SINGAPORE: Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian on Friday (Sep 1) congratulated Tharman Shanmugaratnam after a sample count showed that the former Senior Minister was in the lead with 70 per cent of the vote share.
Mr Tan received 14 per cent of the votes and said he had expected to do better.
“Although this is just based upon the sample count results, I wish to send my sincere congratulations to Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam for his success in this contest and I’m confident that he will be elected as the president of Singapore,” Mr Tan told reporters outside his home.
“I wish him all the best in meeting the challenges ahead and I hope he will be able to help bring a better life for the people.”
However, Mr Tan said he was not conceding defeat yet.
”I will concede defeat when the final results are out. But Mr Tharman has certainly got an overwhelming lead as of now. So I would think that he deserves my congratulations. I expected to do much better. But I think in an election things are uncertain,” he said.
Mr Tan Kin Lian congratulates Mr Tharman after a sample count showed Mr Tharman in the lead with 70 per cent of the vote on Sep 1, 2023. (Photos: CNA/Raydza Rahman)
Asked why he thinks things did not go his way this time, Mr Tan said: "I would not know. So I think we will have to reflect upon that."
He also said he would heed the advice of his family to “take life easy”.
“I will now heed the advice of my family to take life easy and live a normal life. I will spend more time with my grandchildren,” he added.
“In my free time, I will continue to do my part in voicing the hardship and aspirations of the people through other channels.”
Mr Ng Kok Song, meanwhile, has conceded defeat after he received 16 per cent of the votes.
Counting is still in progress.
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Mr Tan received 14 per cent of the votes and said he had expected to do better.
“Although this is just based upon the sample count results, I wish to send my sincere congratulations to Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam for his success in this contest and I’m confident that he will be elected as the president of Singapore,” Mr Tan told reporters outside his home.
“I wish him all the best in meeting the challenges ahead and I hope he will be able to help bring a better life for the people.”
However, Mr Tan said he was not conceding defeat yet.
”I will concede defeat when the final results are out. But Mr Tharman has certainly got an overwhelming lead as of now. So I would think that he deserves my congratulations. I expected to do much better. But I think in an election things are uncertain,” he said.
Mr Tan Kin Lian congratulates Mr Tharman after a sample count showed Mr Tharman in the lead with 70 per cent of the vote on Sep 1, 2023. (Photos: CNA/Raydza Rahman)
Asked why he thinks things did not go his way this time, Mr Tan said: "I would not know. So I think we will have to reflect upon that."
He also said he would heed the advice of his family to “take life easy”.
“I will now heed the advice of my family to take life easy and live a normal life. I will spend more time with my grandchildren,” he added.
“In my free time, I will continue to do my part in voicing the hardship and aspirations of the people through other channels.”
Mr Ng Kok Song, meanwhile, has conceded defeat after he received 16 per cent of the votes.
Counting is still in progress.
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