George Yeo says he won’t contest presidential polls

Post requires discipline and former minister says he prefers to be freer, not constrained

- Tham Yuen-C

Former foreign minister George Yeo, whose name has come up often in speculation about potential presidential candidates, said in an interview with Lianhe Zaobao that he will not contest next year’s presidential election.

Being a president would require discipline in the way one behaves and speaks, and Mr Yeo, 67, told the Chinese-language publication that he preferred to be freer and not be constrained.

“I’m a bit of a free spirit, I like to talk, I like to speculate... Sometimes I’m politically incorrect in the things I say. Now that I’m in semi-retirement, I relish and cherish this freedom,” said the former politician, who has continued to speak on politics and other issues at lectures, forums and media interviews.

“So this is not a prospect which attracts me.”

Mr Yeo made the comments in an interview on Monday about his new book, George Yeo: Musings, which is due to be published later this month.

He was asked if he would run in the presidential election that will have to take place next year as President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term comes to an end.

The election will be open to candidates of all races.

The 2017 presidential election was reserved for Malay candidates as Singapore had not had a Malay head of state for a period of time.