Walkabouts, roundtable feature on second day of presidential campaigning
WALKABOUTS and a community roundtable featured on Wednesday (Aug 23), on the second day of campaigning for Singapore’s presidential election, ahead of the next day’s official candidate broadcasts.
On Wednesday, the number of registered overseas voters was also announced: 6,649, of whom 3,432 will vote by post and 3,217 will vote in person at one of 10 polling stations abroad.
Those voting by post must ensure that the return envelope with their marked postal ballot paper is postmarked before Sep 1, which is Polling Day. Their postal vote must reach the Returning Officer in Singapore by Sep 11.
Overseas voters who happen to be back in Singapore on Polling Day can vote at their assigned polling stations here. Their allotted polling station can be found on the poll cards sent to their registered address in Singapore or local contact address, or their ePoll card in the SingPass app and ELD’s voter services portal.
Campaigning continues through Aug 30, with two presidential candidate broadcasts on Aug 24 and Aug 30.
Candidates will deliver their messages in alphabetical order by their name as reflected on the electoral roll, said the Infocomm Media Development Authority.
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This means that ex-GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song will be first, followed by former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian. The order will be reversed for the Aug 30 broadcast.
On both days, the English broadcast will air twice, at 7 pm and 9:30 pm. The earlier broadcast will be by CNA on television, and on five radio stations – CNA938, Money FM, One FM, Kiss 92, and Power 98. The later broadcast will be on Channel 5, as well as radio stations Class 95 and Gold 905.
The Mandarin speeches will also air twice, at 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. The earlier broadcast will be on Channel 8 and four radio stations; the later broadcast will be on Channel U. The Malay speeches will be aired at 9.30 pm on Suria and Warna 942, and the Tamil speeches at 9 pm on Vasantham and Oli 968.
On Wednesday, the three candidates conducted walkabouts at food markets and housing estates around Singapore.
Ng also visited the Singapore Malay Youth Library Association, joining community leaders and professionals from the Malay-Muslim community for a roundtable.
They discussed the issues facing Malay youth, the importance of multiculturalism and multiracialism, and how to help small businesses.
Asked how small Malay businesses can be better supported in their aspirations to grow and tap bigger markets, Ng said that creating opportunities for small businesses requires a “mindset change” from the public sector, to look beyond profits when supporting these firms.
“It’s not just about economic growth,” he said. “The public sector (needs to realise) that creating opportunities for small businesses from the Malay-Muslim minority group is a critical investment in our social stability.”
Ng added that, if elected, he will use his “soft power” as president to raise this and other topics of concern, such as the recent hot-button issue of transporting migrant workers in lorries.
“The president cannot make policies... but the president has a platform, and I want to see what I can contribute – not to make policies, but hopefully to influence some of these issues which are the concern for many Singaporeans.”
At a walkabout at Toa Payoh Hub, Tharman also responded to questions on this topic, saying that how much soft power the president has “depends entirely on the relationship between (him) and the Prime Minister”.
“These are conversations that they have in private, if they have respect for each other. Then, of course, the president will have a greater ability to be able to provide independent advice and will know that it’s taken seriously,” he added.
Earlier, Tan greeted patrons at ABC Brickworks hawker centre in Bukit Merah and told reporters that he wants to convey Singaporeans’ aspirations to the government, akin to what monarchs do in other countries.
Separately, former Singapore diplomat Kishore Mahbubani has endorsed Tharman as president, following a similar endorsement by veteran diplomat Tommy Koh on Monday.
In a Facebook video, Prof Mahbubani gave three reasons for believing Tharman will be a “major positive boost to the future of Singapore”. First, his global standing will give the nation “another layer of protection” to face the next decade’s stormy geopolitical waters.
Second, alluding to recent scandals involving politicians, he said Singapore is in need of an inspirational figure as president, and “few Singaporeans inspire respect in the way that Tharman does”. Third, he praised Tharman for being a “deep and serious thinker” with a sense of humour.
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