So far, the only competitor that Tharman will be facing for this year’s presidential elections is George Goh Ching Wah. George Goh is the founder of Harvey Norman Ossia, and he announced his plans to run for presidency on June 12, pledging his status as a “truly independent person”.
President Not A Check For Government?
Speaking during an interview at Holland Drive Food Centre yesterday (20 Jun), he sang a slightly different tune.
“The Prime Minister’s Office is the executive power, it’s like the brain. The President, who has to be bound by the Constitution, is like the heart. These work together… Don’t go inside and check.”
George Goh
This statement of his is in response to Ho Ching’s post, about Presidency not being a check to the government as well. Sounds like he agrees with her stance.
“The Prime Minister is elected by the people. You must trust him… we must stand together with him… Can you imagine if two, President and Prime Minister, don’t work together? It will cause a small nation a lot of problems. Whoever come in, I will say the same thing. Work together with the government.”
George Goh
So if we need a truly independent president to manage Singapore’s reserve, is George Goh the right person?
His links to the incumbent is also not a secret. After all, on 1 June 2017, President Tony Tan appointed him as Singapore’s Non-Resident Ambassador to Morocco.
Hopefully we will soon see a truly independent candidate come forward to run for Presidency. We need someone who can fulfill their role properly as the manager of our reserves, instead of being a mere puppet who will comply with everything the incumbent wants.
It’s really time for Lee Hsien Yang to come back to run for Presidency. He did after all said that he would consider running for presidency.
“There is a view that depending on who they (the PAP) float, if I were to run they would be in serious trouble and could lose.
A lot of people have come to me. They really want me to run. It’s something I would consider.”
Lee Hsien Yang to Bloomberg in March 2023
