Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific chairman runs for presidency

CHAIRMAN of marine service provider Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific Farid Khan Kaim Khan, 62, announced his candidacy for president on Tuesday.

Wishing to serve the nation, Mr Farid said that he is very concerned with the growing threat of radicalism.

"If elected, I will work closely with the government and various organisations to resolve the issue," he said.

He added that he would like to strengthen the trust among Singaporeans, regardless of race or religion.

"Let us enhance our efforts in helping the needy, including troubled youths, to strengthen our social fabric," he said.

Mr Farid, who is married with two children, has been working at Singapore-based Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific for more than 10 years. The firm, with about 800 workers in the region, is part of French company Bourbon, which has more than 10,000 employees.

Mr Farid is also director of several other companies, including Greenship Holdings, also in the marine sector.

This announcement makes him the second person to step up to the plate for the role of president of Singapore.

Second Chance Properties chief executive officer Mohamed Salleh Marican, 67, had said last month that he intends to run.

Another name widely mentioned for the presidential bid is Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob but she has yet to make her decision known.

The upcoming presidential election in Septemberis reserved for candidates from the Malay community, following changes to the elected presidency scheme last year to ensure minority representation.

One of the changes states that private-sector candidates must have run a company with at least S$500 million in shareholder equity, to qualify automatically.

Applications for the 2017 Presidential Election certificates opened on June 1.

It was on June 16 that Mr Farid's associates collected the application form on his behalf but declined to identify him to reporters.