Daily Lessons from Life 23 June 2011 - Tony Tan runs as independent presidential candidate

"Tony Tan runs as independent presidential candidate - AsiaOne Thu, Jun 23, 2011

Former deputy prime minister Dr Tony Tan, 71, collected forms for the presidential election from the Elections Department on Thursday morning, ending speculation over his possible candidacy.

He also said that he will run as an independent candidate, reported The Straits Times.

The deputy chairman and executive director of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation and chairman of Singapore Press Holdings said that like all Singaporeans, he was watching the political climate closely and that Singaporean's next President would hold office during a period of "enormous change".

Dr Tan is seen as a heavyweight in the presidential election and would by far be the strongest candidate if he decides to contest, said political observer Dr Reuben Wong in a report in The New Paper.

Before retiring from politics in 2006, Dr Tan held key Cabinet portfolios such as Finance, Education and Defence.

Two former PAP members, Tan Cheng Bock, 71, and former NTUC Income chief executive Tan Kin Lian, 63, have also announced their candidacies.

It is not known if President S R Nathan, 86, who returned unopposed in the past two presidential elections, will run for a third term."

Tony has to be the 'go to' guy in the EP campaign after George Yeo declined, correctl in my view, to contest the EP for PAP. Regardless of the fact that Mr Tony Tan said he will contest as an Independent Candidate, the people know who he is and what he stands for. That he was ex-PAP, ex-Government, and yet, kept a little bit of his independence, even under the steely gaze of then PM, Mr Lee Kuan Yew.

Lessons for me are:

1. Mr Tony Tan has a lot of credibility. A party, or ex-party, man and yet has certain aura of being independent;

2. He does not pursue a stand of: the EP is another political central but strictly to carry out his EP duties as stated in the Constitution! So, PM Lee's government has one less distraction as he concentrates on doing the right things and winning the hearts of the people back!;

3. it will be interesting to find out if the other EP candidates will withdraw given Mr Tony Tan's entry into the campaign. It is a big challenge to come up against Mr Tony Tan!

May the best man win!!