By Murray Hiebert and Lie Nathanael Santoso

The Istana, the Presidential residence in Singapore. Source: Tropical storm’s flickr photostream, used under a creative commons license.

Singapore will hold its first direct presidential election in 18 years on August 27 , setting the stage for the most competitive presidential race in the city-state’s history.

This race comes at a critical juncture in Singapore politics. It is taking place after parliamentary elections in May in which the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) lost an unprecedented six seats to the opposition Workers Party, its poorest election performance since independence in 1965. The presidential election can be seen as symbolic of the evolutionary trends in Singapore’s politics. Through this vote, the city-state is testing models that connote more openness and competition. The emphasis on competition, outreach to constituents, and grass-roots caucusing in this election may provide hints of what is to come.

Even though he is not responsible for the day-to-day running of the government, the president has veto power over the country’s reserves and the appointment of key officials. All four candidates have emphasized the importance of the president being independent from the ruling government and having experience in financial management.

• Tony Tan Keng Yam: Former deputy prime minister and executive director of the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) —and endorsed by Prime Minister Lee— Tony Tan previously served as chairman of Singapore Press Holdings Limited and as minister of education, trade and industry, finance, health, and defence. He is running under the slogan of “tested, trusted, and true” and has positioned himself as the most seasoned candidate with vast experience in managing the country’s financial operations.
• Tan Cheng Bock: A former PAP Member of Parliament from the Ayer Rajah constituency, Tan Cheng Bock is former chairman of Chuan Hup Holdings, a marine transport firm, and has served as chairman of the Parliamentary Committees for Foreign Affairs, Communications, Environment, and Education. He proposes strengthening the independence of the presidency from the ruling party and is running on a platform of unity and transparency.
• Tan Kin Lian: A former NTUC Income CEO, he was a secretary at the PAP branch for Marine Parade constituency, which has long been led by former prime minister Goh Chok Tong. Tan Kin Lian emphasizes his working class background and promises to deliver the people’s “voice, concerns, and aspirations” to the government.
• Tan Jee Say: Tan Jee Say is a former member of opposition Singapore Democratic Party. Prior to that, he served as the principal private secretary for then-deputy prime minister Goh Chok Tong. He was the director of corporate finance at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell, head of Peregrine Capital Singapore, and regional managing director for AIB Govett. He says his independence from the ruling party will provide a new approach to addressing issues such as the high cost of living and the large influx of foreign workers who are causing overcrowding in the city.

One of the concerns the PAP has sought to address since the parliamentary elections is the perception that it is out of touch with less well-off Singaporeans, who are concerned about rising prices, high housing costs, and the large increase of immigrant workers.

This presidential contest could possibly be seen as an unofficial indicator on how the reforms proposed by the ruling PAP are being perceived. This political mood could affect how Singaporeans vote, and a candidate who is closely identified with the PAP or the government could be at a political disadvantage.

Murray Hiebert is a Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Southeast Asia Program at CSIS. Lie Nathanael Santoso is a researcher with the Southeast Asia Program.

Murray Hiebert

Murray Hiebert serves as senior associate of the Southeast Asia Program at CSIS.

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