Mr Ng Kok Song aged 75 accompanied by his fiancee Sybil Lau aged 45 at the Elections Department on July 19, 2023. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
The combined ages of Mr Ng Kok Song aged 75 and his fiancee Sybil Lau aged 45, won the First Price drawn by Singapore Pools on 2 Aug 2023.
Former GIC investment chief Ng Kok Song announces bid for Singapore presidential election
Mr Ng Kok Song, 75, accompanied by his fiancee Sybil Lau, 45, at the Elections Department on July 19, 2023. ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH
Former GIC chief investment officer Ng Kok Song turned up at the Elections Department (ELD) on Wednesday around 10.30am, accompanied by his fiancee.
The 75-year-old had told The Straits Times on July 15 that he was “deliberating” running for President, as it was an issue of great national importance and there would be immense personal implications. After collecting his forms, Mr Ng told reporters outside ELD that he has three reasons to run for President: to give Singaporeans a choice; because he has been involved in building up the reserves, and as he is independent.
About a month ago on June 12, entrepreneur George Goh said he intended to contest in the upcoming presidential election. Former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam had earlier declared his bid on June 8, and resigned from the Government and People’s Action Party on July 7. Incumbent President Halimah Yacob has said she will not stand for re-election when her term ends on Sept 13. Candidates interested in running for the presidency have been able to collect forms from the Elections Department or its website since June 13.
Presidential hopeful Ng Kok Song submits forms, stresses importance of Singapore’s reserves
Presidential hopeful Ng Kok Song told media he has submitted his application for a certificate of eligibility to contest the upcoming presidential election. He also confirmed that former foreign minister George Yeo is one of his character references
Presidential hopeful Ng Kok Song has submitted his application for a certificate of eligibility to contest the upcoming presidential election.
Speaking to the media during a visit to the Teochew Poit Ip Huay Kuan on Thursday night, Mr Ng, 75, said he had submitted the forms on Wednesday to be considered eligible via the public sector deliberative track – or, in his words, based on his experience and duration of service as GIC’s former chief investment officer. Mr Ng had spoken to members of the Teochew clan association.
Elaborating on why Singapore’s reserves are strategically important, he said there are three reasons:
- One, they are the country’s financial defence in times of war, and are crucial to post-war reconstruction.
- Second, they help to save jobs and support lower-income Singaporeans in times of economic crisis, as seen in the draw on reserves during the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Third, they keep the Singapore dollar strong, he said. This is important because Singapore buys many things from overseas, and the strength of the Singapore dollar helps to reduce costs domestically and keep inflation down.
It looks like Ah Song is giving out many surprises. Firstly his & his GF's ages kena 4D 1st Prize. Now he has his own Ah Huat White Coffee. What's next???
Yusof Ishak (Appointed) Term of Office: 9 Aug 1965 - 23 Nov 1970
Benjamin Sheares (Appointed) Term of Office (3 Terms): 2 Jan 1971 - 12 May 1981
Devan Nair (Appointed) Term of Office: 23 Oct 1981 - 28 March 1985
Wee Kim Wee (Appointed) Term of Office: 2 Sep 1985 - 1 Sep 1993
Ong Teng Cheong (Elected) Term of Office: 1 Sept 1993 - 1 Sep 1999
S R Nathan (Elected Unopposed) Term of Office (2 Terms): 1 Sept 1999 - 1 Sep 2011
Tony Tan Keng Yam (Elected) Term of Office: 1 Sep 2011 - 31 Aug 2017
Halimah Yacob (Elected Unopposed) Term of Office: 14 Sep 2017 - 1 Sep 2023
Shanmugaratnam Tharman (Elected) 1 Sep 2023
