Tan Kin Lian, and past senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The line-up was announced by returning officer Tan Meng Dui at the end of the proceedings at the nomination centre at People’s Association (PA) Headquarters on King George’s Avenue here.
September 1 is polling day.
Each contender gave a two-minute thank-you speech to crowds of supporters.
Ng said: “I’ve worked 45 years in public service. I have what it takes to uphold the integrity of public service appointments.”
Shanmugaratnam said he looks forward to “a fair, dignified and honourable contest focused on what each of us brings to Singaporeans and our future”.
“It is our future we are concerned about. It will be a different future. It will be a more difficult and challenging future that we face, which is the reason I have entered this contest. (It is) to offer all my experience and capabilities on the ground for a few decades nationally and internationally.”
Tan said he wants to be a president “truly independent of the ruling government”.
“If I am elected, I will carry out my duties as set out in the constitution diligently, honestly and to the best of my ability. These duties are to safeguard the reserves and uphold the integrity of the public service,” said Tan.
— Bernama
