Presidential bids: Tharman, Ng Kok Song, Tan Kin Lian get eligibility nod; it’s a ‘no’ for George Goh

THREE presidential hopefuls have been issued the certificate of eligibility (COE) from the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), allowing them to contest in the upcoming election.

They are former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former chief executive of NTUC Income Tan Kin Lian, the Elections Department (ELD) announced in a statement on Friday (Aug 18).

Harvey Norman Ossia founder George Goh, who also publicly declared his intention to run for the role, did not receive a certificate.

ELD had announced on Thursday night that six people had submitted applications for the COE, which is one of the documents that a person needs to contest in the election. Nominations will take place on Aug 22, with Polling Day set for Sep 1.

Speaking to the media on Friday afternoon, Goh said that the PEC had rejected his application as it was not satisfied with the businessman’s argument that his experience and performance managing five different companies was equivalent to that of a CEO running a single company. He had applied under the private sector track Article 19(4)(b), with five companies he manages, which he said has a total shareholder equity of S$507 million.

Article 19(4)(b) of the Constitution, also known as the “deliberative track”, allows the PEC to evaluate the applicant’s eligibility based on factors such as the nature of the office, the size and complexity of the organisation and the applicant’s performance in that office.

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In a press statement on Friday, Goh said that the committee “took a very narrow interpretation of the requirements without explaining the rationale behind its decision”.

Refuting Goh’s comments on Friday night, the PEC said that it had decided on his bid based on a proper application of Article 19(4)(b), and that it had explained its rationale to him. 

“Goh’s suggestion that the committee failed to do so is firmly rejected,” the PEC said.

The committee also made public its letter to Goh, where it said it had considered his submission that the five companies should be regarded as a single private sector organisation. 

The companies are: Ossia International, Pertama Holdings, ITG International, Crown Essentials and Vernal Ventures.

But taking into account how the companies were owned, managed and operated, the committee was not satisfied that the five companies constituted a single organisation.

The experience and ability that comes from managing multiple smaller private sector organisations is “not equivalent” to managing a very large one, the PEC added.

Details on other candidates

Giving the details of how the other candidates qualified, ELD said that Tharman had met the public-sector service requirement under Article 19(3)(a), having held office for more than three years as a minister. It was also satisfied that he is a man of “integrity, good character and reputation”.

Articles 19(3) of the Constitution set out the public sector service requirements, while Articles 19(4) set out the requirements for the private sector.

As for Ng, the PEC was satisfied that his experience and ability during his time as GIC chief investment officer “is comparable to the experience and ability of a person who satisfies Article 19(3)(b) of the Constitution”. Ng had applied under Article 19(3)(c) of the Constitution.

“The committee is also satisfied that Mr Ng has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of president,” said ELD.

Following ELD’s announcement, Ng said: “I will give my very best to this presidential bid, as I seek the privilege to be of service and build a united Singapore for the future. For all of us, here and now, let’s do our best for the current and future generations to realise our hopes, and ensure that Singapore continues to thrive.”

Tan had applied under Article 19(4)(b). Based on the information available to the PEC, “the committee is satisfied, having regard to the nature of Mr Tan’s office in NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Ltd, the size and complexity of (the company) and Mr Tan’s performance in the office, that Mr Tan has experience and ability that is comparable to the experience and ability of a person who has served as the chief executive of a typical company with at least S$500 million of shareholders’ equity and who satisfies Article 19(4)(a) of the Constitution in relation to such service,” said ELD.

The PEC is also satisfied that Tan is a man of integrity, good character and reputation.

All unsuccessful applicants have also been informed of the outcome of their applications and the reasons for the PEC’s rejection.