In a surprising move, Tan Jee Say has been awarded the Certificate of Eligibility to contest the Presidential Election on August 27
By Tanya Wei
PE2011 Correspondent
It’s official: the Presidential Election on August 27 will be a battle of the Tans. Dr Tony Tan, Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Tan Jee Say and Mr Tan Kin Lian were all awarded the Certificate of Eligibility to contest the election by the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) today, paving a way for a four-cornered contest.
Surprisingly, Mr Tan Jee Say’s application for eligibility was approved by the PEC under a special clause that allows them to approve candidates who they deem to have had similar responsibilities to those specified under the strict criteria which requires candidates to have served for at least 3 years as Chairman or CEO of a company with at least $100 million in paid-up capital.
Mr Tan was the former CEO (with the title of Managing Director) of AIG Govett Asia, a fund management company with more than $100 million in assets under management. AIG Govett did not put up $100 million in paid up capital because they were not required by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to do so.
More importantly, Mr Tan is thought to have close links with the opposition Singapore Democratic Party, which he represented as a candidate in the recent General Election. At an SDP dinner last week, he spoke of the need for the opposition to “raise its profile”, and said that his candidacy in the Presidential Election would help boost the image of the opposition. As such, many believed that the powers that be within the PAP establishment would have denied him the chance to contest.
It now appears that the decision to allow Mr Tan Jee Say into the race could represent a desire on the part of the establishment to split the “pro-opposition” vote, seeing as PAP voters will naturally support Dr Tony Tan – who, despite claiming to be an “independent” candidate, is clearly the PAP’s choice for President. In a four-cornered race, it will be highly possible that Dr Tony Tan gets elected with less than 50% of the popular vote.
It remains to be seen whether any of the candidates with withdraw, particularly as they stand to lose their hefty $48,000 deposits if any of them should fail to garner at least 12.5% of the vote. Dr Tan Cheng Bock, the first candidate to enter the fray, has previously indicated that he would not withdraw, and Mr Tan Kin Lian made a similar announcement several weeks ago. With Mr Tan Jee Say likely to swing the pro-opposition voting bloc, both their chances will have suffered heavy blows.
At the moment, it appears that Dr Tony Tan is the clear front runner for the Presidency, even if most voters are yearning for an alternative political voice. Though the President is supposed to be non-partisan, many feel that he can use the “soft power” of his office to speak up for the people, particularly if the ruling PAP loses sight of its objectives. Dr Tony Tan has openly declared that he will not stand in the way of the government, an approach similar to that of incumbent President S R Nathan.
A former Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Tan was closely associated with many of the PAP’s policies in the past two decades, and is thought to be a member of the innermost core of PAP elites – not least because he is related to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his father Lee Kuan Yew.
Of course, plenty could change in the days leading up to Polling Day, in what is shaping up to be the most keenly-watched Presidential Election in history.
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The author is a Singaporean currently working abroad. She has previously contributed articles to The Satay Club and will be contributing more articles pertaining to the Presidential Election in the coming weeks.
Saturday August 20, 2011
No Tan-tative winner in sight
INSIGHT DOWN SOUTH BY SEAH CHIANG NEE
Former Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony Tan had high approval ratings in an online poll when he announced his decision to run for President, but now he will seemingly face a tough fight in next week’s election.
WHEN Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, former Deputy Prime Minister, announced his intention to run for President two months ago, the prospect of him winning ranked high among surprised citizens.
Most believed that the one-time People’s Action Party (PAP) financial strongman, who nearly succeeded Lee Kuan Yew as Prime Minister in 1990, would win hands down.
Many of my friends, including staunch opposition supporters, were among those who thought his chances of winning would be high.
“In his profession, he’s blue chip stuff,” said one retired executive.
“With his reputation and experience, he towers over others, a darling of the elites.”
That he had a strong base appeared to be reflected in a Yahoo online poll in June when he first made clear his intention to run.
Some 6,013 – or 48% of 12,650 users – said they would vote for him.
Two months later, however, the proportion of support fell to 21% as strong rivals joined the race and revved up the offensive in the social media.
In June, with the list of candidates yet to be finalised, Dr Tan led with 48% (6,013), followed by Tan Kin Lian (18% – 2,270), Tan Cheng Bock (16% –1,987) and incumbent S.R. Nathan (19% – 2,382, before his pullout).
By August, (the final list of candidates) Dr Tan had fallen behind to third place, securing 21% or 15,661.
It was Dr Tan Cheng Bock in the lead (41% – 31,215), followed by Tan Jee Say (30% – 22,947). In fourth place was Tan Kin Lian (6% – 4,575).
But most damaging may be the strong anti-PAP sentiment carried over from the general election in May. It may upset the mild-mannered former finance minister’s apple cart.
He recently resigned from the party, but the public still seems to link him to PAP policies and the party itself.
(Lee Kuan Yew once said that he had wanted Dr Tan to succeed him as Prime Minister, but his younger ministers had unanimously chosen Goh Chok Tong).
In the current political environment, Lee’s admiration could spell trouble for his candidacy.
PAP supporters, however, say that online surveys are not conclusive since they exclude the non-English speaking and non-Internet users.
Besides, the anti-PAP votes being split three ways should ensure victory for the 71-year-old Dr Tan.
“I think he may get less than 50% of the vote,” said one party grassroots leader.
The presidential election to be held next Saturday is supposed to be non-political, but with the strong emotions generated, keeping it free of politics is impossible.
The campaign is developing into a heated affair with booing and yelling crowds. Many Singaporeans are regarding it as an extension of the May general election, when the PAP took a drubbing.
A former trade unions chief and former PAP chairman said that given the current situation, people might prefer a President who is not closely linked with the PAP.
“My sense is that people would prefer if there were someone who can be a strong unifying symbol for Singaporeans, who’s not so closely related to the PAP,” he commented.
Dr Tony Tan is facing a strong challenge from former opposition figure Tan Jee Say, 56, who once served as Goh Chok Tong’s Personal Principal Secretary. He joined the private sector, serving as regional managing director of investment firm AIB Govett (Asia).
Of the two others, Tan Cheng Bock, 71, is a medical doctor and ex-PAP MP, and Tan Kin Lian, a former executive of insurer NTUC Income.
Next week’s vote will be crucial for the PAP.
It will show if Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s reforms to lessen public grouses – namely, the reduction of high cabinet pay and intake of foreign professionals, the provision of more public housing and varsity places – are working or not.
If Dr Tan’s vote falls too much below 60%, it will signify greater unhappiness. This will spell trouble in the 2016 general election.
But if he loses – a distinct possibility – it will be regarded as the first election defeat for the powerful PAP.
Prominent blogger redbean said that Dr Tan’s defeat would be “the clearest sign of change, that the wind in the PAP sail is off.”
The election has started a big debate on the role and power of the president.
Singaporeans are demanding to known why a largely ceremonial president is paid an eye-popping salary of S$4mil (RM9.85mil) a year.
It was made an elected post in a constitutional amendment in 1991, which also granted him a few special functions – including the right to veto key government positions and tap into Singapore’s past reserves.
It was Lee’s idea of safeguarding the nation’s reserves from being frittered away after he is gone.
A year after he stepped down as Prime Minister, it came into effect.
Under the scheme, the elected president was to keep “a second key” to the reserves.
But Lee and his successors apparently did not anticipate the possibility of a determined president insisting on doing his job.
In 1999, then President Ong Teng Cheong revealed that he encountered a “long list” of problems when he tried to protect the reserves.
He said he was not provided a list of Singapore’s total physical assets.
When he asked, the Accountant-General replied it would take 56 million man-years to work out.
“Giving the president the capability to check the government may work – as long as he is a pro-PAP figure,” said a blogger.
“What will happen if a PAP critic, or worse, someone hailing from the opposition, is elected and decides to challenge?”
All this may have increased the chance in future of another constitutional amendment on presidential powers.
the committee actually had no choice! they can only continue to disqualify Kuan because they cannot rescind the mistake they made previously for not allowing him to contest with kachan puteh man. mati mati they wanted kachan puteh to do nothing in office!
if they disqualified jee say, they will have to do that to kim lian and cheng bock! I think there will be lots of disquiet and they will lose big time come 2016!
Better play safe and split the ‘opposition’ vote……….I think the MP for Tanjong Pagar, GRC (it is wrong to call him former this former that) was consulted! I may be wrong but then the decision seems quite ‘government’ thinking!
It will be impossible TT to disassociate with the PAP, likewise for TCB. As long LKY is still around, his behind the scene acts will not be unimaginable.
For TKL, he is very direct and if there is no TJS, my vote will be his.
It will be better to get TJS. There is no fear of PAP be toppled. the 40% should be his and the 60% to be shared the other 3.
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If they can make it a two horse race,then it is interesting.
If not,then
Tony Tan-35%
Dr Tan Cheng Bock-30%
Mr Tan Kin Lian-5%
Dr Tony Tan would be narrow winner!
Mr Tan Jee say-30%
Congratulations, President Tan!!!
See, I am prescient.