Ng Kok Song, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Tan Kin Lian engage with voters as they continue their presidential campaigns
On the fourth day of campaigning for Singapore’s upcoming Presidential Election, the three candidates—Ng Kok Song, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and Tan Kin Lian—took to public dialogues and walkabouts to engage with voters and discuss their visions for the country.
Ng Kok Song, former chief investment officer of GIC, participated in a dialogue session hosted by the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS). The discussion, led by assistant professor Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, saw Ng discussing his motivations for running for president. One key point he raised was his belief that many Singaporeans lack a clear understanding of how the country’s reserves function, a topic he had explored in a documentary. Ng expressed his intention to make these complex issues more transparent to the public.
Later in the campaign, Tan Kin Lian, former NTUC Income chief, announced plans to host an online rally on August 30, just before the cooling-off period begins. The rally will feature several prominent speakers and will be broadcast live on Zoom, TikTok, and Facebook. Earlier in the day, Tan continued his walkabouts, visiting Geylang Serai Market, where he introduced his wife, Tay Siew Hong, to the media, emphasizing the significance of giving Singaporeans a choice of First Lady.
Meanwhile, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former senior minister, held a townhall event at Pasir Panjang Power Station. Approximately 650 members of the public registered for the meeting, which was conducted with a police permit. Tharman used the platform to discuss his long-term vision for Singapore’s future. He emphasized that the country’s next phase of development should go beyond material progress and focus on intangible issues like equality and inclusivity. He stressed that his campaign is about more than just the immediate election, describing it as a journey that spans decades.
Tharman’s campaign slogan, “Respect for all,” was reiterated during the townhall. He expressed optimism for a Singapore free of bigotry, stating that no one should feel marginalized. He emphasized the importance of community action and solidarity, aiming to foster a society where people support one another morally and actively.
As the candidates continue to tour the country, they are working to connect with voters and present their visions for Singapore’s future, with an eye on the election slated for September 1.
