AFTER a televised forum with presidential candidates on Monday (Aug 28), the debate continued off-air the next day, as ex-GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song argued against fellow candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s views on political affiliations.

Monday night’s CNA forum had provided no chance for debate, with the candidates merely taking turns to respond to the same questions. In a statement on Tuesday, Ng took issue with an answer that Tharman had given during the forum.

The former senior minister had said that the presidential contest should be about the candidates’ characters and track records, not whether they have been members of political parties.

Private companies may depend on government contracts, and fund-management companies may depend on government monies, but this does not mean that they are not independent, said Tharman.

On Tuesday, Ng said that Tharman’s comment on fund-management companies was “clearly about (him)”. He reiterated that if elected, he would fully divest his ownership stake in asset-management company Avanda Investment Management.

“This is a worthwhile financial sacrifice to ensure the independence and impartiality of the office of the presidency,” he said.

GET BT IN YOUR INBOX DAILY

Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox.

Sign UpVIEW ALL

Ng also disputed Tharman’s comparison of those with past political affiliations and “anyone who is dependent on the government in some way”, saying: “There is a big difference between being a senior government leader and the rest of us.”

At a visit to a coffeeshop in Marine Parade that morning, he told the media: “If we were to carry this point to its conclusion, only foreign companies who cannot vote should get government business.”

Ng stressed that the president must be apart from party politics. “Our political discourse has now become pro-PAP and anti-PAP,” he said. “It is unhealthy and divisive... because we will lose sight that we are all Singaporeans, and we must all be united.”

That is why he spoke out against opposition figures “coalescing around” his competitor, former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian, he added.

In an earlier Facebook post, Ng accused Tan’s supporters of “making a coordinated effort to rouse up anti-government sentiment”.

Ng and Tharman continued to conduct walkabouts on Tuesday, with Ng dropping by a Clementi food market in the evening, and Tharman making an evening stop at a Sengkang food centre.

After cancelling planned walkabouts, Tan was expected to visit volunteers who have been distributing his campaign flyers and “mini posters” across Singapore, but he scrapped these plans on Tuesday morning. He has also shelved plans for a live online rally on Wednesday night – which was intended to feature speeches by “prominent people” – due to “a conflict of priorities”, deciding to focus “limited resources” on meeting election regulations.

On Tuesday evening, Tan also gave a preview of his second and final broadcast message on his website. In his speech, he flagged the importance of family values as a cornerstone of society and encouraged young Singaporeans “to get married at an earlier age, if they can afford to do so”.

He also apologised “to all those who have found any of what (he has) said upsetting or inappropriate” and promised to be more mindful in his future speech and actions, adding that he enjoys sharing about everyday life and “never meant any disrespect”. 

The three candidates’ broadcasts will air on Wednesday at 7 pm.