SINGAPORE: Opposition party member Tan Jee Say said on Friday he is stepping forward to contest the Presidential Election.
Mr Tan collected forms for the Certificate of Eligibility from the Elections Department on Friday morning.
In a statement, Mr Tan said he is doing so because many Singaporeans want a non-People's Action Party (PAP) President whose independence of the PAP is clear, obvious and cannot be in doubt.
He said only such a person can have the moral authority to fulfil the mission of Elected President which is to provide checks and balances on the PAP government.
He said he is aware of the constitutional limitations of the office of President, but added that the office of President is what the President makes it out to be.
"He can be as quiet and inactive as he chooses to be. Or he can be active. I want to be an active President, engaging the nation on issues of conscience and promoting worthy causes."
As for fulfilling the eligibility criteria, Mr Tan said he was chief executive officer with the title of regional managing director of John Govett (Asia) and its successor company AIB Govett (Asia) from February 1, 1997 to March 6, 2001.
The company was a Singapore company incorporated under the Companies Act. The asset management company operated under an Investment Adviser's licence granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Mr Tan said the company did not have a paid-up capital of S$100 million, as it was not required to do so by the MAS.
However, the firm managed total assets in excess of S$100 million which would make it equivalent to managing a company with a paid-up capital of S$100 million, he added.
Former PAP MP Dr Tan Cheng Bock said he will submit his Certificate of Eligibility application next week with friends and supporters.
He said this on his Facebook page on Friday.
Mr Tan collected forms for the Certificate of Eligibility from the Elections Department on Friday morning.
In a statement, Mr Tan said he is doing so because many Singaporeans want a non-People's Action Party (PAP) President whose independence of the PAP is clear, obvious and cannot be in doubt.
He said only such a person can have the moral authority to fulfil the mission of Elected President which is to provide checks and balances on the PAP government.
He said he is aware of the constitutional limitations of the office of President, but added that the office of President is what the President makes it out to be.
"He can be as quiet and inactive as he chooses to be. Or he can be active. I want to be an active President, engaging the nation on issues of conscience and promoting worthy causes."
As for fulfilling the eligibility criteria, Mr Tan said he was chief executive officer with the title of regional managing director of John Govett (Asia) and its successor company AIB Govett (Asia) from February 1, 1997 to March 6, 2001.
The company was a Singapore company incorporated under the Companies Act. The asset management company operated under an Investment Adviser's licence granted by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
Mr Tan said the company did not have a paid-up capital of S$100 million, as it was not required to do so by the MAS.
However, the firm managed total assets in excess of S$100 million which would make it equivalent to managing a company with a paid-up capital of S$100 million, he added.
Former PAP MP Dr Tan Cheng Bock said he will submit his Certificate of Eligibility application next week with friends and supporters.
He said this on his Facebook page on Friday.
