Businessman claims his companies’ combined equity should have met criteria for eligibility
George Goh, the founder of Harvey Norman Ossia, has criticized the Presidential Elections Committee’s (PEC) rejection of his application for a Certificate of Eligibility, which would have allowed him to run for Singapore’s presidency. Goh argued that his extensive management experience overseeing five companies, collectively valued at S$507 million in shareholder equity over three years, should have met the requirements for candidacy.
Despite submitting what he called a strong case detailing his qualifications, Goh was informed that the PEC did not find his experience equivalent to managing a single large private-sector organization, as required by Article 19(4)(b) of Singapore’s Constitution. The PEC clarified that managing multiple smaller organizations does not equate to the experience of running one large organization, which is a critical criterion for eligibility.
In his statement, Goh expressed disappointment, calling the decision a setback not just for him but for the country, as it limits voters’ choices. He also suggested that the decision was influenced by his independent stance and that the criteria, although followed by the Elections Department (ELD), could be seen as restricting diversity in presidential candidacies.
Goh refrained from endorsing any of the other qualified presidential candidates, including Ng Kok Song, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Tan Kin Lian, stating that he did not know them well enough. He also hinted that the process for rejecting candidates may be unfair, yet expressed that he would continue to support future private sector candidates seeking to run. He has not ruled out a potential bid for the 2029 election.
