Could one of them be our next President?

This article is more than 12 months old

Foo Jie Ying

Reporter

Nov 09, 2016 06:00 am

MADAM HALIMAH YACOB, 62

APPOINTMENTS

2001 to now: Member of Parliament

2011 to 2012: Minister of State (Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports)

2012 to 2013: Minister of State (Ministry of Social and Family Development)

2013 to now: Speaker of Parliament

Singapore

PM Lee: Singapore needs a multi-racial elected president

Nov 09, 2016

WHY HER?

"She is a trained lawyer. Was in the top echelon of NTUC, then MP, Minister of State, and Speaker. In short, she is very well-qualified. I believe she is also well-liked. As an added bonus, she is a woman."

– Associate Professor Tan Ern Ser, National University of Singapore

"Usually, candidates (for the Presidency) don't step down from their current positions and stand for election immediately because they may be seen as too closely associated with the governing party.

– Mr Mano Sabnani, political observer and chief executive officer of Rafflesia Holdings, a media and financial consultancy company

MR ABDULLAH TARMUGI, 72

APPOINTMENTS

1984 to 2011: Member of Parliament

1989 to 1993: Deputy Speaker

1993 to 2002: Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs

1994 to 2002: Minister for Community Development

2002 to 2011: Speaker of Parliament

2012 to now: Member, Presidential Council for Minority Rights

WHY HIM?

"He's been retired from politics for some years now. So he could be seen as not closely linked to the political establishment."

– Mr Sabnani

"That Abdullah Tarmugi was born to a Malay father and a Chinese mother, and the fact that his wife is also Chinese may well be an added advantage as the portrayal of a multicultural identity is likely to resonate with the society at large here."

– Dr Mustafa Izzuddin, Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute