SINGAPORE: Entrepreneur George Goh Ching Wah questioned Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam’s independence from the ruling party if he were to become Singapore’s next head of state, as he announced his own bid for the presidency today .
“To maintain the integrity of the office, the President must not only be above politics but be perceived as such.” Pointing to the ties Singapore’s past presidents have had with the Government, the statement added, “All four of Singapore’s past elected presidents were political appointment holders or from the public sector. It is time to have a truly independent person with a pair of fresh eyes to play the role the Elected President was created for.”
Since May of last year, Mr Goh has been regularly updating his Facebook page, and he also launched a personal website in October, further fueling speculation about his intentions. He also reportedly sought the assistance of seasoned media professional Bertha Henson to handle his media and publicity affairs.
To qualify as a presidential candidate, individuals from the private sector must have held a top corporate executive position for a minimum of three years. He is expected to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility to contest the upcoming Presidential Election alongside Mr Tharman when the Elections Department opens the application period tomorrow.Asserting that being part of a contest is important to him, he said on Sunday : “We have to see who comes up. But I certainly much prefer a contest. Having a contest is important for me. I much rather win or lose with the contest.
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