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SINGAPORE: Former International Affairs Minister George Yeo has endorsed presidential hopeful and ex-GIC chief economist Ng Kok Music in his bid for the top of state publish.
Making his help for his “outdated pal and colleague” clear in a Fb publish late final evening (2 Aug), Mr Yeo revealed that he has agreed to be one among Mr Ng’s character references, though he wouldn’t be concerned in campaigning through the looming election.
Mr Yeo wrote, “Hosted to a nice dinner by outdated pal and colleague, Ng Kok Music, and his fiancé, Sybil Lau. I informed him earlier that I might not be concerned in campaigning for the approaching presidential election however can be honoured to be one among his character references.”
At 75, Mr Ng is the oldest of the 4 presidential hopefuls who’re the cynosure of all eyes in Singapore. He might go head to head with ex-Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, entrepreneur George Goh Ching Wah and ex-NTUC Revenue CEO Tan Kin Lian if all 4 potential candidates are discovered eligible for the race by the Elections Division (ELD).
All 4 hopefuls have pledged to be an unbiased President if elected. Mr Ng’s promise, nonetheless, took a essential hit after he informed the press that he was “operating for president as a result of (Mr Tharman) needs it”.
He had been referring to Mr Tharman’s feedback that he would need a contest and wouldn’t need to be elected unopposed.
Mr Ng additionally mentioned, in one other occasion: “The individuals of Singapore are not looking for one other walkover. I’m standing so to select your president.”
Mr Ng has back-tracked from his “as a result of Mr Tharman needs it” place. He clarified in a single interview, “I’ve come ahead in order that there can be an election, so Singaporeans have an opportunity to decide on the president. And I’ve come ahead so that there’s a good contest – if I’m licensed eligible.”
Revealing that the vote splitter accusations sadden him, he asserted in one other interview: “Nobody put me as much as this. I put myself as much as this as a result of I’m the one who’s going to be most concerned, and who has probably the most to sacrifice.”
The injury, nonetheless, might have already been accomplished, and Mr Ng now faces a steeper uphill battle to win help.
Mr Yeo’s public help for Mr Ng, subsequently, could also be essential in serving to the 75-year-old regain extra confidence within the minds of voters.
Mr Yeo, a former ruling get together Minister himself, has upheld respect over time for the best way he operates and conducts himself. He was believed to be the institution favorite for the presidential race within the 2011 and 2023 elections however has declined a number of calls to contest the elections over time.
Final August, Mr Yeo confirmed that he wouldn’t contest this 12 months’s presidential election, revealing that he prefers to not constrain himself in how he behaves and speaks if he turns into President. The 68-year-old mentioned:
“I’m a little bit of a free spirit, I like to speak, I like to take a position… Typically I’m politically incorrect within the issues I say. Now that I’m in semi-retirement, I relish and cherish this freedom. So this isn’t a prospect which attracts me.”
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