In emotional visit to site of childhood home, Ng Kok Song kowtows and kisses ground

Presidential candidate Ng Kok Song was visibly emotional as he visited Block 475A Upper Serangoon Crescent, the former site of the village where he was born. This visit took place shortly after he was nominated as a candidate for the upcoming Presidential Election, alongside former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and former NTUC chief executive officer Tan Kin Lian.

Upon reaching the void deck, Ng knelt down and kissed the ground, sharing with reporters that this spot was significant to him as it was the “first place” he came to after receiving his nomination. He recounted, “My son told me that this is the exact spot where I lived with my five brothers and five sisters, in a hut with an attap roof… with no modern sanitation.”

As the second eldest in his family, Ng reminisced about the hardships he faced, including fetching water from a public tap with his older brother. Overcome with emotion, he stated, “I knelt down to kiss the ground where I was born and where I grew up.” He identified himself as a “Kangkar person,” reflecting on how his upbringing taught him the values of goodness and hard work.

Ng credited his 13 years of education at Monfort School for helping him escape poverty. He shared a poignant memory of his mother borrowing money from neighbors to buy his school books when he was 12. “She came home with tears in her eyes… That was the moment I resolved to not make my mother cry again,” he said, pledging to study hard and improve his family’s situation.

Now that he is a presidential candidate, Ng expressed a desire to inspire young Singaporeans to prepare for the future. He outlined his campaign message, focusing on three key areas: self-help, government assistance, and the president’s role in supporting citizens.

Ng emphasized the importance of self-improvement through skills like financial literacy and emotional resilience. He noted that Singapore’s reserves could be leveraged to support the less fortunate during difficult times. Additionally, he hopes to promote meditation as a tool for managing stress, reflecting on its benefits in his own life.

When asked about the sizable support for Tharman at the nomination center, Ng acknowledged being an “underdog” candidate without government backing. He plans to connect with voters by speaking from the heart, emphasizing that while some may boo him, he believes in the “silent majority” who matter most.