PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WORKING THE GROUND

Presidential hopeful Tan Kin Lian meeting the Indonesian press in Batam

By Nigel Tan

Chief Editor

Although a date has yet to fixed for the Presidential Election, the four presidential hopefuls are already working the ground to canvass support from voters. It is widely expected that the polls will be held in the final week of August, and according to the law, the election must be held by August 31.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock mingled with young Singaporeans at the *SCAPE complex, where he visited a flea market – comprising some 60 stalls – organised by students from Ngee Ann Polytechnic. He is understood to have encouraged them to build on their entrepreneurial spirit. Even though most of the students were not of voting age, Dr Tan said “it was alright to let the young know about (him)”.

Mr Tan Jee Say interacted with members of the Malay-Muslim community during a walkabout in Geylang Serai, an area which he is very familiar with given that he lives nearby. In what was described as his first “formal presentation to the community”, he focused on mingling with stallholders at the Ramadan bazaar, saying that he wanted to observe the community’s preparations for the fasting month of Ramadan.

Dr Tony Tan, on the other hand, attended Dr Tony Tan attended the Singapore Sailing Awards. He commended Singapore sailors for aiming to win medals at the 2016 Brazil Olympics, saying that “every successful outing builds confidence in the individual sailor” and also “brings pride to Singaporeans”.

Meanwhile, Mr Tan Kin Lian was also busy campaigning – but not in Singapore. He travelled to the Indonesian island of Batam to meet the Indonesian media, stating that it was important to extend his campaign overseas “so that (he) would not be at a disadvantage”. The interviews with the Batam Pos newspaper, Haluan Kepri newspaper and the Tribun Batam were conducted in Bahasa Indonesia with the assistance of an interpreter. The session included a 45-minute ‘live’ radio interview segment where Mr Tan took calls from Batam residents regarding his campaign strategy and his motivations for running for the post.

In addition to their outreach efforts on the ground, the candidates have also utilised the internet to spread their campaign messages. Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Mr Tan Kin Lian and Mr Tan Jee Say have all set up their own websites. Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say also have their own YouTube channels.

Apart from the four Tans, the other Presidential hopeful is former JTC Chief Financial Officer Andrew Kuan. He attempted to run for President in the last election in 2005, but was not granted a Certificate of Eligibility. He also declared that he would contest the last General Election as an independent candidate in the constituency of Joo Chiat, but later withdrew from the race to avoid a three-cornered fight with the PAP’s Charles Chong and the Workers’ Party’s Yee Jenn Jong.

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The author is Chief Editor of The Satay Club

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