(Source: Tharman S. FB)
MORE than 70% of Singaporeans voted for Mr Tharman Shanmugaratnam as their ninth President. He won over two rival candidates to be the first non-Chinese candidate to be directly voted to the presidency. At the Swearing-in Ceremony held at the Istana on 14th September 2023, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong congratulated the new President and said: “The strong vote you garnered shows the regard and support voters had for you and your message of unity – Respect for All.” The 66-year old President started out as an economist in the Monetary Authority of Singapore to rise up the ranks to become its Managing Director, and later, as a Minister became its Chairman. He has held several ministerial portfolios that included Education and Finance before becoming the Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies and most recently, Senior Minister.
Speech by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the Swearing-In Ceremony (14th Sep 2023) click here
President Halimah Yacob’s Response to Prime Minister’s Speech at the Farewell Reception (13th Sep 2023) click here
