Under The Angsana Tree: President Tony Tan reflects on his six years at the Istana

Update 21 Nov 2017: Former President Tony Tan appointed director and special advisor of GIC

Singapore’s sovereign wealth fund GIC announced today that former President Tony Tan has been appointed director and special advisor of the organisation.

Besides having been the 7th President of Singapore, the ex-PAP politician has helmed the Ministries of Education, Trade & Industry, Finance, Defence and Health during his tenure as elected Member of Parliament. He was also served as Deputy Prime Minister for a decade, between 1995 and 2005.

After his retirement from Cabinet in 2005, Dr Tan served as deputy chairman and executive director of GIC (previously known as Government of Singapore Investment Corporation) from Sept 2005 to June 2011.

PRESIDENT TONY TAN POINTS TO FACEBOOK POSTS AS SIGNIFICANT DECISIONS HE HAS MADE IN 6-YEAR TERM

PRESIDENT TONY TAN ROASTED FOR CALLING SCHOOLING’S OLYMPIC WIN “HIGHLIGHT OF MY PRESIDENCY”

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Channel NewsAsia Like This Page · 31 August

President Tony Tan's last day in office (Howard Law: Photo 12)

"Singapore has benefitted greatly from your calm and dignified presence, wealth of knowledge, and steady judgment": PM Lee pays tribute to Dr Tan.

Full story: https://cna.asia/2elv5fm

(📷: Howard Law)

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President Tony Tan ‘worked tirelessly’ to fulfil responsibilities: PM Lee

President Tony Tan 'worked tirelessly' at 03:06 - 05:27

He was a President who “worked tirelessly” to fulfil his responsibilities – bringing Singaporeans closer together, being the custodian of Singapore’s reserves, upholding the integrity of the public service & enhancing relations with other countries.

That was how Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong summed up Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam’s term as Singapore’s 7th President, which ended on Thursday (Aug 31).

Speaking at a farewell reception, PM Lee recalled how Dr Tan took office after a “hard-fought” election.

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PM Lee pays tribute to President Tony Tan: A ‘relationship based on mutual trust and respect’

1 of 3 President Tony Tan Keng Yam, with his wife Mary, getting a round of applause from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong & his wife, Mrs Lee, as well as other guests who attended his farewell reception at the Istana yesterday. ST PHOTO: KEVIN LIM

In his 6 years as president, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam was a "prudent and conscientious custodian" who made sure Singapore's past reserves were well guarded & its key public offices held by suitable, qualified people.

This was helped by the warm ties between the head of state and the Government, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong last night.

"We were able to operate these presidential safeguards effectively & smoothly, because your office and the Government have had a close and constructive working relationship, based on mutual trust and respect," he said at a farewell reception for Dr Tan at the Istana.

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'It's been hard work but ... very rewarding'

As end of his presidency nears, Dr Tan stresses the need to further strengthen social bonds

President Tony Tan Keng Yam leaves office this Thursday as the head of state who preceded the biggest change to the elected presidency in its 26 years.

The move to entrench multiracialism in the highest office in the land, by ensuring members of the country's main races occupy it periodically, is a change he fully supports.

He believes it will stand the nation in good stead and further fortify the social fabric at a time when the terror threat to Singapore is at its highest.

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Dr Tony Tan added 5 new photos to the album Staff Appreciation Dinner 23 August at 21:02

My wife and I were happy to host a dinner to show our appreciation for our staff who have supported us throughout my tenure as President. The role of a President is multi-faceted. I am heartened that in my six years in the office, I had the strong support of a team of dedicated staff.

At last evening’s event, my wife and I took the opportunity to thank my staff for their attention to detail, effort and sacrifices in helping me discharge my duties effectively and put Singapore in a positive light both at home and abroad.

Thank you for playing your part in nation building.

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TONY TAN: SCHOOLING'S OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL A HIGHLIGHT OF MY PRESIDENCY

A Straits Times video featuring an interview with President Tony Tan to mark the end of his presidency has gone viral, but for the wrong reasons.

According to the video, President Tan listed Joseph Schooling's Olympic Gold Medal as one of the highlights of his presidential term.

However, this prompted netizens to flame him for trying to connect Schooling's gold medal with himself.

It had been reported that Schooling's gold medal had little to do with the support of Singapore Sports bodies and more to do with Schooling's unyielding determination to train and best himself.

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President Tony Tan roasted for calling Schooling’s Olympic win “highlight of my presidency”

The Straits Times has been doing a few articles chronicling the presidency of Dr Tony Tan. One of their videos on this series was captioned, “Witnessing Singapore’s first Olympic gold win was one of the highlights of my presidency,” in which President Tony Tan reflected on his six years at the Istana. Some netizens comments on the Facebook post of the video were nothing short of hilarious.

The following are the comments with the most number of likes in that post.

Kent Ong: “Apart from watching it to happen, what have you done to make it happen?”
Antony Lee: “Thousands and thousands were watching the event too, but not watching it “live” as you did. If that was ever one of your highlights in your capacity as a president, your failed terribly as one. One would expect you to do much more, as one would have “voted” for you not for traveling and watching sporting events, but to check and oppose governmental issues, and make significant contributions to the people of this country. Am I alone?”
Iain Wong: “Shouldn’t it be” Winning Singapore’s first Olympic gold win was one of the highlights of my life”? And that should be said by someone else. If your highlight is based on someone else’s achievement, something is wrong.”
Gakki Kutsu: “The best dream retirement job in the universe. Paid more than US president and do almost nothing at all….and yet talking about achievement.(others)”
Bob Koh: “To me, Schooling’s own family did everything themselves, money, time, effort. It is embarrassing for ‘them’ to even mention the Olympics gold medal because all ‘they’ are doing is trying to claim credit. Just leave quietly.”
Xlent Low: “Dear President, Witnessing something which you have no part in contributing to should not be a highlight of your presidency. Highlight should be something which you have contributed to, especially towards our nation, our people. If witnessing our first Olympic gold is your highlight, then in my honest opinion that incompetency is the only word to describe.”

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NETIZENS FLAMED TONY TAN FOR TRYING TO ASSOCIATE HIS PRESIDENCY WITH SCHOOLING’S GOLD MEDAL

One Bob Koh wrote: ““To me, Schooling’s own family did everything themselves, money, time, effort. It is embarrassing for ‘them’ to even mention the Olympics gold medal because all ‘they’ are doing is trying to claim credit. Just leave quietly.”

Another netizen wrote: “Dear President, Witnessing something which you have no part in contributing to should not be a highlight of your presidency. Highlight should be something which you have contributed to, especially towards our nation, our people. If witnessing our first Olympic gold is your highlight, then in my honest opinion that incompetency is the only word to describe.”

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QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE OFFICE OF PRESIDENT

Presidential Election Results

Public sector service requirement

The public sector service requirement is that the person has:

a. held office for three or more years as Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker of Parliament, Attorney-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, Accountant-General or Permanent Secretary;
b. served for three years or more as the chief executive of an entity specified in the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution;
c. served for three or more years in an office in the public sector for which the PEC must be satisfied, having regard to the nature of the office and the person’s performance, that he has the experience and ability comparable to a person who satisfies public sector service requirement (a) or (b). The PEC must also be satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President; or
d. held office or served for two periods of at least one year each in any of the above-mentioned offices, and the two periods add up to three or more years in total.

Private sector service requirement

The private sector service requirement is that the person has:

a. served as the chief executive of a company and the following four criteria are met:

i. the person’s most recent period of service as the chief executive of that company, ignoring any period of service less than a year, must be three or more years in length;
ii. the company must have, on average, at least $500m shareholders’ equity during the person’s most recent three-year period of service as chief executive;
iii. the company must have, on average, made profit after tax for the entire period during which the person served as the chief executive; and
iv. if the person has ceased to be the chief executive of the company before the date of the Writ of Election, the company must not have been subject to any insolvency event within three years of the person’s last day of service as the chief executive, or until the date of the Writ of Election, whichever is earlier;

b. served for three or more years in an office in a private sector organisation and the PEC must be satisfied (having regard to the nature of the office, the size and complexity of the private sector organisation and the person’s performance in the office) that the person has the experience and ability comparable to a person who satisfies the criteria laid out in private sector service requirement (a). The PEC must also be satisfied that he has the experience and ability to effectively carry out the functions and duties of the office of President; or

c. served for two periods of at least one year each in any of the above-mentioned offices, and the two periods add up to three or more years in total.

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EXPLANATORY MATERIAL ON THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT UNDER THE CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE

The table sets out examples of what the President can and cannot do

The President is the Head of State and hold office for a term of 6 years.

The President has two important roles - first, as a symbol and unifier of a diverse and multi-racial Singapore; and second, as a custodian of our nation's past reserves and the integrity of our public service.

The first Presidential Election was held on 28 August 1993.

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