SINGAPORE: Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad warmly welcomes President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam to Marsiling Mall in the Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC a day after the former Senior Minister was announced as the winner in the 2023 Presidential Election, with a resounding mandate of 70.4% (1,746,427) of the votes.
The other two candidates, ex-GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song, came in second place, garnering 15.74% (390,041) of the votes, followed closely by former NTUC Income CEO Tan with 13.88% (344,292) of the votes.
President-elect Tharman, accompanied by his spouse Jane Ittigo, began their day at his former constituency of Taman Jurong before making their way to Marsiling Mall, where MP Zaqy and wife Haryane Mustajab greeted them. Members of the public were seen taking the opportunity to take photos with both President-elect Tharman and MP Zaqy.
“Congratulations Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam on your election as the next President of Singapore! Your victory is not just an individual accomplishment but a testament to the collective hope and confidence Singaporeans have in our future,” shared MP Zaqy on Facebook.
“Haryane and I were honoured to welcome you at Marsiling Mall, as the first stop after your base at Taman Jurong. Residents we spoke to look forward to your tenure ahead to strengthen national unity and represent Singapore effectively on the global stage,” added the Marsiling-Yew Tee member of parliament.
On the evening of Polling Day, Sep 1, MP Zaqy shared an old photo of him with President Halimah during a community event. President Halimah had to vacate her parliamentary seat in Marsiling-Yew Tee to contest the 2017 Presidential Election. In the subsequent 2020 General Election, MP Zaqy was shifted from Chua Chu Kang GRC to Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC as the constituency needed a Malay minority candidate representation.
“Having personally known her and taken over her constituency in Marsiling, we will always remember her genuine commitment to the welfare of the people and to the nation. Her achievements have made us all proud, setting a high standard for future leaders,” said MP Zaqy.
He added, ” President Halimah has been a beacon of leadership and inspiration for Singapore. Her journey from a Member of Parliament to Speaker and eventually to President showcases her dedication, competence, and integrity.”
MP Zaqy mentioned that President Halimah’s tenure will be remembered for her significant role in uniting the nation during the challenging period of the COVID-19 pandemic. He commended her for maintaining a composed and empathetic stance, which greatly contributed to boosting national morale.