When asked by CNA what prompted this fresh apology on Wednesday, Mr Tan said he was “advised” to do so.
“I’m advised that it is better to apologise rather than to point out that this is a small group, so I take that advice,” he said.
“IT IS NOT PARTY POLITICS”
On Wednesday, Mr Tan also reiterated that support from former presidential candidates Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Jee Say were in their personal capacities and not representative of the political parties they are affiliated to.
Dr Tan is founder and chairman of the Progress Singapore Party (PSP), while Mr Tan Jee Say is a member of the Singapore Democratic Party.
It was reported on Tuesday that an email was sent to PSP volunteers asking them to sign up as counting agents for Mr Tan Kin Lian.
PSP later said that it had “no plans” to endorse or support any presidential candidate. The email was drafted at the initiative of an individual, and was not an approved communication, the party said.