“East Coast Residents Suggest Review of Stringent Presidential Candidate Qualifications to Nicole Seah”

SINGAPORE: With this year’s Presidential Election set for September 13, discussions are heating up around potential candidates like Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and entrepreneur George Goh Ching Wah. Amid this buzz, some residents from East Coast believe it’s time to reassess the stringent qualifications required to run for the presidency.

During a recent visit to Bedok Block 216 Hawker Centre, Nicole Seah, the head of the Workers’ Party’s youth wing, noted that several residents expressed their concerns. She shared their sentiments on social media, stating, “Some residents asked for a review of the stringent qualifications of Presidential candidates and whether it would be prudent for us to revisit this so as to ensure we do not limit ourselves too drastically regarding the selection pool.”

To qualify for the presidency, candidates must first obtain a certificate of eligibility from the Presidential Elections Committee (PEC). This involves a thorough assessment of their integrity, character, and reputation. Notably, there are stringent public sector requirements: candidates must have served as a Minister, Chief Justice, Speaker, Attorney-General, Chairman of the Public Service Commission, Auditor-General, Accountant-General, or Permanent Secretary for at least three years. Alternatively, they must have been the chief executive of a key statutory board or government company, such as the Housing Development Board or GIC Private Limited, for the same duration.

Candidates from the private sector must also meet high standards, holding a top executive position for a minimum of three years in a company with an average annual shareholders’ equity exceeding S$500 million and maintaining profitability. Additionally, the company must not face liquidation or bankruptcy within three years after the candidate leaves their executive role.

“There is a long list of requirements to be fulfilled in order to run for President in Singapore, and some have argued that perhaps such criteria are too strict. In any case, qualifying as a candidate for the presidential election is no mean feat,” states an article on singaporelegaladvice.com.

When residents inquired about former Workers’ Party chief Low Thia Khiang’s potential candidacy, WP MP Leon Perera (Aljunied GRC) indicated, “As far as I knew, it would be unlikely that Mr. Low could meet the requirements set out in law to run in the Presidential Election.”