‘I’m not looking for fame, power, money’: Ng Kok Song wants to safeguard reserves and let people vote
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Presidential hopeful Ng Kok Song and his fiancee Sybil Lau (left) posing for photos with patrons at Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre on Aug 19.
ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY
SINGAPORE - He joined the race to be Singapore’s next president so that he can safeguard the country’s reserves and allow people to exercise their right to vote, said presidential hopeful Ng Kok Song.
Speaking to the media at Kovan 209 Market and Food Centre on Saturday afternoon, the former chief investment officer at GIC drew upon how his 45-year career at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and GIC had allowed him to build up the nation’s reserves and gain domain expertise in investment.
“I do not want to see our financial reserves being squandered,” he said. “The reserves will be spent in no time if we have a bad government, and if there is no president to check the government. So, I have a very deep personal interest.
“Now, if the day arrives when a bad government wants to use our past reserves, I will know how to say no. I understand the international economic environment... how the Singapore economy will be very badly affected (and) to what extent if there is a crisis.”
Mr Ng, 75, added that he did not throw his hat in the ring for power, fame or money.
He decided to enter the race because he was worried there would be a walkover, with former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam being elected if entrepreneur George Goh did not qualify.
Mr Ng announced his bid on July 19
Mr Ng said he wanted Singaporeans to exercise their right to vote. “When I came forward to put my name, there were only Mr Tharman and George Goh. I was very concerned that Mr George Goh may not qualify.”
The three men – Mr Ng, Mr Tharman and Mr Tan – have qualified as candidates
Asked who he considered his formidable opponent, Mr Ng said it was Mr Tharman. “When you are not a government-endorsed candidate, you face a lot of challenges. Many organisations, business organisations, civic organisations are afraid to invite me. Because they do not want to offend the Government,” he said.
He also reiterated his lack of ties to any political party, adding that that was his definition of an independent candidate.
Young people will be a focus if he were elected, he said. He has three things he wants to teach younger people: To learn to meditate and reduce stress, to be confident public speakers, and to learn how to save money and invest.
Mr Ng was asked if he thought the Presidential Elections Committee’s decision to qualify him – he was GIC’s chief investment officer and not its chief executive – would encourage more people to enter future elections. To this, he said he wanted not only to see more capable Singaporeans come forward for the presidency, but also to have more entering politics and joining the opposition as well.
On how he thinks he would fare against Mr Tharman on the campaign trail and at the polls, Mr Ng said: “It is like David versus Goliath. It is possible. I hope the people of Singapore will help David.”
