KUALA LUMPUR – Former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam is officially Singapore’s ninth president, clinching 70.4% (1,746,427) of the votes in the island republic’s first contested presidential election in 12 years.
Former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song came in second place with 15.72%, while former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian got 13.88% of the votes.
According to the Elections Department, more than 2.48 million votes were cast and 50,152 were rejected.
The official results were announced just after midnight and the outcome was not far from the sample count results announced at 10.45pm last night.
Meanwhile, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated Tharman saying he has every confidence that the new president will carry out his duties with distinction.
“As head of state, he will represent us at home and abroad, and exercise custodial powers, including over the reserves and key appointments,” said Lee in a statement posted on the website of the Prime Minister’s Office today.
Following the official results, Tharman, 66, said he was “truly humbled by the strong endorsement” given to him.
“I believe the vote for me and what I stood for is a vote of confidence in Singapore itself, a vote of optimism in how we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans.
“It can, and must, be a future of deeper respect for each other, regardless of backgrounds and educational achievements. A future of closer interactions between our different faiths and cultures, so that we deepen our multicultural identity.
“I will honour your trust in me, and serve you with all my heart in the years to come,” he posted on his Facebook page.
Last night, Tharman’s chances were looking very good when he secured 70% of the sample count, which is an initial indication of the possible result.
Tharman has been the favourite to be the next president of Singapore since campaigning started.
He will be replacing Halimah Yacob, whose term ends on September 13. Halimah had been serving as the eighth president of the island republic since 2017. In May this year, Halimah, Singapore’s first female president, said she would not seek re-election.
Tharman, who is an economist, served as deputy prime minister between 2011 and 2019, and as senior minister in the cabinet between 2019 and 2023.
His other roles include Monetary Authority of Singapore chairman between 2011 and 2023, and GIC deputy chairman between 2019 and 2023.
Being a former member of Singapore’s governing People’s Action Party (PAP), he was a MP representing the Taman Jurong division of Jurong GRC between 2001 and 2023.
He made his political debut in the 2001 general election and was re-elected to Parliament four times – 2006, 2011, 2015, and 2020.
In July this year, Tharman stepped down from Parliament and all his positions in the government and resigned as a member of the PAP in order to stand in the presidential election.
It is understood that based on Singaporean law, the president has more of a ceremonial role but has custodial powers over the use of the country’s past reserves and the appointment of senior officials.
The president is the head of state and holds office for a term of six years. This was the first presidential election where the Elections Department publicly released sample counts since the practice was first introduced in the 2015 general election. – September 2, 2023