Singaporean presidential election, 2011
Encyclopedia
The Singapore presidential election of 2011 was the fourth Singapore
Presidential Election, held on 27 August 2011. Nomination day for eligible candidates was held on 17 August 2011. Mr. S.R. Nathan
, the previous President of Singapore, stepped down on 31 August 2011 when his term drew to a close. He could have sought re-election, as there are no term limit
s, but he declined to do so.
Four candidates were issued certificates of eligibility by Singapore's Presidential Elections Committee, and all four were nominated on Nomination Day. This was the first contested election since the 1993 election
and the first presidential race with more than two candidates in Singaporean history. With 2,153,014 local votes and 3,375 overseas votes cast, this is also the biggest democratic exercise in Singapore to date.
The election was a close contest, with the winner Tony Tan Keng Yam winning by less than one percent of the vote.
is the head of state
of Singapore. Following the Westminster system
, the position is largely ceremonial, but enjoys several reserve powers
including withholding presidential assent
on supply bills and changing or revoking civil service
appointments. The current system of holding elections for the Presidency began with the 1993 election
. Before then, the President was selected by Parliament
.
There are strict requirements for prospective election candidates, and whether a candidate meets the qualifications or not is decided by the Election Department.
The Presidency is, by the rules of the constitution, nonpartisan
. However, in this election, three of the four candidates have connections to the dominant People's Action Party
, and the fourth contested the recent 2011 general election under the banner of the Singapore Democratic Party
.
ing was also formally legalised as a legitimate means of political campaigning. On 26 April 2010, the amendments to the Constitution were passed by a vote of 74–1 after a three-hour debate on the bill.
members Benjamin Pwee and Jimmy Lee also endorsed Tan Cheng Bock in their personal capacities, in a press statement released on The Online Citizen
blog site.
, Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss, Steve Chia
, and candidate-hopeful Andrew Kuan (who was not awarded a COE). He also received an endorsement from the political website Temasek Review Emeritus.
After Yeo declined to run for the Presidency, political analysts said Tony Tan would be one of the more suitable candidates, even though Tan himself had yet to declare his candidacy at that time.
K. Shanmugam
expressed concerns that voters and prospective candidates were confusing or misinterpreting the President's powers, and clarified what the office could and could not do. In August, he said at a forum, "The president can speak on issues only as authorised by the Cabinet” and that “[h]e must follow the advice of the Cabinet in the discharge of his duties." He also said, "If [the President] is someone who commands little or no respect of the prime minister, then of course influence will be limited." The then six presidential hopefuls commented on his remarks on the presidential role.
In an e-mail to reporters at Lianhe Zaobao
in early July, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
praised Tony Tan's performance during his time in Cabinet, and stopping short of an outright endorsement, said that should Tony Tan be elected President, he would be able to unite Singaporeans, and bring honour to the country.
In early August, Minister of National Development
Khaw Boon Wan
echoed PM Lee's sentiments on Tony Tan at a National Day banquet in Sembawang
, stating that he will be an excellent President, and make the nation proud. In what could be construed as an endorsement, Khaw publicly wished Tony Tan will win the Presidency.
In a break with the past, NTUC
President and Member of Parliament Lim Swee Say
said the NTUC will not force all its constituent trades union to endorse one candidate, and that the constituent trades union may endorse any candidate as they desire.
reported that Tan Cheng Bock was starting to meet voters at various bazaars in Singapore.
On 1 August, Shin Min Daily News reported that four of the Presidential candidates were meeting with voters over the preceding weekend. Tan Kin Lian went to Batam
in Indonesia to meet with area Singaporeans, while Tan Cheng Bock was meeting with young voters at a local youth park.
On 7 August, Lianhe Zaobao
reported that Tan Cheng Bock had visited at least 10 neighbourhoods in Singapore, and planned to visit more.
There are spending limits for all Singaporean elections. A presidential candidate may not spend more than SG$
600,000, or 30 cents per elector, whichever amount is greater. Overspending incurs a $2,000 fine, as well as disqualification from running or voting in any elections for 3 years.
On 8 July, PM Lee issued a statement on Presidential campaigns. He said campaigning for the Presidential Election will mostly be done on television, due to its reach. Each candidate will be given two 10-minute blocks of free airtime in the form of a presidential candidate broadcast. The PCBs would be translated. The first PCB would be aired after Nomination Day on the 17th, and the second would be aired on the eve of polling day. In addition, MediaCorp
would produce a series of programmes on the candidates.
A total of 2.27 million voters were expected to vote in the elections, though the actual amount of votes cast were 2.15 million. It was also announced that voters would be casting votes on "ballot papers which carry each presidential candidate's photograph as well as a graphic image of an object chosen by the candidate". This was to allow Singaporean voters to recognise the presidential candidates more easily when marking their choice on the paper.
For the first time, voters could print out their polling cards from the Elections Department website if they do not receive them in the mail.
A total of 140,000 Singaporeans were expunged from the voting list for not voting in the 2011 general election, while 71,000 names have been reinstated.
Voting is compulsory in Singapore. Voters whose name was expunged from the voting list would be ineligible to vote in future Presidential or Parliamentary elections, in addition to being ineligible to contest these elections. Voters can apply to be reinstated to the Register of Electors, but a $50 fine is imposed on those who did not vote without a valid reason.
At 1.19 am on 28 August, it was announced by the Elections Department that a recount of ballots would begin, as the top two candidates, Tony Tan and Tan Cheng Bock's votes had a difference of less than 2 percent. The Returning Officer "allowed the recounting of all votes cast" after the first tally showed they were less than two percent apart, the statement said.
At 4.23 am SST, the results were released by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee
at the Elections Department at Prinsep Street.
Tony Tan had won 35.2% of the votes, leading by a 0.34 percent margin ahead of Tan Cheng Bock.
, and pledged to work for all Singaporeans. He also thanked the other three candidates who "have campaigned with vigour, giving Singaporeans a choice". At a subsequent press conference that afternoon, Tan emphasised that the president works for all Singaporeans and he will not be an "ivory tower President", just as President S.R. Nathan
was not. When asked his thoughts about the tight race and his winning margin of just 0.34 percentage points over his closest rival Tan Cheng Bock, Dr Tony Tan said his results were "decisive" in Singapore's first past-the-post system.
Subsequently, Dr Tan Cheng Bock held a press conference in the afternoon as well. Speaking to the media at his first news conference following the Presidential Election results, Dr Tan said he wanted to continue unifying Singaporeans. He planned to continue engaging Singaporeans through social media such as his Facebook page and blog by making comments and suggestions. He said this was where the majority of youth lie and he believes they need to be better informed. Dr Tan announced his intention to return to his medical practice and did not rule out the possibility of running again for the next Presidential Election in 2017.
As for the third placed candidate Tan Jee Say
, he released a statement in the afternoon of August 28 and said he looked forward to Tony Tan performing the duties and responsibilities of the office of President in a fair and honourable manner. He also congratulated Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Kin Lian "for their earnest campaign". Earlier in the morning after the results were announced, Tan said although he had lost the election, it was still a "victory of hearts" in a press conference because by standing up to be counted, a voice was given to Singaporeans that will continue to be heard. When asked whether he would rejoin the Singapore Democratic Party
, he said he had not made up his mind to do so.
, in a statement released from his office soon after the declaration of results, said the election has been an intensely fought election, and the result was very close. Mr Lee said both Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock (who had the next highest number of votes) conveyed strong unifying messages and declared their intention to work closely with the government. Both had long records of public service but was "reassuring that Singaporean voters recognised and valued their strengths, as well as their inclusive approach". He called Dr Tony Tan to congratulate him on his election and assure him of "his government's full cooperation" and also called Dr Tan Cheng Bock to thank him and his supporters for "having fought an effective and dignified campaign".
released a statement on its website on 28 August. While congratulating Tony Tan on his election, it stated that a two-round system
should be implemented in place of first-past-the-post voting. It proposed that a runoff election should be held a week later after the first round in future elections. In addition, the statement added: "the President should unite Singaporeans of all political persuasions and views. To do this he needs to be elected by a clear majority of votes cast and not just on an almost statistically insignificant difference between him and the runner-up."
Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee
thanked the more than 20,000 election officials who participated in the exercise from Nomination Day to the Polling Day to the counting process; in addition the efficiency of the officials allowed the 2.13 million local votes to be counted.
Both Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock, and a representative for Tan Jee Say, Ms Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss turned up at the People's Association Headquarters on the afternoon to witness the counting.
Dr Tony Tan thanked all the overseas voters who turned up to cast their vote while Dr Tan Cheng Bock expressed that he was pleasantly surprised at the result as he expected Dr Tony Tan to garner a higher percentage of overseas votes.
received his final presidential salute from members of the Singapore Armed Forces
at the Istana, before he left office with his wife to retire to his home in East Coast. Later, President-elect Tony Tan arrived with his wife Mary and at 8.00pm SST, Tony Tan Keng Yam was sworn in as President at the Istana, in the presence of the diplomatic corps, the cabinet, selected guests and Members of Parliament. President Tan said in his speech: "I will wield this 'second key' with utmost care. Our reserves have been painstakingly built up over decades, and should not be compromised. Our government must continue to live within its means, and only draw on past reserves in an exceptional crisis - like the one we faced in 2008. I therefore welcome the Prime Minister's assurance that the government will continue to be responsible with our finances. I will play my role to safeguard our reserves, so that they can continue to give us confidence in tough times." This was in reference to the custodial powers of the Singapore presidency, in which the president acts as a fiscal guardian to the national reserves. President Tan added he can be both a resource and a symbol and would offer the Prime Minister his confidential advice on government policies and engage all Singaporeans to understand their interests and concerns.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
Presidential Election, held on 27 August 2011. Nomination day for eligible candidates was held on 17 August 2011. Mr. S.R. Nathan
S.R. Nathan
Sellapan Ramanathan is a Singaporean politician who was the sixth President of the Republic of Singapore. Usually referred to as S. R. Nathan, he was first sworn in on September 1, 1999. In 1999 and 2005, he was elected President in uncontested elections. In 2009, he surpassed Benjamin Sheares to...
, the previous President of Singapore, stepped down on 31 August 2011 when his term drew to a close. He could have sought re-election, as there are no term limit
Term limit
A term limit is a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office. When term limits are found in presidential and semi-presidential systems they act as a method to curb the potential for monopoly, where a leader effectively becomes "president for...
s, but he declined to do so.
Four candidates were issued certificates of eligibility by Singapore's Presidential Elections Committee, and all four were nominated on Nomination Day. This was the first contested election since the 1993 election
Singaporean presidential election, 1993
The Singapore presidential election of 1993 was the first presidential election held in Singapore. Polling day was August 28, 1993. Former Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong became Singapore's first directly elected President...
and the first presidential race with more than two candidates in Singaporean history. With 2,153,014 local votes and 3,375 overseas votes cast, this is also the biggest democratic exercise in Singapore to date.
The election was a close contest, with the winner Tony Tan Keng Yam winning by less than one percent of the vote.
Background
The President of SingaporePresident of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
is the head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
of Singapore. Following the Westminster system
Westminster System
The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modelled after the politics of the United Kingdom. This term comes from the Palace of Westminster, the seat of the Parliament of the United Kingdom....
, the position is largely ceremonial, but enjoys several reserve powers
Powers of the President of Singapore
The powers of the President of Singapore are divided into those which the largely ceremonial President may exercise at his own discretion, and those he must exercise in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet of Singapore or of a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet...
including withholding presidential assent
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
on supply bills and changing or revoking civil service
Singapore Civil Service
The Singapore Civil Service is the set of civil servants working for the Government of Singapore. Many of its principles were inherited from the administrative system left by the British Civil Service, as Singapore was once a British colony....
appointments. The current system of holding elections for the Presidency began with the 1993 election
Singaporean presidential election, 1993
The Singapore presidential election of 1993 was the first presidential election held in Singapore. Polling day was August 28, 1993. Former Deputy Prime Minister Ong Teng Cheong became Singapore's first directly elected President...
. Before then, the President was selected by Parliament
Parliament of Singapore
The Parliament of the Republic of Singapore and the President jointly make up the legislature of Singapore. Parliament is unicameral and is made up of Members of Parliament who are elected, as well as Non-constituency Members of Parliament and Nominated Members of Parliament who are appointed...
.
There are strict requirements for prospective election candidates, and whether a candidate meets the qualifications or not is decided by the Election Department.
The Presidency is, by the rules of the constitution, nonpartisan
Nonpartisan
In political science, nonpartisan denotes an election, event, organization or person in which there is no formally declared association with a political party affiliation....
. However, in this election, three of the four candidates have connections to the dominant People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
, and the fourth contested the recent 2011 general election under the banner of the Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
.
Parliamentary reform
On 11 March 2010, the Government tabled three bills in the parliament to amend the Constitution, the Presidential Elections Act and the Parliamentary Elections Act. A one-day "cooling-off" day was implemented, during which campaigning was forbidden, with only party political broadcasts allowed. Internet campaignInternet activism
Internet activism is the use of electronic communication technologies such as e-mail, the World Wide Web, and podcasts for various forms of activism to enable faster communications by citizen movements and the delivery of local information to a large audience...
ing was also formally legalised as a legitimate means of political campaigning. On 26 April 2010, the amendments to the Constitution were passed by a vote of 74–1 after a three-hour debate on the bill.
Eligible
- Former People's Action PartyPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
MP, Dr Tan Cheng BockTan Cheng BockTan Cheng Bock is a politician and physician from Singapore. Tan was a People's Action Party Member of Parliament in Singapore politics for 26 years and the first non cabinet minister elected into the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee .-Early life:Tan was educated at Radin Mas...
, who represented the Ayer Rajah SMC from 1980 to 2006, declared his intention to contest in the upcoming presidential election on 27 May 2011. He submitted the presidency forms on 22 July. - Former NTUC IncomeNTUC IncomeNTUC Income is a life and general insurance company based in Singapore. It is one of the "Big Three" insurers with a significant share of the local motor insurance market. Its current Chief Executive Officer is Tan Suee Chieh, who took over from Tan Kin Lian in February 2007.-External links:*...
CEO and former PAPPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
Branch Secretary for Marine ParadeMarine ParadeMarine Parade is a town and an urban planning area in Singapore directly to the east of the Central Area, Singapore's central business district.-Location:...
Tan Kin LianTan Kin LianTan Kin Lian is the former CEO of NTUC Income. Since stepping down as CEO in April 2007, his activities have included organising public rallies for people who lost their money due to investing in Lehman Brothers' Minibond products to seek redress, and setting up FISCA, an organisation to teach...
said on 3 June 2011 that he may stand for President, but will only confirm at a later date. He later confirmed that he would be running on 7 June 2011. He submitted the eligibility forms on 7 July. - Former People's Action PartyPeople's Action PartyThe People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
member, Deputy Prime MinisterDeputy Prime MinisterA deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
and Executive Director of the Government of Singapore Investment CorporationGovernment of Singapore Investment CorporationThe Government of Singapore Investment Corporation Private Limited is a sovereign wealth fund established by the Government of Singapore in 1981 to manage Singapore's foreign reserves...
Tony Tan Keng Yam officially declared his candidacy on 23 June 2011, after speculations that he would run. Tan also announced that he would resign from his posts at the GIC and Singapore Press HoldingsSingapore Press HoldingsSingapore Press Holdings Limited is a media organisation in Singapore with businesses in print, Internet and new media, television and radio, outdoor media, and property. SPH has over 4,000 employees, including a team of approximately 1,000 journalists, including correspondents operating around...
to alleviate concerns over conflict of interest. He submitted his presidential eligibility forms on 7 July. - Former civil servant and opposition SDPSingapore Democratic PartyThe Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
member Tan Jee SayTan Jee SayTan Jee Say is a Singaporean investment adviser, politician and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and contested the 2011 general election under the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , but failed to win a seat...
announced he would be running on 15 July. He said that he did so as "many Singaporeans want a non-PAP President whose independence of the PAP is clear, obvious and cannot be in doubt." He submitted the eligibility forms on 3 August.
Declared ineligible
- Former JTC Corporation group chief financial officer, Andrew Kuan, who attempted to run for the Presidency in 2005 before being controversially disqualified, stated that he will collect eligibility forms 'some time in July'. He picked up the forms on 27 July. He was found to be ineligible, with the same reason as the 2005 race, in that his position as CFO of JTC Corporation was not comparable to those of a CEO.
- Former leader of the People's Liberal Democratic PartyPeople's Liberal Democratic PartyThe People's Liberal Democratic Party is formed by Ooi Boon Ewe, an independent candidate in the 2001 GE. The party was approved in the midst of the 2006 GE husting and days late for nomination.-Logo:...
and perennial seeker of the presidency in the last two elections, Ooi Boon EweOoi Boon EweOoi Boon Ewe is a Singaporean politician. He is most notable for attempting to contest various elections, general and presidential.-Politics:Ooi entered the politicial arena in the presidential elections in 1999...
, announced his bid for the presidency on 1 June 2011. He submitted his forms on 11 July, and was found to be ineligible because his appliaction was incomplete and he had asked for a waiver from certain requirements set forth by the constitution, which the Elections Department claims it has no power to do.
Declined
- Current President S. R. Nathan was reportedly considering re-election, but announced on 2 July 2011 that he would not run for re-election.
- Despite speculations that former Senior MinisterSenior MinisterSenior Minister is a political office in the political system of Singapore taken by a prime minister or senior cabinet minister when he or she retires from that office, but still has something to offer the government based on his or her long experience...
S. Jayakumar was considering a run, he stated that he would not be running in an interview. - Singapore People's PartySingapore People's PartyThe Singapore People's Party is a left of centre opposition political party in Singapore. The party's leader is Chiam See Tong.-Foundation:...
leader and former Potong Pasir SMCPotong Pasir Single Member ConstituencyPotong Pasir Single Member Constituency is a Single Member Constituency in the central region of Singapore.-Location:The SMC encompasses Potong Pasir, Lorong 8 Toa Payoh and Tannery...
MP, Chiam See TongChiam See TongChiam See Tong is a politician and lawyer from Singapore. He is the country's longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament . Between 1984 and 2011, he represented the constituency of Potong Pasir in Singapore's Parliament....
announced that he would not run for the presidency on 10 June, despite earlier speculation that he was considering running for the presidency. - Former Foreign Minister and Aljunied GRCAljunied Group Representation ConstituencyAljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
MP George YeoGeorge YeoGeorge Yeo Yong-Boon is a former politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he served in the Cabinet from 1991 to 2011 as the Minister for Information and the Arts , Minister for Health , Minister for Trade and Industry and Minister for Foreign Affairs...
initially ruled out a run for President or any form of elected office after his defeat in Aljunied GRC during the general election. He later called himself a "free spirit" and said that he did not feel that he was "temperamentally suited for such a job". He then announced on Facebook that he was seriously considering a run for the Presidency. On 5 June 2011, Yeo announced that he will make a decision on running for President within 2 weeks, and has asked his friends to pick up eligibility forms on his behalf. Yeo later said on 15 June that he would not run for the Presidency on his Facebook page. - Former Aljunied GRCAljunied Group Representation ConstituencyAljunied Group Representation Constituency is a five-member group representation constituency in the north-eastern region of Singapore. The GRC consists of a large part of Hougang, Serangoon Gardens, a portion of Bedok and Aljunied...
MP Zainul Abidin bin Mohamed RasheedZainul Abidin bin Mohamed RasheedZainul Abidin bin Mohamed Rasheed is a Singaporean politician and former Member of Parliament who last represented Aljunied GRC from 2001 to 2011.-Education:...
declined to announce a candidacy on 29 May, but did not categorically rule out a run, declaring that he wished to take a break before making any decisions. He did not make any further statements on a possible campaign afterwards. - Businessman Mark LeeMark LeeMark Lee may refer to:*Mark Lee , Australian actor and director*Mark Lee , American novelist, playwright and journalist*Mark Lee , former NFL player...
announced his bid for the presidency on 1 June 2011, but did not submit it as he discovered that he did not meet the requirement of being a private company CEO for 3 years. He resigned as CEO of Global Ariel 5 months shy of the 3-year mark in July 2007. - Former food stall owner Mohamed Raffi Bashir Ahmed collected eligibility forms at the Election Department headquarters on 9 June. Mohamed is currently under investigation by local law enforcement authorities for disorderly conduct.
Tan Cheng Bock
Tan Cheng Bock received a formal endorsement from the Singapore Baseball and Softball Association. Singapore People's PartySingapore People's Party
The Singapore People's Party is a left of centre opposition political party in Singapore. The party's leader is Chiam See Tong.-Foundation:...
members Benjamin Pwee and Jimmy Lee also endorsed Tan Cheng Bock in their personal capacities, in a press statement released on The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen , a community blog of Singaporeans, has been said to be one of the most important socio-economic blogs in Singapore and at the forefront of political activism in the city-state. It was gazetted as a political association in February 2011...
blog site.
Tan Jee Say
Tan Jee Say was endorsed by Nicole Seah from the National Solidarity Party (NSP), as well as Vincent WijeysinghaVincent Wijeysingha
Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha is a politician and civil activist from Singapore. He is currently the Assistant Treasurer of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party and was a candidate in the 2011 Singaporean general election...
, Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss, Steve Chia
Steve Chia
Steve Chia Kiah Hong is a politician from Singapore. He is the former Secretary-General and current Treasurer of the opposition National Solidarity Party...
, and candidate-hopeful Andrew Kuan (who was not awarded a COE). He also received an endorsement from the political website Temasek Review Emeritus.
Tan Kin Lian
Mr Tan Kin Lian did not receive any group endorsements. He said during a walkabout in Tiong Bahru, "I met so many people here today. They tell me they want to support me, they tell me 'Mr Tan, please don't drop out, give us a chance to vote'. So I want to be endorsed by the people."Tony Tan
As of 20 August 2011, Tony Tan was endorsed by:- 21 unions (including the Transport and Logistics cluster, the Marine and Machinery Engineering cluster, and the Infocomm and Media cluster) which collectively represent about 112,000 workers
- Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI)
- Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SMCCI)
- Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SICCI)
- Federation of Tan Clan Associations with 10,000 members
- Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations (SFCCA)
- Nine Teochew clan associations
May
- 10 – George Yeo declines to run for Presidency, or any other forms of elected office, after defeat in General Election, calling himself a "free spirit" and not "temperamentally suited" for the Presidency.
- 27 – Tan Cheng Bock announces candidacy.
- 29 – Zainul declines to run for the Presidency, but left open the option of declaring a run in the future. He did not make any announcement on a run for the Presidency afterward.
June
- 1 – Applications for Certificate of Eligibility to run in the race were made available.
- 1 – Mark Lee announces his candidacy.
- 1 – Ooi Boon Ewe announces his candidacy, while asking the Election Department to waive one of the constitutional requirements for the Presidency for him.
- 2 – Yeo backtracks from earlier statement, announces on Facebook that he is "thinking hard" about a run.
- 3 – Tan Kin Lian said he will announce his candidacy at a "later date".*
- 3 – Mark Lee announces that he is ineligible for the Presidency.
- 5 – Yeo announces he will make a decision on a potential candidacy in 2 weeks, and asked friends to pick up the eligibility forms on his behalf.
- 7 – Tan Kin Lian announces his candidacy.
- 9 – S. Jayakumar declines to run for President during a newspaper interview.
- 9 – Mohamed Raffi Bashir Ahmed collected eligibility forms for the Presidency.
- 9 – Channel NewsAsia reveals that Andrew Kuan will collect his eligibility forms and run for President.
- 10 – Chiam See Tong declines to run for President.
- 15 – Yeo declines to run for President.
- 23 – Tony Tan announces his candidacy.
- 26 – Tan Kin Lian told Shin Min Daily NewsShin Min Daily NewsShin Min Daily News is a Singapore Chinese-language afternoon newspaper currently published by Singapore Press Holdings...
that he does not rule out the possibility of discussing with Tan Cheng Bock, of one of them dropping out of the campaign in order to prevent a three-cornered fight. - 28 – Tan Cheng Bock responded that he would not drop the presidential bid even if Tan Kin Lian approaches him about it.
July
- 1 – S.R. Nathan declines to run again for President.
- 7 – Tony Tan and Tan Kin Lian submit eligibility forms.
- 11 – Ooi Boon Ewe submits eligibility forms.
- 15 – Tan Jee Say announces candidacy.
- 22 – Tan Cheng Bock submits eligibility forms.
- 27 – Andrew Kuan picks up forms.
August
- 3 – Writ of Election issued.
- 3 – Tan Jee Say submits eligibility forms.
- 5 – Andrew Kuan submits eligibility forms.
- 6 – Applications close for certificates of eligibility.
- 11 – Tan Cheng Bock, Tony Tan Keng Yam, Tan Kin Lian and Tan Jee Say are awarded certificates of eligibility. Tan Cheng Bock and Tony Tan were awarded the certificates pursuant to Article 19(2)(e) of the Constitution. Tan Kin Lian and Tan Jee Say satisfied Articles 19(2)(e) and 19(2)(g)(iv) of the Constitution.
- 17 – Nomination Day. Four candidates were nominated. Election symbols for the candidates were unveiled.
- 23 – Tan Jee Say holds night rally at Toa Payoh Stadium.
- 24 – Tony Tan holds lunchtime rally at Boat Quay, next to UOB Plaza. Tan Kin Lian holds night rally at Yio Chu Kang Stadium.
- 25 – Tan Cheng BockTan Cheng BockTan Cheng Bock is a politician and physician from Singapore. Tan was a People's Action Party Member of Parliament in Singapore politics for 26 years and the first non cabinet minister elected into the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee .-Early life:Tan was educated at Radin Mas...
holds night indoor rally at Singapore ExpoSingapore ExpoThe Singapore EXPO is the largest convention and exhibition venue in Singapore with over 100,000 square metres of column-free, indoor space spread over 10 halls...
. - 26 – Cooling-off day
- 27 – Polling Day
Analysis
Various analysts said that while George Yeo is still a PAP member (the Constitution prohibits the President from having party membership), his popularity seems to have survived his defeat at Aljunied GRC. Some analysts noted that should Yeo decide to run, he should be well-suited for the Presidency, noting that he has served in various cabinet positions. Others were critical of the speed with which Yeo announced his intention not to contest in future his lost parliamentary seat, his comments about being "temperamentally" unsuited to the presidency, and the likely difficulty of him claiming any independence from the PAP in a contested election.After Yeo declined to run for the Presidency, political analysts said Tony Tan would be one of the more suitable candidates, even though Tan himself had yet to declare his candidacy at that time.
Reaction
Since late June, Minister for LawMinistry of Law (Singapore)
The Ministry of Law is a ministry of the Government of Singapore responsible for ensuring that Singapore's legal infrastructure is clear, efficacious and transparent...
K. Shanmugam
K. Shanmugam
Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam better known as "K Shanmugam", is a Tamil Indian politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law...
expressed concerns that voters and prospective candidates were confusing or misinterpreting the President's powers, and clarified what the office could and could not do. In August, he said at a forum, "The president can speak on issues only as authorised by the Cabinet” and that “[h]e must follow the advice of the Cabinet in the discharge of his duties." He also said, "If [the President] is someone who commands little or no respect of the prime minister, then of course influence will be limited." The then six presidential hopefuls commented on his remarks on the presidential role.
In an e-mail to reporters at Lianhe Zaobao
Lianhe Zaobao
Nanyang Sin-Chew Lianhe Zaobao , commonly abbreviated as Lianhe Zaobao , is the largest Singapore based Chinese-language newspaper with a daily circulation of about 176,000. Published by Singapore Press Holdings , it was formed on March 16, 1983 as a result of a merger between Nanyang Siang Pau and...
in early July, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
praised Tony Tan's performance during his time in Cabinet, and stopping short of an outright endorsement, said that should Tony Tan be elected President, he would be able to unite Singaporeans, and bring honour to the country.
In early August, Minister of National Development
Ministry of National Development (Singapore)
The Ministry of National Development is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation and implementation of policies related to land use planning and infrastructure development...
Khaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan
Khaw Boon Wan is a politician from Singapore. He is currently the country's Minister for National Development and the Chairman of the governing People's Action Party . He was previously the Minister for Health from August 2004 to May 2011...
echoed PM Lee's sentiments on Tony Tan at a National Day banquet in Sembawang
Sembawang
Sembawang is an area in the Northern-most portion of Singapore, encompassing the largest land mass within the Sembawang Group Representation Constituency. The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Sembawang Constituency is Khaw Boon Wan. The constituency jurisdiction extends into the Woodlands...
, stating that he will be an excellent President, and make the nation proud. In what could be construed as an endorsement, Khaw publicly wished Tony Tan will win the Presidency.
In a break with the past, NTUC
National Trades Union Congress
The National Trades Union Congress , also known as the Singapore National Trades Union Congress , is the sole national trade union centre in Singapore...
President and Member of Parliament Lim Swee Say
Lim Swee Say
Lim Swee Say is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently a Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and the Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress....
said the NTUC will not force all its constituent trades union to endorse one candidate, and that the constituent trades union may endorse any candidate as they desire.
Campaigning
Campaigning, on a widespread scale, did not happen until late July. The first instance of a campaign reportedly happened on 17 June, when Shin Min Daily NewsShin Min Daily News
Shin Min Daily News is a Singapore Chinese-language afternoon newspaper currently published by Singapore Press Holdings...
reported that Tan Cheng Bock was starting to meet voters at various bazaars in Singapore.
On 1 August, Shin Min Daily News reported that four of the Presidential candidates were meeting with voters over the preceding weekend. Tan Kin Lian went to Batam
Batam
Batam is an island and city in Riau Islands Province of Indonesia, known for its free trade zone area as part of the Sijori Growth Triangle, is located off Singapore's south coast...
in Indonesia to meet with area Singaporeans, while Tan Cheng Bock was meeting with young voters at a local youth park.
On 7 August, Lianhe Zaobao
Lianhe Zaobao
Nanyang Sin-Chew Lianhe Zaobao , commonly abbreviated as Lianhe Zaobao , is the largest Singapore based Chinese-language newspaper with a daily circulation of about 176,000. Published by Singapore Press Holdings , it was formed on March 16, 1983 as a result of a merger between Nanyang Siang Pau and...
reported that Tan Cheng Bock had visited at least 10 neighbourhoods in Singapore, and planned to visit more.
There are spending limits for all Singaporean elections. A presidential candidate may not spend more than SG$
Singapore dollar
The Singapore dollar or Dollar is the official currency of Singapore. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively S$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
600,000, or 30 cents per elector, whichever amount is greater. Overspending incurs a $2,000 fine, as well as disqualification from running or voting in any elections for 3 years.
On 8 July, PM Lee issued a statement on Presidential campaigns. He said campaigning for the Presidential Election will mostly be done on television, due to its reach. Each candidate will be given two 10-minute blocks of free airtime in the form of a presidential candidate broadcast. The PCBs would be translated. The first PCB would be aired after Nomination Day on the 17th, and the second would be aired on the eve of polling day. In addition, MediaCorp
MediaCorp
Media Corporation of Singapore, better known as MediaCorp, is a group of commercial media companies in Singapore, with business interests in television and radio broadcasting, interactive media, and, to a lesser extent, print publishing and film-making....
would produce a series of programmes on the candidates.
Voting
On 3 August, the government announced that polling day would be 27 August.A total of 2.27 million voters were expected to vote in the elections, though the actual amount of votes cast were 2.15 million. It was also announced that voters would be casting votes on "ballot papers which carry each presidential candidate's photograph as well as a graphic image of an object chosen by the candidate". This was to allow Singaporean voters to recognise the presidential candidates more easily when marking their choice on the paper.
For the first time, voters could print out their polling cards from the Elections Department website if they do not receive them in the mail.
A total of 140,000 Singaporeans were expunged from the voting list for not voting in the 2011 general election, while 71,000 names have been reinstated.
Voting is compulsory in Singapore. Voters whose name was expunged from the voting list would be ineligible to vote in future Presidential or Parliamentary elections, in addition to being ineligible to contest these elections. Voters can apply to be reinstated to the Register of Electors, but a $50 fine is imposed on those who did not vote without a valid reason.
Results
At 8.00 pm, polling stations closed and ballot boxes were then sealed, and delivered to counting centres. The first candidate to concede defeat was Tan Kin Lian at about 10.30 pm local time, around two and a half hours after polls closed. He added he might not get his deposit of S$48,000 back but the experience of running the race has been useful. He said he was somewhat disappointed, but he believed he had put up a good fight and expected to do much better. He made a hint of the result by saying it "will be a tough fight between the top two candidates". When asked who the top two candidates were, Mr Tan declined to comment.At 1.19 am on 28 August, it was announced by the Elections Department that a recount of ballots would begin, as the top two candidates, Tony Tan and Tan Cheng Bock's votes had a difference of less than 2 percent. The Returning Officer "allowed the recounting of all votes cast" after the first tally showed they were less than two percent apart, the statement said.
At 4.23 am SST, the results were released by Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee
Yam Ah Mee
Yam Ah Mee is a Singaporean civil servant and Chief Executive Director of the People's Association. He shot to fame after Singaporeans took to his monotone voice and expressionless demeanour, as the Returning Officer for the General Elections in 2011....
at the Elections Department at Prinsep Street.
Result for the presidential election 2011. Tan Cheng Bock, 737,128 votes. Tan Jee Say, 529,732 votes. Tony Tan Keng Yam, 744,397 votes Tan Kin Lian, 103,931 votes. Rejected votes, 37,826. Total votes cast, 2,153,014. The local votes counted are conclusive of the results. Pursuant to Section 32, Subsection 8D, Paragraph A of the Presidential Elections Act, I declare Tony Tan Keng Yam as the candidate elected as the President of Singapore.
Tony Tan had won 35.2% of the votes, leading by a 0.34 percent margin ahead of Tan Cheng Bock.
Reactions of candidates
Subsequently, Tony Tan made his thank you speech at Toa Payoh StadiumToa Payoh Stadium
Toa Payoh Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Toa Payoh, Singapore. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Balestier Khalsa FC. The stadium holds 3,900 people. It is taken over by the Singapore Sports Council on 30 November 1973 and opened to the public on 1...
, and pledged to work for all Singaporeans. He also thanked the other three candidates who "have campaigned with vigour, giving Singaporeans a choice". At a subsequent press conference that afternoon, Tan emphasised that the president works for all Singaporeans and he will not be an "ivory tower President", just as President S.R. Nathan
S.R. Nathan
Sellapan Ramanathan is a Singaporean politician who was the sixth President of the Republic of Singapore. Usually referred to as S. R. Nathan, he was first sworn in on September 1, 1999. In 1999 and 2005, he was elected President in uncontested elections. In 2009, he surpassed Benjamin Sheares to...
was not. When asked his thoughts about the tight race and his winning margin of just 0.34 percentage points over his closest rival Tan Cheng Bock, Dr Tony Tan said his results were "decisive" in Singapore's first past-the-post system.
Subsequently, Dr Tan Cheng Bock held a press conference in the afternoon as well. Speaking to the media at his first news conference following the Presidential Election results, Dr Tan said he wanted to continue unifying Singaporeans. He planned to continue engaging Singaporeans through social media such as his Facebook page and blog by making comments and suggestions. He said this was where the majority of youth lie and he believes they need to be better informed. Dr Tan announced his intention to return to his medical practice and did not rule out the possibility of running again for the next Presidential Election in 2017.
As for the third placed candidate Tan Jee Say
Tan Jee Say
Tan Jee Say is a Singaporean investment adviser, politician and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong and contested the 2011 general election under the opposition Singapore Democratic Party , but failed to win a seat...
, he released a statement in the afternoon of August 28 and said he looked forward to Tony Tan performing the duties and responsibilities of the office of President in a fair and honourable manner. He also congratulated Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Kin Lian "for their earnest campaign". Earlier in the morning after the results were announced, Tan said although he had lost the election, it was still a "victory of hearts" in a press conference because by standing up to be counted, a voice was given to Singaporeans that will continue to be heard. When asked whether he would rejoin the Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
, he said he had not made up his mind to do so.
Reaction of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister Lee Hsien LoongLee Hsien Loong
Lee Hsien Loong is the third and current Prime Minister of Singapore. He is married to Ho Ching, who is the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Temasek Holdings. He is the eldest son of Singapore's first Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew....
, in a statement released from his office soon after the declaration of results, said the election has been an intensely fought election, and the result was very close. Mr Lee said both Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock (who had the next highest number of votes) conveyed strong unifying messages and declared their intention to work closely with the government. Both had long records of public service but was "reassuring that Singaporean voters recognised and valued their strengths, as well as their inclusive approach". He called Dr Tony Tan to congratulate him on his election and assure him of "his government's full cooperation" and also called Dr Tan Cheng Bock to thank him and his supporters for "having fought an effective and dignified campaign".
Calls for voting reform
Political party, the Reform Party (Singapore)Reform Party (Singapore)
The Reform Party is a political party in Singapore. It was founded in 2008 by the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam, and is currently headed by his son Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who succeeded him as party secretary-general after the elder Jeyaretnam died in 2008...
released a statement on its website on 28 August. While congratulating Tony Tan on his election, it stated that a two-round system
Two-round system
The two-round system is a voting system used to elect a single winner where the voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate...
should be implemented in place of first-past-the-post voting. It proposed that a runoff election should be held a week later after the first round in future elections. In addition, the statement added: "the President should unite Singaporeans of all political persuasions and views. To do this he needs to be elected by a clear majority of votes cast and not just on an almost statistically insignificant difference between him and the runner-up."
Counting of overseas votes
On 31 August, overseas votes were counted. In all, there were 3,375 overseas voters. President-elect Dr Tony Tan received the most votes, at 1,296, Dr Tan Cheng Bock had 1,183 votes, Mr Tan Jee Say had 709, and Mr Tan Kin Lian had 164. The voting pattern for overseas votes is similar to that of local votes, with Dr Tony Tan taking 38.66 per cent of the vote, Dr Tan Cheng Bock took 35.29 per cent, Mr Tan Jee Say was at 21.15 per cent and Mr Tan Kin Lian was at 4.89 per cent. There were 23 rejected votes and one spoilt vote.Returning Officer Yam Ah Mee
Yam Ah Mee
Yam Ah Mee is a Singaporean civil servant and Chief Executive Director of the People's Association. He shot to fame after Singaporeans took to his monotone voice and expressionless demeanour, as the Returning Officer for the General Elections in 2011....
thanked the more than 20,000 election officials who participated in the exercise from Nomination Day to the Polling Day to the counting process; in addition the efficiency of the officials allowed the 2.13 million local votes to be counted.
Both Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock, and a representative for Tan Jee Say, Ms Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss turned up at the People's Association Headquarters on the afternoon to witness the counting.
Dr Tony Tan thanked all the overseas voters who turned up to cast their vote while Dr Tan Cheng Bock expressed that he was pleasantly surprised at the result as he expected Dr Tony Tan to garner a higher percentage of overseas votes.
Presidential inauguration
At 7.30pm SST of 1 September, outgoing president S.R. NathanS.R. Nathan
Sellapan Ramanathan is a Singaporean politician who was the sixth President of the Republic of Singapore. Usually referred to as S. R. Nathan, he was first sworn in on September 1, 1999. In 1999 and 2005, he was elected President in uncontested elections. In 2009, he surpassed Benjamin Sheares to...
received his final presidential salute from members of the Singapore Armed Forces
Singapore Armed Forces
The Singapore Armed Forces is the military arm of the Total Defence of the Republic of Singapore; as well as the military component of the Ministry of Defence. The SAF comprises three branches: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy...
at the Istana, before he left office with his wife to retire to his home in East Coast. Later, President-elect Tony Tan arrived with his wife Mary and at 8.00pm SST, Tony Tan Keng Yam was sworn in as President at the Istana, in the presence of the diplomatic corps, the cabinet, selected guests and Members of Parliament. President Tan said in his speech: "I will wield this 'second key' with utmost care. Our reserves have been painstakingly built up over decades, and should not be compromised. Our government must continue to live within its means, and only draw on past reserves in an exceptional crisis - like the one we faced in 2008. I therefore welcome the Prime Minister's assurance that the government will continue to be responsible with our finances. I will play my role to safeguard our reserves, so that they can continue to give us confidence in tough times." This was in reference to the custodial powers of the Singapore presidency, in which the president acts as a fiscal guardian to the national reserves. President Tan added he can be both a resource and a symbol and would offer the Prime Minister his confidential advice on government policies and engage all Singaporeans to understand their interests and concerns.