George Yeo Endorses Ng Kok Song for Presidency Amid Controversy Over “Tharman Wants It” Comment

SINGAPORE: Former Foreign Affairs Minister George Yeo has thrown his support behind presidential candidate Ng Kok Song, the ex-chief economist of GIC, amid scrutiny surrounding Ng’s remarks about fellow candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam. In a Facebook post on August 2, Yeo expressed his backing for his “old friend and colleague,” confirming that he would serve as one of Ng’s character references, although he will not participate in the campaign for the upcoming election.

Yeo, 75, hosted a dinner for Ng and his fiancé, Sybil Lau, where he reiterated his commitment to support Ng’s presidential bid. “I told him earlier that I would not be involved in campaigning for the coming presidential election but would be honored to be one of his character references,” Yeo stated.

At 75, Ng is the eldest of the four candidates vying for the presidency, including former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, entrepreneur George Goh Ching Wah, and ex-NTUC Income CEO Tan Kin Lian. All candidates have pledged to serve as independent presidents if elected. However, Ng’s campaign faced backlash following his comment that he was “running for president because (Mr. Tharman) wants it,” a reference to Tharman’s desire for a competitive election rather than an uncontested one.

In subsequent interviews, Ng attempted to clarify his statements, emphasizing that he was standing for election to ensure Singaporeans had a choice in their president. Despite this, he expressed disappointment over being labeled a “vote splitter” and reassured voters that his decision to run was entirely his own.

Yeo’s endorsement could prove vital for Ng as he seeks to bolster his support and address the controversy surrounding his comments. Yeo, a respected figure in Singapore’s political landscape, previously declined multiple invitations to run for the presidency, opting for a life of relative freedom in his semi-retirement.