Presidential election poll 2: who do you think the voters will vote for?

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Presidential election: Ng Kok Song, Tharman and Tan Kin Lian get eligibility certificates to contest​

(From left) Former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian received their certificates of eligibility. PHOTOS: LIANHE ZAOBAO, ST FILE

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

August 18, 2023

SINGAPORE - Former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, 75, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, and former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian, 75, have been issued their certificates of eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), the Elections Department (ELD) said in a statement on Friday.
Entrepreneur George Goh, 63, did not qualify to contest the election.
ELD’s statement on Friday had named the three successful applicants and listed the reasons for their applications to be accepted.
It said that based on the information available to the PEC, the committee was satisfied that all three men were of integrity, good character and reputation.
It had also taken into account the nature of the roles of Mr Ng and Mr Tan, who had applied under the deliberative routes, as well as their performance in those roles.
The six-member PEC is headed by Public Service Commission chairman Lee Tzu Yang, and includes the chairman of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority and two Supreme Court judges.
Mr Ng had applied under Article 19(3)(c), the public sector deliberative route. The committee said it was satisfied that Mr Ng had the experience and ability comparable to someone who had served for three or more years as the chief executive of a Fifth Schedule entity.

Fifth Schedule entities comprise key statutory boards and government companies.
The committee was satisfied that Mr Ng has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President.
For Mr Tharman, the PEC was satisfied that he had met the public sector service requirement under Article 19(3)(a), having held office for more than three years as a minister.

Mr Tan applied under Article 19(4)(b), the private sector deliberative route.
The committee was satisfied that Mr Tan had the experience and ability comparable to a person who had served as the chief executive of a typical company with at least $500 million in shareholder equity.
The PEC is also satisfied that Mr Tan has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President, the statement said.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Tan thanked the PEC for their “favorable decision” and for releasing it a few days earlier, which would enable him to prepare for the campaign earlier and with greater certainty.
“My volunteers and I will work hard in the campaign to offer to the people of Singapore the choice of electing a president who is independent of the ruling government,” he said.
“If elected, I will use the office of the president to work with the government on ways to improve the lives of the people, in particular to reduce the cost of living, make housing affordable and have secure and well paying jobs.”

Mr Tan Kin Lian with the certificate of eligibility at his home on Aug 18, 2023. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
He added that he was “personally disappointed” that Mr Goh was not eligible to contest this election.
In a statement on Friday, Mr Ng wrote that as he reflects, he would like to honour the generations before him who built the strong foundation of Singapore.
“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,” he 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.”
The PEC announced its decision on Friday, four days before Nomination Day, which is on Aug 22.
Singapore looks set to head to the polls on Sept 1, provided the three candidates proceed with their nominations successfully on Nomination Day.
They will have to bring the necessary documents to the People’s Association headquarters on Nomination Day.

ELD said in its statement on Friday that it notified all individuals on the outcome of their applications, and also told the rejected applicants why they did not get certificates of eligibility.
ELD had said on Thursday that it received six applications for the certificate of eligibility, but did not provide the names of the applicants.
On Friday, it said it would not publish the names of the unsuccessful applicants or the reasons given to them, in light of the concern that potential applicants may be dissuaded from stepping forward to contest the elections for fear of embarrassment.
This concern was expressed in the Report of the Constitutional Commission released in 2016.
They are free to publish the reasons given to them if they do so, said ELD.
However, the PEC may publish its reasons for rejecting an application, if the application was rejected because it was not made according to the Act, or if the applicant published any part of the reasons given to the applicant by the PEC.
It may also do so if the committee’s opinion is that the publication of its reasons is necessary to respond to any public allegation made against the PEC.
This is in accordance to regulation 11(3) of the Presidential Elections (Certificate of Eligibility) Regulations 2017.
The regulations also state that if the PEC rejects an application, it must give its reasons in writing to the applicant. Barring the circumstances listed above, the committee must not publish its reasons for rejecting an application.
In a separate statement, ELD said that it had issued five Chinese community certificates, and one Indian or other minority community certificate.
It had rejected 10 community declarations out of the 16 it received.
While the upcoming presidential election is not reserved for any particular race, candidates still have to obtain a community certificate to determine when the next reserved election will be.

 

[sbfuncle]

https://www.sammyboy.com/threads/sg...tion-voting-will-be-jailed-for-1-year.346712/

Pass checking.
Who you think voters will vote for is not who you will vote for.
Can proceed to poll.

 

[tobelightlight]

Entrepreneur George Goh, 63 was unsuccessful in his application.

why was he unsuccessful?
So now we have Mr flaccid, New World Order shill, and the PAP mole.

calling all Singaporeans to boycott the election.

 

[batman1]

Vote for Tan Kin Lian !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wayne Piew]

Vote for Tan Kin Lian !!!!!!!!!!

 

[ODACHEK]

Cock song too old, Tharman too dark, TKL too weak.

 

[A Singaporean]

Cock song too old, Tharman too dark, TKL too weak.

Georgie boy too cocky.

 

[bobby]

• Tharman Shanmugaratnam
• Ng Kok Song
• Tan Kin Lian
• Spoil Vote

 

[po2wq]

daft sinkies dunno ...

all waiting 4 instructions from gahmen ...

 

[millim6868]

Cannot vote another snake,later on stay in ridout rd,lol

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Cannot vote another snake,later on stay in ridout rd,lol

The snake will be staying somewhere bigger and more expensive: the Istana.

 

[k1976]

Tiagong ish not allow to post like that De woh

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Tan Kin Lian confident he will do well in presidential race​

Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian with his certificate of eligibility issued by the Presidential Elections Committee. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

August 18, 2023

SINGAPORE - Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian has said he is glad for the Presidential Elections Committee’s (PEC) decision to come early, as this meant more time to prepare his campaign.
On Friday, the PEC found Mr Tan 75; former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, 75; and former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, eligible to contest the presidential election. Entrepreneur George Goh, 63, did not qualify to run.
Mr Tan said the PEC’s decision was unexpected and he was surprised by it, and that this has given his campaign greater confidence in winning Singaporeans’ votes.
In recent days, Mr Tan had publicly worried that him and Mr Goh would split the non-establishment vote. The PEC’s decision means the election will now be a contest between him and “two (candidates) from the establishment”, he said.
“There is now more certainty that I’m the only candidate independent of the Government,” he said. “So it will be easier for me to prepare for my campaign, to focus on the message that I want to give to the people of Singapore.”
Speaking to The Straits Times at his home, Mr Tan reiterated his campaign platform of using the office of the president to work with the Government to reduce the cost of living, make housing affordable, and to secure jobs.
He said he will pay particular attention to the needs of the younger generation “who have 50 years or more ahead of them”.

“They will want to be able to feel confident that they can raise a family in Singapore, it will be affordable to raise a family, and I will do my best to make that possible,” he said. “And I am also looking at the needs of the older people.”
At a walkabout in Kovan earlier in the day, Mr Tan had said that in the event of a direct race with Mr Tharman, he would be gunning for a strong mandate of more than 1.5 million votes “to work with the Government to make changes that will make life better for the people”.
Mr Tan said in the afternoon that he was still hoping for 1.5 million votes “but so long as it is more than the other candidates, I’ll be very happy”.

Mr Tan was also asked about the inclusion of Mr Lim Tean and Mr Prabu Ramachandran in his campaign team, when the president is supposed to be non-partisan.
Mr Lim, who founded the People’s Voice (PV) political party, is Mr Tan’s seconder, while Mr Prabu, a former PV candidate at the 2020 General Election is Mr Tan’s principal election agent.
Mr Tan replied that he also has volunteers who do not belong to political parties, and that he is hoping to cover as much ground as possible.

Mr Tan said he represents the middle ground, and is seen by people to be “someone who is quite balanced, who looks at both sides”.
”My views are non-political, and they are targeted at finding the best solutions to the problems faced by the people,” he said. “I am not an opposition candidate, but I get the support of people who are middle ground or leaning towards opposition.”
To reach out to voters, he said he will be communicating actively on social media, on top of holding walkabouts at markets and MRT stations.
Mr Tan also said he was “somewhat disappointed” that Mr Goh did not qualify to run.
“I would like to wish Mr Goh all the best in his future endeavours.”

 

[Hightech88]

Since all candidates are considered qualified and persons of high integrity and good character by the PEC, we must then vote for the one who can give the most middle-finger to PAP and greatest balance of power, else Singapore sure GG.

NKS only appears good on the surface but can clearly see from he and his wife and strange Adams Family demeanor, are all elitists and out of touch with commoners. He just want to be president to have the prestige of retiring with a trophy collection, not with a real genuine desire to reach out to people, esp. the poor or needy.

Til today NKS has never mention or offer any logical nor sensible ways to fight for social causes to help improve our lives except about on one instance talking about using his meditation skills to help youth with mental issues, siao, LOL. See link below.
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/meditation-youth-mental-health-ng-kok-song-2217221

Whereas TKL, despite his flaws (he can't talk as well as the other two obviously), has all along for the past decades, raised, argued, debated and event protested against many bad Gov policies with various ideas in his FB posts, some quite innovative ways to help improve Singaporean lives esp. on cost of living. Not forgetting he is regular at public rallies held in the Speakers' Corner - from the Lehman Brothers collapse in 2008, to calling for a ban against e-scooters on footpaths in 2019. Tan is also very active in FB, where he has 63,000 followers, to give his hot take.

So TKL is the one and only hope for Singapore to set something totally unprecedented in our history to put more pressure on the PAP to help to improve out lives through push for more social causes, far more than our past puppet presidents. It will also pave way for greater political participation from the youths to join alternative parties and wrestle more voteshare from the PAP in next GE.

In other words, if TKL wins, its a big middle finger to PAP and that is most important.

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/pe2023-5-things-know-about-tan-kin-lian

https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/meditation-youth-mental-health-ng-kok-song-2217221
What kind of moronic idea is this? People already siao lang already and needs medication and treatment, not meditation, LOL.
This just shows this fellow all along is out of touch with commoners and just want to be president to have the prestige of retiring with a trophy collection, not with a real genuine desire to reach out to people, esp. the poor or needy.

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Presidential election eligibility decisions shed light on panel’s considerations: Observers​

Singapore will see a three-way fight at the polls on Sept 1, should all go smoothly on Nomination Day on Aug 22. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI

Goh Yan Han
Political Correspondent

August 18, 2023

SINGAPORE – The decision of the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) to issue certificates of eligibility to three presidential hopefuls sheds some light on its considerations. But the outcome of the elections is not a foregone conclusion, observers told The Straits Times on Friday.
Earlier on Friday, the Elections Department had announced that former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian had received their certificates of eligibility.
Should all go smoothly on Nomination Day on Aug 22, Singapore will see a three-way fight at the polls on Sept 1.
Mr Tharman had qualified under the public sector route, while Mr Ng qualified under the public sector deliberative route, and Mr Tan under the private sector deliberative route.
Entrepreneur George Goh did not succeed in his application under the private sector deliberative route.
Singapore Management University law don Eugene Tan said the case for eligibility was always stronger for Mr Ng and Mr Tan by virtue of the companies that they relied on – GIC and NTUC Income.
For Mr Goh, his biggest challenge right from the get-go was to persuade the PEC that he had “comparable experience and ability” as someone who runs a profitable company with $500 million in shareholder equity for at least three years, said Prof Tan.

Mr Goh had relied on adding the shareholder equities of five smaller companies for a combined $507 million.
Mr Ben Chester Cheong, a law lecturer at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, said it is now clear that one cannot aggregate the number of companies he manages in order to meet the $500 million requirement.
He added that in the 2017 presidential election, it was already clear that under the private sector discretionary track, one would not be able to qualify if they did not manage, as the most senior executive, a company with at least $500 million in shareholder equity.


Mr Salleh Marican and Mr Farid Khan, who had run companies well below the requirement, did not receive their certificates of eligibility then.
In the case of Mr Tan, while NTUC Income was not a private limited company but a co-operative when he was chief executive, NTUC Income had a “shareholders equity” or in its case, share capital, of about $1 billion, said Mr Cheong.

Mr Tan Kin Lian showing his certificate of eligibility on Aug 18, 2023. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
This is consistent with the PEC’s approach to take a strict interpretation of the private sector deliberative track rules.
Otherwise, it would defeat the purpose of amending the legislation to the current requirements, from $100 million of paid-up capital previously, he added.

On Mr Ng’s eligibility, Mr Cheong said it was interesting that the PEC took a “slightly flexible” approach for the public sector discretionary track.
“I think this would be one of the rare instances where it would be prepared to do that,” he said.
With the role of GIC chief executive officer created only in 2017 – the company’s chief executive was previously known as the group president – one would assume that the group chief investment officer (GCIO) would be a very senior executive during Mr Ng’s time there, said Mr Cheong.
Mr Ng was GCIO from 2007 to 2013.

Mr Ng Kok Song at the Elections Department on July 19, 2023. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
A GCIO of a Fifth Schedule entity, in particular GIC, would be responsible for its entire portfolio of investments, and that appears to be the decisive factor here, he added.
This, together with the fact that GIC is one of three key pillars of the country’s reserves, makes it clear that the PEC is taking a practical approach in interpreting the public sector deliberative track, while keeping in mind the function of the office of president, said Mr Cheong.


Dr Gillian Koh, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said the PEC had to establish that someone in the role of GCIO at a Fifth Schedule entity made executive decisions akin to the CEO of it.
“This is a unique entity and it sets us thinking about whether there are any other roles like this in other Fifth Schedule entities from which candidates can arise in the future,” she said.
Other Fifth Schedule entities are the Housing Board, JTC Corporation, Central Provident Fund, Monetary Authority of Singapore and Temasek Holdings.
That the PEC did not accept the aggregation of Mr Goh’s companies to make the shareholder equity requirement signals that it is more difficult for the PEC to stretch the deliberative criteria in that direction, which is useful to note for the future, added Dr Koh.
Prof Tan noted that the PEC is bound by the Constitution where the eligibility of presidential hopefuls is concerned.
Where an applicant meets the criteria, the PEC is duty-bound to issue a certificate of eligibility. The committee has no discretion to issue a certificate to an applicant who does not meet requirements, even if it were to result in a walkover, he added.

Election results not a foregone conclusion​

The candidates will have two weeks from Friday till Sept 1 to continue to make their case to voters.
The campaigning period will officially begin on Nomination Day on Aug 22. Cooling-Off Day will be on Aug 31 and Polling Day on Sept 1.
Prof Tan said the conclusion of the polls is not foregone, even if Mr Tharman is widely seen as the front runner.
“Voters have ample choice from the slate of three candidates who come from different backgrounds, have life and personal experiences, and competing - even conflicting outlooks on the presidency,” he said.

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam during an interview with The Straits Times on Aug 11, 2023. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM
Dr Koh concurred that voters will feel there is some diversity among their electoral choices.
All three have a clear track record of making strategic decisions about managing large sums of funds, she noted.
Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, a senior international affairs analyst at Solaris Strategies Singapore, said that should all three contest, Mr Tharman is the likely winner.
He thinks the middle-ground voters are likely to be split two ways between Mr Tharman and Mr Ng, with more voting for Mr Tharman, who will also receive the bulk of the pro-establishment vote.
He noted that those who are protest-voting will be split between Mr Ng and Mr Tan, who will also get the vast majority of the anti-establishment vote.
Prof Tan added that voters must be clear that they must vote for a candidate whose campaign reflects faithfully the presidency’s roles and powers.
“We cannot vote for an office that does not exist under the Constitution.”
Political observer Derek da Cunha, in a Facebook post on Friday, said this would be a “significantly different” presidential election compared to 2011, when the candidates were able to differentiate themselves “in political terms and in a fairly clear-cut way”.
“Dr Tony Tan was seen as the establishment candidate. Dr Tan Cheng Bock was viewed as the moderate alternative to Dr Tony Tan... Mr Tan Jee Say was widely deemed as the marked alternative to the establishment candidate,” he said.
“Thus, at PE2011, mostly by happenstance, what emerged were three classic political poles: right, centre, left. This political polarisation at PE2011 was largely fuelled by the general election held a few months earlier...As for Mr Tan Kin Lian, at PE2011, he was not politically defined, and he never even attempted to do so.”
For this year’s presidential election, he said, Mr Ng will have draw out material differences with Mr Tharman, as both are perceived as “establishment” candidates.
“In spite of attempts by certain quarters to treat the PE as different from a GE... many voters might have a mind of their own...unlike PE 2011, it could be that a large segment of voters would be dissatisfied with the choices they are presented with on the ballot,” added Mr da Cunha.
“Consequently, one metric to look out for would be the percentage of rejected or voided votes out of total votes cast.”

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

I don’t want to be arrogant, I’m somewhat confident I can win the election: Tan Kin Lian​

Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian with his certificate of eligibility issued by the Presidential Elections Committee. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Chin Soo Fang
Senior Correspondent

August 18, 2023

SINGAPORE - Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian has said he is glad for the Presidential Elections Committee’s (PEC) decision to come early, as this meant more time to prepare his campaign.
On Friday, the PEC found Mr Tan 75, former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, 75, and former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, eligible to contest the presidential election. Entrepreneur George Goh, 63, did not qualify to run.
Mr Tan said the PEC’s decision was unexpected, he was surprised that Mr Goh was disqualified, and this has given his campaign greater confidence in winning Singaporeans’ votes.
In recent days, Mr Tan had publicly worried that him and Mr Goh would split the non-establishment vote. The PEC’s decision means the election will now be a contest between him and “two (candidates) from the establishment”, he said.
“There is now more certainty that I’m the only candidate independent of the Government,” he said. “So it will be easier for me to prepare for my campaign, to focus on the message that I want to give to the people of Singapore.”
Speaking to The Straits Times at his home, Mr Tan reiterated his campaign platform of using the office of the president to work with the Government to reduce the cost of living, make housing affordable, and to secure jobs.
He said he will pay particular attention to the needs of the younger generation “who have 50 years or more ahead of them”.

“They will want to be able to feel confident that they can raise a family in Singapore, it will be affordable to raise a family, and I will do my best to make that possible,” he said. “And I am also looking at the needs of the older people.”
At a walkabout in Kovan earlier in the day, Mr Tan had said that in the event of a direct race with Mr Tharman, he would be gunning for a strong mandate of more than 1.5 million votes “to work with the Government to make changes that will make life better for the people”.
Mr Tan said in the afternoon that he was still hoping for 1.5 million votes, “but so long as it is more than the other candidates, I’ll be very happy”.

Mr Tan was also asked about the inclusion of Mr Lim Tean and Mr Prabu Ramachandran in his campaign team, when the president is supposed to be non-partisan.
Mr Lim, who founded the People’s Voice (PV) political party, is Mr Tan’s seconder, while Mr Prabu, a former PV candidate at the 2020 General Election, is Mr Tan’s principal election agent.
Mr Tan replied that he also has volunteers who do not belong to political parties, and that he is hoping to cover as much ground as possible.

Mr Tan said he represents the middle ground, and is seen by people to be “someone who is quite balanced, who looks at both sides”.
“My views are non-political, and they are targeted at finding the best solutions to the problems faced by the people,” he said. “I am not an opposition candidate, but I get the support of people who are middle ground or leaning towards opposition.”
He added: “I don’t want to be arrogant, I’m somewhat confident I can win the election and be your next president.”
To reach out to voters, he will be communicating actively on social media, on top of holding walkabouts at markets and MRT stations.
Mr Tan also said he was “somewhat disappointed” that Mr Goh did not qualify to run.
“I would like to wish Mr Goh all the best in his future endeavours.”

 

[batman1]

Vote TKL !!!!Go Go TKL !!!

 

[LexLuthor]

Vote TKL !!!!Go Go TKL !!!

When PAP see people vote TKL, they say "jee bai chum liao, Tio Kan Liao ! Tio Kan Liao !

 

[LITTLEREDDOT]

Tharman says he looks forward to contest in keeping with dignity of presidential office​

Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam is among three presidential hopefuls who have been issued certificates of eligibility by the Presidential Elections Committee. ST PHOTO: ARIFFIN JAMAR

Kok Yufeng
Transport Correspondent

August 18, 2023

SINGAPORE - The presidential contest is something that he is very much looking forward to, and he hopes that it will be a dignified contest in keeping with the dignity of the office itself, said Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
The 66-year-old former senior minister and presidential hopeful was speaking to the media on the sidelines of a charity dinner held by Cerebral Palsy Alliance Singapore at Sands Expo and Convention Centre, for which he was the guest of honour.
“I encourage all the candidates to make a positive case for themselves, because they each bring something that’s of value to Singapore,” he said.
He was among three presidential hopefuls who were issued certificates of eligibility on Friday by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC), less than a day after the deadline for applications had closed.
Besides Mr Tharman, former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song, 75, and former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian, 75, were also issued certificates of eligibility.
Entrepreneur George Goh, 63, did not qualify to contest the upcoming election.
The Elections Department (ELD) said the PEC was satisfied that Mr Tharman had met the public sector service requirement under Article 19(3)(a) of the Constitution, having held office for more than three years as a minister.

The committee was also satisfied that Mr Tharman was of integrity, good character and reputation.
Mr Tharman told the media present that he was “very sorry” that Mr Goh did not make it to the qualifying list of candidates.
“He put a lot of effort into the whole journey that he began several years ago, so I’m sorry he’s not part of the list of candidates. I have a lot of respect for him for his life story. But I hope he remains in public life in some way, and continues to contribute to Singapore,” he said.


Asked about his chances at the polls now that Mr Goh has dropped out of the race, Mr Tharman added that he is not making calculations “based on exactly who is contesting and so on”.
“I’m just running on my track record, my purpose in life, and what I feel I can bring to Singapore in this next phase of our development,” he said.
“I only entered this race because I think things are changing. And the next phase of Singapore’s development is going to require a different character to the presidency.
“And that’s the reason why I entered this race. It’s not for myself.”
Later in a speech during the CPAS charity dinner, Mr Tharman said there is much room for Singapore to do more - and do better - for people with special needs.
He noted that many of those with special needs remain unemployed, although they are ready and capable.
Sometimes it is due to a shortage of training; at other times, it is a general attitude among employers who look for workers that do not need to be specially accommodated, he added.
“How we respect and how we interact with the vulnerable... will determine the quality of our society,” Mr Tharman said, highlighting as well the need to provide more support for caregivers.
“Each and every individual, each with their own abilities, must live a full life, and a life of dignity. And it is possible in Singapore. We have got to make it possible. A life where they are never in the shadows.”

 

[Hypocrite-The]

• Tharman Shanmugaratnam
• Ng Kok Song
• Tan Kin Lian
• Spoil Vote

I am spoiling my vote as all 3 candidates are pap strawmen