Tan Kin Lian says support from opposition leaders does not politicise presidential election

SINGAPORE – Endorsements of his bid for the Istana by opposition figures here have not injected party politics into the presidential election, Mr Tan Kin Lian said on Wednesday.

This is because

Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say have given their support in their personal capacities,

and not as representatives of the political parties they are associated with, he added.

This was made clear at a media conference on Sunday when Dr Tan first announced that he was stumping for the former NTUC Income chief executive.

Mr Tan Kin Lian’s comments came after his Sunday press conference drew same-day responses from the other two presidential candidates that Dr Tan’s endorsement risks politicising the election.

Dr Tan is chairman of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), while Mr Tan Jee Say is a Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) member.

Political analysts had also said the election is shaping up to be a partisan contest, given that a number of prominent opposition figures have come out publicly in support of Mr Tan Kin Lian, including Peoples Voice chief Lim Tean.

Several other opposition politicians who contested the 2020 General Election had also appeared at Mr Tan Kin Lian’s walkabouts.

Speaking to the media beside Hougang MRT station on Wednesday, Mr Tan Kin Lian said Dr Tan and Mr Tan Jee Say are supporting him as they “share a common vision of a president that is independent of the ruling government”.

He added: “As the presidential election is above politics, I respectfully ask the media or political analysts (to refrain) from framing this election as ‘party politics’.”

He reiterated that should he be elected, he will exercise his constitutional duties “with an independent mind and will always act in the interest of the people”.

“My guiding principle is: Are these in the interest of the people? That’s what an independent president is,” said Mr Tan, who was at the MRT station to visit volunteers who were distributing his fliers.

On Monday, fellow candidate

Ng Kok Song questioned Mr Tan Kin Lian’s claim of being independent,

when he appeared to be depending on the support of opposition figures. “There’s a danger that he’s going to be manipulated by those leaders of the opposition parties. They even went so far as to say that those who are supporting him may be appointed as advisers to the Council of Presidential Advisers,” said Mr Ng, who is former chief investment officer of sovereign wealth fund GIC.

Former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam issued a statement on Sunday that said he had consistently urged his fellow candidates to

avoid politicising the election.

“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,” he noted.

On Wednesday, Mr Tan Kin Lian also responded to Mr Ng’s remark that endorsements by Dr Tan and Mr Tan Jee Say effectively turned the presidential election into a proxy general election.

Mr Tan said the primary concern of his one-time rivals – all three competed in the 2011 Presidential Election – is to have Singapore elect an independent president.

“Their concern is based upon what they consider to be best for Singapore,” he added.

More opposition names have emerged in the final stretch of the campaign to urge their supporters to vote for Mr Tan Kin Lian.

Following a post by Reform Party secretary-general Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who on Monday said electing Mr Tan Kin Lian “would send a clear signal” to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP), SDP chief Chee Soon Juan said in a Facebook post that “Tan Kin Lian is a good man... it should be clear who we choose”.

“I’ve heard many people who were initially inclined towards voting for Mr Tan are now, because of his remarks, expressing their desire to cast a spoilt vote or voting for Mr Ng Kok Song,” he added. “If you are thinking of doing this, I beseech you to reconsider your decision.”

“It might be too much to hope for, but a TKL (Tan Kin Lian) presidency might finally force the Government to reveal more about the size of the reserves and the justification for not being able to spend more on investing in the people,” he added.

SDP said in response to queries that its members are free to express their views about any candidate and to provide them support as private citizens, and that it trusts that they will stay civil, sensible and constructive while doing so.

“We believe that doing so is part of any citizen’s civic responsibility, and have no objections to SDP members getting involved,” the party said on Wednesday.

PSP had earlier said it is not endorsing any candidate and any support by a member for a candidate is given in his personal capacity.

In an internal memo to PSP members and volunteers, PSP secretary-general and Non-Constituency MP Leong Mun Wai reiterated that the party supports “the principles that the president, as a symbol of the unity of Singapore, is meant to be independent and non-partisan”.

ST has also asked the PAP for comment.