SINGAPORE – Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian has asked Singaporeans to vote for him to bring back trust and give hope to the people, which is also the slogan of his campaign.

Mr Tan, 75, a former NTUC Income chief executive, emphasised his track record of financial management at the insurer, his reputation for frugality and willingness to stand up for the common man as among the reasons why voters should pick him.

“As president, I will champion the well-being of Singaporeans and always put the people’s needs above my own, to help make a better life for all of you,” he said during his second and final presidential candidate broadcast on Wednesday, ahead of Cooling-off Day.

He also apologised to those who had found any of his past social media posts inappropriate, and said that he had never meant any disrespect to the people he encountered.

Here are four key takeaways from his speech:

1. Knowledge and experience to safeguard past reserves

As a trained actuary and chief executive officer of NTUC Income for 30 years, Mr Tan said he has a good track record of making sound investment decisions that improved the lives of people. 

Under his leadership, the insurer’s assets grew from $28 million to $17 billion, he noted. 

Mr Tan also highlighted his experience on the international stage, having been on the board of the International Cooperative and Mutual Insurance Federation for more than 20 years, including five years as its chairman.

“I believe my knowledge and experience will be useful in performing the key duty of the president,” he said.

2. Understanding the needs of the common man

Mr Tan said he has a deep appreciation for the difficulties of ordinary people because he came from a very poor and humble background, and that he keeps a simple lifestyle and lives frugally.

He recounted how he grew up living in rental homes, and that he could not go to university despite having very good results because he needed to provide for his family. He self-studied and worked his way up to helm NTUC Income.

As head of state of Singapore, the president must not be afraid to exercise independent thinking and stand alone for what is right, he said.

He recounted how he had to stand alone through many difficult times, including when he spoke up for investors who lost their savings to bad financial products and asked questions.

“It takes courage, tenacity and resilience to ask these difficult questions and make people accountable for their actions,” he said.

3. Apology to those offended by his posts

Mr Tan said he is grateful for his loving wife, and that it is wonderful to have a family where the members take care of one another over the years. He said he will continue to uphold important family values as they are the cornerstone of any society.

As an active and outgoing person, he said, he likes to talk about his daily activities and observations of everyday life.

“I have never meant any disrespect to the people I encounter,” he said. “To all those who have found any of what I have said in the past upsetting or inappropriate, I would like to sincerely apologise for it.”

He added that he will be more mindful of what he says in the future.

4. Using soft influence to work with the Government

Mr Tan said that during walkabouts in his campaign, he met many people who told him about hardships caused by the increased cost of living. Many young people told him they did not plan to get married because of the high cost of housing and difficulty securing well-paying jobs, he added.

He said that if elected as president, he will do his best to convey the views of the people to the Government, and help it to find ways to make life better.

While he is aware that the president does not have executive authority on these matters, Mr Tan said he believes it is possible to achieve these goals “by using the soft influence and prestige of the president’s office”.

“I hope to work in collaboration with the Government to achieve our common goals for the benefit of Singapore,” he said. “As president, I will champion the well-being of Singaporeans, and always put the people’s needs above my own to help make a better life for all of you.”