Dr Tan Cheng Bock to contest next Presidential Election
PUBLISHED ONMarch 11, 2016 3:09 AM
SINGAPORE - Former MP Dr Tan Cheng Bock has announced that he will be contesting in the upcoming Presidential Election.
"I intend and will contest in the next presidential elections", he told reporters at a press conference on Friday (Mar 11) at the MHC Asia Healthcare building in Commonwealth.
[embed]https://www.facebook.com/sphasiaone/videos/1084287338296512/[/embed]
Dr Tan Cheng Bock announces his intention to run for the next presidential elections in 2017.Get a 360 view of the media turnout at the press con here with our 360 video! Swipe the video to look around.#DrTanChengBock #presscon #presidentialelections2017
Posted by RazorTV on Thursday, March 10, 2016
He is the first person to state an intention to contest in the upcoming election, which must be held by August next year.
Dr Tan, who was a People's Action Party MP for Ayer Rajah from 1980 to 2006, was also a candidate in the previous Presidential Election in 2011.
In a four-way race, he narrowly lost out by 7,382 votes, or 0.35 percentage points, to President Tony Tan Keng Yam. The other candidates that year was current Singaporeans First Secretary-General Tan Jee Say and former NTUC Income chief executive officer Tan Kin Lian.
A 360 video of the press coverage of former presidential candidate Dr Tan Cheng Bock, as he walks into the press con. "I said I'll be back," he said later, announcing his intention to contest the presidential elections in 2017. *If you're on mobile, you can swipe all around, or pan and tilt your phone. If you're on desktop, just click and mouse around to see a 360 view.# Dr Tan Cheng Bock
Posted by RazorTV on Thursday, March 10, 2016
At the press conference, Dr Tan also outlined his achievements and contributions while in Parliament, such as the introduction of free parking on Sundays to promote family bonding.
A Lianhe Zaobao reporter asked about Dr Tan Cheng Bock's use (or less use) of Mandarin in his last campaign. He admits that he's not a good Mandarin speaker but is learning, and has his roots in Hokkien (his supporters erupt in cheers and applause when he speaks in the dialect). He states that language should not be a criteria for choosing your president nor should it be deterrent for voting for him. The president is supposed to look after your money and that he will do.
Posted by AsiaOne on Thursday, March 10, 2016
At the opening session of the 13th Parliament last month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong reiterated that the president will remain an elected office.
He also announced the formation of a Constitutional Commission, chaired by Chief Justice Sundaresh Menon, to review the Elected Presidency system.
Dr Tan Cheng Bock intends and will contest in the next presidential elections #singapore #elections
— AsiaOne (@sphasiaone) March 11, 2016
Did you know Dr Tan Cheng Bock championed free parking on Sundays to promote family bonding? #funfacts
— AsiaOne (@sphasiaone) March 11, 2016
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