Opposition politicians backing Tan Kin Lian dishonour the presidency

[The_King]

SINGAPORE – Opposition party politicians are “ganging up” to support presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian, said Mr Ng Kok Song, calling it a “very unhealthy and worrisome development”.

Speaking to the media during a visit to Chinatown Complex on Sunday afternoon, Mr Ng, 75, said: “They are dragging the presidential election into gutter politics. I think that’s quite shameful. How can you dishonour the presidency by making this presidential election into gutter politics? We should not dishonour the office of the president.”

He was commenting on former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock’s announcement on Sunday morning that he was endorsing Mr Tan Kin Lian’s bid for the presidency.

 

Mr Tan Jee Say, who founded now-defunct political party Singaporeans First, is also supporting Mr Tan Kin Lian at this presidential election.

Both Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say, who contested the 2011 Presidential Election, said they were supporting Mr Tan Kin Lian in their personal capacities, and not as opposition politicians.

Mr Ng, a former chief investment officer of sovereign wealth fund GIC, said: “What happened this morning is going against the spirit of the Constitution.”

 

 

He added that the presidential election should not be politicised, and that Mr Tan Kin Lian is confused between a presidential election and a general election.

 

 

But he also noted that not all opposition parties are involved in the polarisation of the election.

“I think the people of Singapore will begin to realise that you do not want to vote for a candidate who is going to be manipulated by several opposition parties who are supporting (him).

“We must prevent the presidency from being manipulated by any political party.”

 

Mr Ng had earlier told reporters during a visit to Tampines Round Market and Food Centre on Sunday morning that it is a problem when presidential candidates are being endorsed by political parties, stressing that he is the only non-partisan candidate running for president.

Fellow candidate and former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam is “endorsed by the Government, by the People’s Action Party”, he added.

Mr Ng said: “It is very important for us to safeguard the integrity of the public service because you do not want a president who is beholden to any political party, you do not want a president who can be manipulated to serve the political agenda of any political party.”

On Saturday, Mr Tharman had stated that he is not endorsed by any political party, and that it would have been a pity if former president Ong Teng Cheong and Dr Tan Cheng Bock, who were both PAP members, were ruled out from consideration because of past affiliations.

Mr Ng Kok Song greeting patrons and handing out flyers at Chinatown Complex on Aug 27. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

Asked if he would be changing his campaign strategy following the endorsement of Mr Tan Kin Lian by Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say, Mr Ng said it reinforces the message that the presidential candidate should be non-partisan.

Former presidential hopeful Mohamed Salleh Marican, who is one of Mr Ng’s assenters, said in a statement on Sunday evening that according to the Constitution, a presidential candidate must not be a member of any political party as the president’s role is to ensure checks and balances on the Government.

Mr Salleh added that that was why he had intended to run for president in 2017. The founder and chief executive of Second Chance Properties did not qualify to contest the election.

“I urge Singaporeans to look beyond partisan politics and vote to strengthen the constitutional oversight of Singapore’s governance,” he said.

A spokesman for Mr Tharman’s team said in a statement: “Mr Tharman has consistently urged, with respect to all his fellow candidates, that we avoid politicising the presidential elections.

“The focus should be on each candidate’s individual character, breadth of experience and ability to contribute to Singapore’s future as head of state.”

 

Mr Ng, who was in public service for 45 years and held posts at GIC and the Monetary Authority of Singapore, said that despite being the underdog, he had come forward to give Singaporeans a chance to vote.

He also wanted to encourage capable, trustworthy people who do not have political affiliations to contest the election.

“I think this is very important to us in order to safeguard our reserves,” he added.

As a “non-partisan candidate”, Mr Ng said he has faced setbacks such as civic and business organisations rejecting his requests to visit.

Mr Ng Kok Song and his fiancee Sybil Lau at Chinatown Complex, where he handed out campaign flyers, on Aug 27. ST PHOTO: CHONG JUN LIANG

He said he decided not to put up physical banners and posters as he lacked the manpower resources to do so, and because he wanted to be environmentally friendly.

Mr Ng also cautioned against using the term “establishment” as that would refer to people in public service. Instead, people should use the words “partisan” or “non-partisan”, he said.

On Sunday, Mr Ng was accompanied by his fiancee Sybil Lau, 45, at the food centre, where he handed out his campaign fliers to stallholders and residents.

Asked to comment on remarks made by Mr Tan Kin Lian, who on Saturday said it would be better having a president appointed by Parliament as the current system meant his hands were tied on issues, Mr Ng said: “I don’t think we should get into a hypothetical discussion. We should just play by the rules as they are.”

[The_King]

in other news:

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/halimah-yacob-only-one-to-get-eligibility-certificate-set-to-be-singapores-next-president

 

https://www.straitstimes.com/politics/disappointed-but-will-continue-to-contribute-in-other-ways-says-tan-cheng-bock-about-not

 

https://www.ntuc.org.sg/uportal/news/NTUC-supports-Senior-Minister-Tharman-Shanmugaratnams-intention-to-stand-in-the-PE-2023/

[noobmaster]

Ask this old fart shut the fuck up la

[Homelander]

Standard character assassination at work

[Coffee_O]

his face look like the typical villian in any wu xia chinese movies. mostly the enunch villian LOL

[socrates469bc]

5 hours ago, noobmaster said:

Ask this old fart shut the fuck up la

 

4 hours ago, Homelander said:

Standard character assassination at work

 

just ask the old fart why he didnt invest in this company in 1984 and he will sure diam diam de.

 

wahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

 

 

 

[socrates469bc]

4 hours ago, Coffee_O said:

his face look like the typical villian in any wu xia chinese movies. mostly the enunch villian LOL

 

like these 2??????

 

[The_King]

9 minutes ago, socrates469bc said:

 

like these 2??????

 

play backside

[XianGe]

Tot he wanted to be independent? 

[Homelander]

1 hour ago, The_King said:

play backside

No kkj how to play? Wahahaha

[socrates469bc]

1 hour ago, Homelander said:

No kkj how to play? Wahahaha

 

kor kor so innocent meh??????

 

never hear of poison dragon??????

 

this is kgk xdd @HarrisY1's special skill.

[aaur4man]

wow they so honourable la

[Homelander]

13 hours ago, socrates469bc said:

 

kor kor so innocent meh??????

 

never hear of poison dragon??????

 

this is kgk xdd @HarrisY1's special skill.

kgk xdd dio poison weekly, indeed a skill befitting its name wahahaha

[XianGe]

18 hours ago, aaur4man said:

wow they so honourable la

Lightning gang already made it political wif all the early chut pattern... so damage done...

[ODACHEK]

We gotch a dishonourable son as PM as well right? Might as well...