Press Statement –Why I entered the Presidential Election

Dear friends,

I just handed in my COE application.

Many have asked me why I entered the Presidential contest.

I entered the contest early,as I wanted to make sure that there would be no more walkovers for an endorsed candidate. I wanted to make sure,that there would be an Elected Presidency contest,as many Singaporeans did not even know they had to elect a President. They thought he was appointed by the government.

Today,this press conference is not about “what” I can do,or will do as President. This is because I am not a candidate yet. This is also out of respect for the other contestants and the election guidelines.

Instead I want to use this press conference for Singaporeans to find out why I want to be the next President? Do I have those special qualities Singaporeans look for in a President?

People want to know whether their President feels for them,and empathizes with them. They want to know if they can trust him,to put the nation above politics,to look after their money,and to make special appointments of top civil servants whose policies will affect their lives. He must make good and wise decisions,without fear,without favour.

To do that,people want a President they can TRUST. Trust must be earned. You cannot just say “trust me”. Today I will share with you what I did to win the trust of my friends in Ayer Rajah and many older Singaporeans over a 26-year period when I was their MP.

A President must understand the struggles and concerns of ordinary people. Working as a doctor amongst the poor in a village called Ama Keng,I fully understood their needs and concerns,so I entered politics to be a voice of the people. People believed and trusted in me to look after their interest without fear or favour. They showed their trust in me by giving me their overwhelming support over 6 GEs with an average of 77% and a final send off of 88% in 2001 GE.

I have always been a people’s person,and like many of you,I love this country and the people. In my 26 years in parliament I have always stood up for Singaporeans because I felt for them,their worries,their fears and their frustrations.

Thus,I stood up for Singaporeans against streaming of students in the 80’s because I feared it would create class divisions in our society and divide Singapore.

Then in the late 90’s,I had to stand up for Singaporeans when I saw Singaporeans fear for their jobs because of our strong Foreign Talent policy. I went to Parliament to ask the government to “Think Singaporeans First.” I took their pain when I was publicly scolded for taking this stand.

I felt Singaporeans’ frustrations when they were refused use of their CPF savings for education,and instead were only allowed to use it for buying of stocks and shares only. I won the argument and this has allowed more opportunities for young Singaporeans to pursue their dream of a tertiary education.

I felt Singaporeans’ fears when Government Hospitals were being restructured. Singaporeans worried that such new hospitals would not provide adequate C class beds because it affected hospital revenue. I insisted that any restructured hospital receiving government grants must provide sufficient C class beds.

Then for better family and social interaction and bonding I convinced HDB to allow free parking on Sundays and Public Holidays. A small cost to HDB,but a big boost for families and friends getting together.

I relate these issues when I stood up for Singaporeans in the past to give Singaporeans,who do not know me,a better understanding of the kind of person I am. Trust needs to be earned,especially for the office of the President,who is the only Singaporean leader voted by all Singaporeans.

I have always had Singapore’s interests in mind. The last GE saw a disturbing trend amongst Singaporeans. I could feel the anger and pain expressed at the rallies I attended,and I told my wife that this is not good for the country,as I sensed a divide amongst our population. We discussed this with friends and they too made similar observations.

Can I try to mend this divide? Should I come out of my comfort zone and take on this task? Will I be accepted by all Singaporeans,irrespective of their political and individual differences? Why am I so different from others? In the eyes of some I am not independent because of my past PAP link. But if Singaporeans look deeper into my past Parliamentary debates,I hope they see a man who will stand up for what he believes is the right thing to do.

Look at my record. For example,apart from toning down foreign talent,I voted against my party despite the Whip not lifted. If I see Singaporean interest compromised,I will make a stand. Thus I voted against the Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) scheme because I saw it as a scheme to bring in non elected members of the public,to air alternative views so that there will be no need for more opposition in Parliament. To me this is not right,because MPs must earn their right into Parliament through an election. As NMPs are appointed,they have no accountability to anyone but themselves. My choice here is clear,national interest over party interest.

When I see something is wrong I will tell you. Recently I resigned from Jurong General Hospital to stand up against the renaming of this public institution after a businessman,whose family contributed only one tenth{$125m} of the total cost{$970m} of building the hospital. Where is the justification when the greater part was funded by taxpayers? We should name the hospital after people who have made great contributions to Singapore like Presidents,philanthropists and Singaporeans who made great impact on our lives. I resigned on a point of principle.

I will offer myself as a candidate if I am awarded the COE. I have checked,and my lawyers have also checked. I have the qualifications to meet the stringent criteria laid out in the Presidential Election Act.

When I get my COE I will let Singaporeans know of “What” I want to do should I get elected. So today’s press conference is to let Singaporeans know “Why” I want to contest the Elected Presidency,and to give a background of the principles I stand for.

To sum up Tan Cheng Bock will “Think Singaporeans First”.

Thank you.

Dr Tan Cheng Bock (22 July 2011)

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