Tan Kin Lian launches bid for presidency, backed by former opponent Tan Jee Say
Renald Yeo
FORMER presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian has launched his second bid for Singapore’s presidency, backed by former opponent Tan Jee Say and opposition party leader Lim Tean.
Both Tans were candidates in the 2011 presidential election, alongside former Member of Parliament Tan Cheng Bock and eventual winner Tony Tan.
At a press conference on Friday (Aug 11), Tan Kin Lian said that if elected, he would “play an active role” in carrying out the “two key duties” of safeguarding the reserves and protecting the integrity of the public service.
He said that firstly, he would work to ensure that the country’s past reserves are invested prudently.
Secondly, in approving appointments at the top level of public service, he would consider factors such as diversity and practical experience.
He added that he intends to use the President’s office to “influence policies that will make a better life for the people of Singapore”, such as bringing down the cost of living, providing affordable housing and securing jobs.
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He stressed that he does not intend to be “an adversary” to the government. “On the contrary, I hope to work in collaboration with the government.”
He was the chief executive officer of NTUC Income from 1977 to 2007; in the last three years of his stewardship of the insurer, it had an average shareholders’ equity of more than S$500 million.
His proposer Tan Jee Say, who ran in both the general election and presidential election in 2011, said that Tan Kin Lian therefore “does not need any waivers for him to qualify” as a candidate.
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In the 2011 presidential election, Tan Kin Lian received 4.91 per cent of the votes – the lowest of the four candidates. He lost his election deposit of S$48,000 for failing to meet the minimum threshold of 12.5 per cent. Tan Jee Say received 25.04 per cent of the votes.
Tan Kin Lian is the fourth presidential hopeful to announce his bid, after former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, entrepreneur George Goh, and ex-GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song.
While Tan Kin Lian and Tharman meet the eligibility criteria for candidacy, Goh and Ng do not automatically qualify.
Asked why he decided to run despite his 2011 showing, Tan Kin Lian said that he was “quite prepared to stand aside” when Goh expressed interest in contesting, but later noticed comments that Goh might not qualify.
When Ng later came forth, it seemed as if the election might be a contest between Tharman and Ng. Tan Kin Lian said he decided to put himself forward as an independent option: “We don’t want to have a contest between two candidates from the establishment.”
Goh applied for a certificate of eligibility on Aug 4 under the private-sector deliberative track, under which the Presidential Elections Committee can determine whether he has the experience and ability comparable to a chief executive of a company with shareholders’ equity of at least S$500 million.
Ng submitted his forms on Aug 2 under the public-sector deliberative track. Tan Kin Lian said previously that he sent in his application on Jul 11.
Asked about his takeaways from 2011, Tan Kin Lian replied: “The first lesson is that 2011 was not my time. I hope 2023 will be my time.” He added: “The second lesson is that I now have the support of very capable advisers, and they are my proposer and seconder.”
His seconder is lawyer and opposition politician Lim Tean, who ran in the 2015 general election under the National Solidarity Party, and in the 2020 general election as chief of the Peoples Voice party, which he founded.
Lim said he had “strongly urged” Tan Kin Lian to contest the upcoming election to prevent a walkover, adding: “Whether speaking at Hong Lim Park on a matter of public interest, or in public or private discussions, his overriding objective has always been on how to improve the lives of his fellow citizens.”
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