Contest the Presidential Election

Here is my statement on my decision to contest the Presidential Election. It also sets out the issues to be addressed during and after the election.


Statement from Tan Kin Lian

8 June 2011

Contesting the Presidential Election

I have decided to contest the Presidential Election. My main aim in stepping forward is to give Singaporeans a wider choice of candidates to vote as the next President of Singapore.

I will be communicating with the people on my views on several issues that are important to them. Going forward, statements will be issued through my blog and in the media. I hope that the people will get to know me better from these statements.

My views on the many issues affecting the future of Singapore will be guided mainly by my personal values of honesty, fairness, positive approach, courage and public service. I want the people to know me by these values and hope that we can share some or all of these values.

Presidential Candidates

I have high respect for the two other candidates who have expressed their interest to contest the presidential election, namely Dr. Tan Cheng Bock and BG George Yeo. I also have the same regards for Dr. Tony Tan and President Nathan, if they do decide to contest this election. Each candidate has his strong points.

I hope that this contest will be carried out within a positive climate and that the people will focus on the positive points of each candidate, rather than adopt unfair means to smear the reputation of those who are willing to stand up for Singapore.

Hopefully, the outcome of this presidential election will be a win, not only for the successful  candidate, but also for the people of Singapore.

I echo the sentiment expressed by Mr. Ng Ya Ken in Today paper (8 June 2011). He said, “Allow losers in the Presidential Election the opportunity to serve on the Council of Presidential Advisers if they garner, say, 20 per cent of the vote. This might encourage more eligible and capable people to step forward. It would also add diversity to the composition of the council, which in turn would enhance the Elected Presidency institution”.  I had previously discussed a similar idea with my friends, but Mr. Ng has expressed it with the appropriate words.

I share the views of Dr. Tan Cheng Bock that the next President should play a role to unify the country.

Participation of the people

I have benefited from the participation of many people who have relayed their concerns, suggestions, and ideas to me by e-mail and comments in my blog and Facebook. This has helped me to better understand the key issues that have to be addressed and to find the possible approaches to address them. I have stated my views on some of these matters based on the information that is available to me now.

Some information may surface later that may change some of my views. I hope that my friends  will understand this limitation, but I also want them to know that all my future decisions will continue to be made on the values of honesty, fairness, positive approach, courage and public

service.

If I am elected into the office of the President, I intend to build a platform for the people of Singapore to continue to communicate with my office, using modern communication tools. I want to make it easy for the people to express their aspirations and to offer their feedback on issues that need to be addressed.

This should be on the big issues affecting the country and the people as a whole, and not the personal issues that can be addressed by the elected members of Parliament. Naturally, I would not be able to manage the interactions personally, and should be able to get the appropriate people to assist me in managing this process. My friend has suggested that this should be named as the president’s personal council.

I will give further thought to this idea, especially on its practical implementation. I believe that it will be a good channel to maintain close contact with the people.

Tan Kin Lian

Email: kinlian@gmail.com

Mobile: 81685845

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tankinlian

Blog: www.tankinlian.blogspot.com