George Goh responds to criticisms about his qualifications for the presidency in relation to Singapore’s reserves.
Presidential hopeful George Goh has rejected the notion that Singapore’s president must have prior experience at the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) or sovereign wealth fund GIC in order to understand and manage the nation’s reserves. Goh, who is 63, argued that past presidents had not worked at these institutions yet were still able to fulfill their role effectively.
He responded to comments from fellow presidential candidate Ng Kok Song, a former chief investment officer at GIC, who emphasized his experience in managing Singapore’s reserves. Ng, 75, had suggested that his background gave him a deeper understanding of the intricacies involved in safeguarding the nation’s financial resources.
During a lunch event with members of Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan, Goh countered that such experience at MAS or GIC is not a requisite for the role of president, stating, “Are you saying that because they are not from MAS or GIC, they do not know their job?” He underscored that both former and current presidents would disagree with that line of thinking.
Additionally, Goh touched on transparency regarding the reserves, noting that while it is crucial to understand the nation’s financial position, it may not always be in the country’s best interest to disclose such sensitive information publicly. He emphasized the responsibility of the president to protect national interests and not disclose information that could be potentially harmful.
In terms of the election itself, Goh made it clear that he was committed to his presidential bid and would not step aside. He also expressed confidence that the presidential candidates should independently present their qualifications to the people of Singapore, without concerns over vote splitting.
