Singapore is very fortunate, should welcome those of other nationalities who want to live here: Ng Kok Song

RESOURCES

When asked if he had enough people to serve as counting and polling agents, Mr Ng said: “We will never have enough because this is an islandwide election, it’s not a General Election, constituency by constituency … I’m still short on resources.” 

Many members of the public have offered help, and his campaign team is responding to them, he shared.

“I hope in the next few days, we’ll be able to recruit enough polling agents, election agents, to help me in the final stages of my campaign,” said the 75-year-old.

Mr Ng has repeatedly said that his campaign team would not put up physical banners and posters because he lacks the resources to do so and wants to be environmentally friendly. He is funding his campaign using his personal savings and not accepting any donations. 

On Saturday, he again emphasised his political neutrality, pointing out that Mr Tharman was a well-known People’s Action Party leader and that there are opposition parties speaking out in support of Mr Tan. 

“I’m the third candidate. No party. That is why I feel that I’m the best person to be President,” he added. 

In a future General Election, political parties may propose policies in order to win votes, said Mr Ng. 

“But the strategy of winning more votes may involve spending too much of our reserves, which we have to keep for our long-term financial security,” he added. 

An opposition party that wants to win seats from the PAP may tell Singaporeans that if they are voted in, they will reduce the Goods and Service Tax to 0 per cent, said Mr Ng. 

“And that sounds very popular, but that is not right. Because that would involve the government running into deficit, the government having to go to the President and ask to spend our savings.” 

This is a very dangerous scenario, and is what the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew sought to avoid by introducing the office of the elected President, he added. 

“In other words, the people of Singapore should want a President who does not serve the political agenda of any political party.”

CHARITABLE CAUSES

When asked whether, as President, he would follow in the footsteps of former President S R Nathan, who started the President’s Challenge to raise money for charity, Mr Ng said that this was one of the best ways for the President to support charitable causes. 

“I and Sybil would want to use the office of the President to do something similar, and hopefully we can do more,” he added. 

There are many causes that he would support, said Mr Ng. 

Harking back to their visit to Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital on Thursday, he reiterated that he was very touched to see the work done by the team there. 

“These are the kinds of causes that I would like to be involved in. I think the elderly, the people who are very vulnerable, and then the poorer income groups,” he added.