Conflict of Interest Likely if President Worked with Prime Minister, says Presidential Candidate Ng Kok Song

Presidential candidate Ng Kok Song has voiced concerns over potential conflicts of interest if a President has a professional history with or has mentored the Prime Minister. In a dialogue session organized by the National University of Singapore Society (NUSS), Ng Kok Song highlighted that such situations could arise if a former Finance Minister becomes President, and the newly appointed Finance Minister or Prime Minister had a previous connection with them. He emphasized that the elected Presidency was established to prevent scenarios involving corruption or misuse of Singapore’s reserves. Ng Kok Song, a former GIC chief investment officer with 45 years of public service experience, highlighted the importance of preventing conflicts of interest to ensure the President can fulfill their responsibilities objectively.

During the dialogue, Ng Kok Song addressed questions about his candidacy and motivations. Responding to a comparison with another presidential candidate, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Ng Kok Song cited his longer tenure in the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and his focus on public service. He emphasized that his decision to run for President was driven by the desire to provide Singaporeans with a choice, prevent a walkover election, and safeguard the country’s reserves. He stated that his candidacy aimed to honor the legacy of founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and ensure transparency and understanding of Singapore’s reserves.