At the launch of his bid for the presidency on Friday, Mr Tan said it is important that Singaporeans have a chance to vote for an independent candidate. He said he believes he will be the only candidate from “outside the establishment”.
Mr Tan added that while fellow presidential hopeful George Goh is an “independent person”, he is not certain Mr Goh will meet the eligibility criteria.
On Saturday, Mr Tan reiterated that he is independent despite his past links to the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).
He was a member of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) from the 1970s to 2008, but did not hold public office. He served as branch secretary at Marine Parade from 1976 to 1979, then became chairman of the Marine Parade Community Centre.
He said the support for the PAP was “overwhelming” in the years when he was a member, citing an example of how residents, not “business tycoons”, donated to build a community centre.
“That was the PAP of the old days, and I was proud to be associated with them,” he said. But now, Mr Tan said the PAP is “leaning towards the elite and leaving behind the ordinary people”.
“Already 15 years have passed, so I don’t think I can be considered establishment now
“Furthermore, I’ve been quite outspoken on social media … most people would know that I’m independent,” he said.
Analysts have said Mr Tan may not automatically qualify to stand in the election this year because eligibility criteria have changed since 2011.
Private sector candidates must have served as chief executive of a company with shareholders’ equity of S$500 million (US$370 million) or more for at least three years.
NTUC Income had net assets of around S$1.17 billion in 2006, the last full year that Mr Tan served as CEO. But analysts said NTUC Income is a cooperative and not a “company” within the meaning of the relevant Article in the Constitution.
The PEC can still give its approval if it decides that Mr Tan has the experience and ability comparable to a chief executive of a company with shareholders’ equity of S$500 million or more.