This is a press release from the Elections Department. In an unprecedented move, the Presidential Election Committee explains why it approved and rejected the candidacy of individuals who applied for Certificate of Eligibility.
Singapore's Presidential Candidates for 2011
The Presidential Elections Committee received six applications for the Certificate of Eligibility, and decided to issue four certificates.
Presidential Elections Committee
To qualify as a candidate for the Presidential Election, every candidate requires a certification as to integrity, good character and reputation from the Committee under Article 19(2)(e) of the Constitution. An individual who has held office for not less than three years in one of the appointments listed in Articles 19(2)(g)(i), 19(2)(g)(ii) and 19(2)(g)(iii) would not need further certification under Article 19(2)(g)(iv).
The function of the Committee is to ensure that prospective candidates qualify to stand for election as President under Article 19(2)(e) or both Articles 19(2)(e) and 19(2)(g)(iv). Specifically, each prospective candidate is required to satisfy the Committee that:
- he or she is a person of integrity, good character and reputation (Article19(2)(e)); and
- if applying for qualification under Article 19(2)(g)(iv), he or she should have held office for not less than three years in any other similar or comparable position of seniority and responsibility in any other organisation or department of equivalent size or complexity in the public or private sector which, in the opinion of the Committee, has given him or her such experience and ability in administering and managing financial affairs as to enable him or her to carry out effectively the functions and duties of the office of President.
Applications Received
The Committee received applications from the following individuals:
- Mr Tan Kin Lian
- Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam
- Mr Ooi Boon Ewe
- Dr Tan Cheng Bock
- Mr Tan Jee Say
- Mr Kuan Yoke Loon Andrew
The Committee deliberated on the merits of each application, taking into account the information provided by the applicant and obtained from various government agencies.
Certificates Issued
The Committee issued four Certificates of Eligibility to Mr Tan Kin Lian, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam, Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say. 7 Of the six applicants, Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam and Dr Tan Cheng Bock applied for certification under Article 19(2)(e) only. Based on the information available to the Committee, it is satisfied that Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam and Dr Tan Cheng Bock are men of integrity, good character and reputation.
Mr Tan Kin Lian applied for certification under Articles 19(2)(e) and 19(2)(g)(iv). Based on the information available to the Committee, it is satisfied that he is a man of integrity, good character and reputation. The Committee noted that Mr Tan had been the Chief Executive Officer of NTUC Income Insurance Co-operative Limited for more than 3 years. NTUC Income is a co-operative and had a paid-up capital of more than $100 million in the years preceding his departure in 2007. The Committee is of the opinion that the organisation is comparable in size and complexity to a company with a paid-up capital of $100 million. Mr Tan has the experience and ability to satisfy the requirements in Article 19(2)(g)(iv).
Mr Tan Jee Say applied for certification under Articles 19(2)(e) and 19(2)(g)(iv). Based on the information available to the Committee, it is satisfied that he is a man of integrity, good character and reputation. As the Regional Managing Director of AIB Govett (Asia) Limited, Mr Tan had overall responsibility for the company’s operations. The Committee is therefore of the view that Mr Tan held a position of comparable seniority and responsibility as a Chief Executive Officer. The Committee is also of the view that AIB Govett (Asia) Limited is an organisation of equivalent complexity when compared to companies in Singapore with a paid-up capital of $100 million. Mr Tan has the experience and ability to satisfy the requirements in Article 19(2)(g)(iv).
Unsuccessful Applications
Mr Ooi Boon Ewe submitted an incomplete application form. He subsequently updated his application and in a written clarification acknowledged that he did not qualify under Article 19(2)(g)(iv) and asked for a waiver from this requirement. The Committee has no power to waive any of the qualifications for the office of President. In view of Mr Ooi’s own written acknowledgement, the Committee decided that Mr Ooi does not qualify under Article 19(2)(g)(iv). It was not necessary to consider if he would qualify under Article 19(2)(e).
Mr Kuan Yoke Loon Andrew applied for certification under Articles 19(2)(e) and 19(2)(g)(iv). For the latter, the application was made on the basis of Mr Kuan’s position as the Group Chief Financial Officer of JTC Corporation between 2001 and 2004. The Committee is of the view that the seniority and responsibility of the Group Chief Financial Officer are not comparable to the positions in Articles 19(2)(g)(i), 19(2)(g)(ii) and 19(2)(g)(iii). The Committee therefore decided that Mr Kuan does not qualify under Article 19(2)(g)(iv). It was not necessary to consider if he would qualify under Article 19(2)(e).
