Former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song, former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and former presidential contender Tan Kin Lian have qualified as candidates for Singapore’s Presidential Election, the Elections Department (ELD) announced on Friday (Aug 18).
Businessman George Goh was unsuccessful in his application for a Certificate of Eligibility.
ELD received a total of six applications for the Certificate of Eligibility on Thursday (Aug 17). The applicants were not named then. The department also said that it received 16 community declarations at the close of applications.
The Certificate of Eligibility certifies that the candidate is a person of integrity, good character, and reputation, and meets the relevant public sector or private sector service requirements.
The next step for Mr. Tharman, Mr. Ng, and Mr. Tan is to be nominated as candidates. They must deliver their nomination papers – along with the Certificate of Eligibility, community certificate, and political donation certificate – on Nomination Day on Aug 22.
In its statement, ELD said:
“Mr. Ng Kok Song applied under Article 19(3)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore (Constitution). Based on the information available to the Committee, it is satisfied that Mr. Ng is a man of integrity, good character, and reputation. The Committee noted that Mr. Ng was the Group Chief Investment Officer of GIC Private Limited for a period exceeding 3 years.
The Committee is also satisfied, having regard to the nature of Mr. Ng’s office in GIC Private Limited and Mr. Ng’s performance in the office, that Mr. Ng has experience and ability that is comparable to the experience and ability of a person who satisfies Article 19(3)(b) of the Constitution. The Committee is also satisfied that Mr. Ng has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President.
3 Mr Shanmugaratnam Tharman applied under Article 19(3)(a) of the Constitution. Based on the information available to the Committee, it is satisfied that Mr Tharman is a man of integrity, good character, and reputation. The Committee is also satisfied that Mr. Tharman has met the public sector service requirement under Article 19(3)(a), having held office for a period of 3 or more years as Minister.
4 Mr Tan Kin Lian applied under Article 19(4)(b) of the Constitution. Based on the information available to the Committee, it is satisfied that Mr Tan is a man of integrity, good character, and reputation. The Committee noted that Mr. Tan was the Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited for a period exceeding 3 years.
The Committee is satisfied, having regard to the nature of Mr. Tan’s office in NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited, the size, and complexity of NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited, and Mr. Tan’s performance in the office, that Mr. Tan has experience and ability that is comparable to the experience and ability of a person who has served as the chief executive of a typical company with at least S$500 million of shareholders’ equity and who satisfies Article 19(4)(a) of the Constitution in relation to such service.
The Committee is also satisfied that Mr. Tan has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President”.
The Independent Singapore has reached out to Mr George Goh for comment. /TISG
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