Singapore's former Indian-origin minister launches presidential bid

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, a former Indian-origin minister in Singapore, formally launched his presidential campaign on Wednesday. The 66-year-old had stepped down from active politics last month after 22 years.

Tharman has vowed to evolve Singapore's culture as a "shining spot" in the world.

"I stepped into this race because I feel very strongly in the need to evolve Singapore's culture, some of our norms and the way we go about working with each other so that we remain a shining spot in the world,” he said at a press conference.

Tharman vowed to be "a president for a new era" after he officially launched his campaign for office.

Tharman outlined the supposed challenges faced by Singapore both globally and domestically and said that the nation's real challenge was to avoid becoming a divided society.

"If I'm fortunate enough to be elected as President, I pledge to bring my full experience and capabilities on the ground nationally and internationally, to serve as your President for this new and more challenging era," Channel News Asia quoted him as saying.

The politician said that his 22 years in politics had provided him with the experiential wherewithal to unify people.

"When we talk about being a unifying figure, I do not say this rhetorically or just as an aspiration but I speak from a real track record," he said.

"That includes the track record of respecting different views, including different political leanings and constantly trying to find common ground," he said.

He said he would bring a "more basic orientation" of integrity and that will define his presidency, once elected.

"I don't have to change my colours like a chameleon. I'm the same person with the same integrity and same independence of mind, and that remains critical for the role of the president," he said.

Tharman was an economist and a civil servant, mainly at the Monetary Authority of Singapore, before joining politics in 2001.

He has served as the Minister for Education and Finance and was the Deputy Prime Minister from 2011 to 2019. He has also held prominent posts at international organisations including the International Monetary Fund, the World Economic Forum and the United Nations.

There are three prospective candidates who have publicly announced their intention to contest the polls.

The other two prospective candidatesare businessman George Goh and investment manager Ng Kok Song.

Singapore presidential polls: Conditions and rules

Under requirements laid out in Singapore's Constitution, public sector presidential candidates must have held office for at least three years as a minister, chief justice, attorney-general or other high-level posts.

Also watch |Indian-Origin Ajay Banga set to become World Bank Chief

Private sector candidates must have served for at least three years as chief executives of a company with an average of Singapore dollars 500 million in shareholders' equity.

When will Singapore go to polls?

Singapore will go to polls in September 2023. President Halimah Yacob's tenure will end on September 13.

Singapore will hold its first presidential election since 2011, after President Halimah announced on May 29 that she will not seek a second term.

She is the country's eighth and first female president. Her six-year term ends on September 13 this year.

The 2017 presidential poll was a reserved election, in which only members of the Malay community were allowed to contest. Halimah was named president then as there were no other candidates.

(With inputs from agencies)

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