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Ng Kok Song relieved he qualifies to run, stresses lack of ties to any political party

The Straits Times

|

August 19, 2023

A great sense of relief washed over Mr Ng Kok Song, 75, when he heard the news that he had qualified to run in the upcoming presidential election.

- Lee Li Ying

Ng Kok Song relieved he qualifies to run, stresses lack of ties to any political party

"My immediate reaction was relief, because there was some uncertainty... I can now move on to the next stage of my journey to serve the people of Singapore as their president," said Mr Ng.

He was speaking to The Straits Times at media house Zyrup Media after he had finished recording a podcast.

Mr Ng said that his fiancee, Ms Sybil Lau, 45, had informed him of the e-mail from the Elections Department after it landed on Friday morning.

The former chief investment officer at GIC had applied for eligibility under the public sector deliberative track.

The six-member Presidential Elections Committee was satisfied that he has the experience and ability comparable with someone who had served for three or more years as the chief executive of a Fifth Schedule entity.

Fifth Schedule entities comprise key statutory boards and government companies.

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