KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam looks set to be Singapore’s ninth president after the 66-year-old secured 70% of the sample count in the presidential election today.
The sample count is an initial indication of the possible result, but it is not the final result.
However, looking at the significant lead Tharman has against his opponents, former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song and former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian, the veteran politician has managed to secure a two-third majority of votes.
Ng and Tan managed to secure 16% and 14% in the sample count, respectively.
Tharman has been the favourite to be the next president of Singapore since campaigning started.
“This isn’t a vote for me, it’s a vote for Singapore’s future, a future of optimism and solidarity. My campaign was one of optimism and solidarity and I believe this is what Singaporeans want.
“This was a contested election with a multiracial slate. I have always said that race is never absent in politics anywhere in the world or even in an apolitical election of this case.
“Race is never absent but it is not the only factor, and I think with each half-decade, Singapore is changing and evolving and I hope that my being elected president is seen as another milestone in that process of evolution.
“Unfortunately we don’t have tails that we can wag,” the former senior minister was quoted as saying.
Looking at the sample count, Tharman is likely to replace Halimah Yacob, who will end her term on September 13. Halimah had been serving as the eighth president of the island republic since 2017.
In May this year, Halimah, Singapore’s first female president, said she would not seek re-election.
It is understood that based on Singaporean law, the president has more of a ceremonial role but has custodial powers over the use of the country’s reserves and the appointment of senior officials.
The president is the head of state and holds office for a term of six years, according to the website of the Elections Department of Singapore (ELD).
This was the first presidential election where the Elections Department publicly released sample counts since the practice was first introduced in the 2015 general election.
Votes cast in Singapore were immediately counted after the polls closed. – September 1, 2023