Best scenario is either George Goh or I qualify for presidency: Tan Kin Lian

SINGAPORE – Former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian has said that the best outcome from deliberations by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) is that either he or

businessman George Goh

is found eligible to run for the presidency.

This would make it easier to have discussions between the two camps to jointly support the candidate who is qualified to run, said Mr Tan, 75.

“If both of us qualify, I still think it is a good idea that we should discuss who should step down, because it is not good to have a split vote among those who want to have an independent president,” he added.

Mr Tan was speaking to the media before he visited Jurong West 505 Market and Food Centre on Tuesday.

He had commenced his walkabouts after he launched his presidential bid last Friday with the theme “Bring Back Trust, Give Us Hope”.

On Monday, Mr Goh said he has no intention of bowing out of the race should he be granted a certificate of eligibility.

This was in response to a suggestion Mr Tan had earlier made to the media that the two men should decide who can step aside and support the other, if the PEC deemed both eligible to run for the presidency.

Mr Goh, 63, told reporters that he has not made any such arrangement with Mr Tan.

On Tuesday, Mr Tan reiterated that a discussion with Mr Goh is needed, should both qualify to run. This is to decide who drops out of the race, in order not to split votes between themselves.

It was a point he made again in the evening during a walkabout at the HDB Hub in Toa Payoh.

“Of course, Mr George Goh says he will not agree, but I hope he will change his mind,” he said. “I will certainly try my best to convince him.”

Mr Tan said he had met Mr Goh a month ago, but would not say what they had discussed.

“We had a very good talk, so I think we should be able to talk again,” he said.

The best way to decide who, between them, should run would be to see who the people prefer, he added.

“Of course, it is quite hard to know who the people prefer, so this one has to be decided. And one possible way is to take a coin and (toss) – heads or tails,” he said.

He acknowledged the possibility that he and Mr Goh could eventually both run.

“Even so, I don’t think it would be an easy win for Mr Tharman (Shanmugaratnam),” he said, adding that he has high respect for the former senior minister.

“My advisers and my team think that in a four-way contest, even the non-establishment candidate might win.”

In response to queries, Mr Tan said he has not visited any civic organisations or community groups, like the other presidential candidates have, as he did not want to put them in a bind.

“I have not approached these organisations because I think they are also in a difficult position,” he said. “If they agree (to host) one candidate, then they might have to agree on other candidates.”

He added: “I think markets and MRT trains are wonderful places to meet people.”