SINGAPORE: Former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said he was “truly humbled” by Singaporeans’ strong endorsement, after sample count results showed that he was leading in the Presidential Election with 70 per cent of the votes.
“I believe a vote for me and what I stand for is a vote of confidence in Singapore," the 66-year-old said.
"It’s a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans.”
The presidential candidate was speaking to the press at Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre after the sample count of the Presidential Election results were released at about 10.40pm.
It showed Mr Tharman far ahead of former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song at 16 per cent of votes and ex-NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian at 14 per cent.
When the results were reported, Mr Tharman's supporters at the hawker centre broke into a loud cheer and chanted “Majulah Singapura”, or "onward Singapore" in Malay.
Mr Tharman said he spoke to Mr Ng right after the sample count was out. He also tried to call Mr Tan but there was no reply; he said he would speak to him later.
At his media doorstop, Mr Tharman thanked the other two candidates who he described as having “put full effort and energy into their campaigns”, making for a “worthy contest”.
“I also want to thank Singaporeans for following the issues closely and for engaging calmly throughout this presidential election period,” he said.
Mr Tharman added that Singapore has to have a future that ensures every generation gets the confidence of knowing it has reserves, and a future where Singapore is never treated as just another small country on the world stage.
“And it has to be a future where we deepen our solidarity as Singaporeans,” he said. “It is not just a vote for me. It is a vote for Singapore’s future, a future of optimism and solidarity.”
Mr Tharman also noted that this was a race with a multiracial slate of candidates.
“Race is never absent but it is not the only factor … I think with each half decade, Singapore is changing and evolving and I hope that my being elected President is seen as another milestone in that process of evolution.”
The sample count is an early indication of the election outcome, ahead of the final vote count. It’s tallied by taking a random bundle of 100 ballot papers at each counting place.
The votes are added up and weighted according to the number of votes cast at each of the 1,264 polling stations.
Counting is still underway and the final vote count will only be released later.
Everything you need to know about the Singapore Presidential Election: cna.asia/pe2023
Continue reading...
“I believe a vote for me and what I stand for is a vote of confidence in Singapore," the 66-year-old said.
"It’s a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans.”
The presidential candidate was speaking to the press at Taman Jurong Market and Food Centre after the sample count of the Presidential Election results were released at about 10.40pm.
It showed Mr Tharman far ahead of former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song at 16 per cent of votes and ex-NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian at 14 per cent.
When the results were reported, Mr Tharman's supporters at the hawker centre broke into a loud cheer and chanted “Majulah Singapura”, or "onward Singapore" in Malay.
Mr Tharman said he spoke to Mr Ng right after the sample count was out. He also tried to call Mr Tan but there was no reply; he said he would speak to him later.
At his media doorstop, Mr Tharman thanked the other two candidates who he described as having “put full effort and energy into their campaigns”, making for a “worthy contest”.
“I also want to thank Singaporeans for following the issues closely and for engaging calmly throughout this presidential election period,” he said.
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Mr Tharman added that Singapore has to have a future that ensures every generation gets the confidence of knowing it has reserves, and a future where Singapore is never treated as just another small country on the world stage.
“And it has to be a future where we deepen our solidarity as Singaporeans,” he said. “It is not just a vote for me. It is a vote for Singapore’s future, a future of optimism and solidarity.”
Mr Tharman also noted that this was a race with a multiracial slate of candidates.
“Race is never absent but it is not the only factor … I think with each half decade, Singapore is changing and evolving and I hope that my being elected President is seen as another milestone in that process of evolution.”
The sample count is an early indication of the election outcome, ahead of the final vote count. It’s tallied by taking a random bundle of 100 ballot papers at each counting place.
The votes are added up and weighted according to the number of votes cast at each of the 1,264 polling stations.
Counting is still underway and the final vote count will only be released later.
Everything you need to know about the Singapore Presidential Election: cna.asia/pe2023
Continue reading...