Exclusive | Singapore ‘fortunate’ to have Tharman Shanmugaratnam and me running for president but I have independent edge: Ng Kok Song
- The GIC’s former chief investment officer says his lack of political affiliation could help him best presidential front runner Tharman Shanmugaratnam
- Read on for his thoughts on his opponent, what it means to be ‘establishment’ – and the threat of corruption – in an exclusive interview with the Post
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Singapore lucky to have Tharman Shanmugaratnam and me running for president: Ng Kok Song
The presidential hopeful and former chief investment officer of sovereign wealth fund GIC said ex-British prime minister Gordon Brown and billionaire investor Ray Dalio were among those who had commended him for running, with both commenting that he and Tharman were “the two best people they can think of standing for the presidency”.
These observers had told him that Singaporeans were “fortunate” to have the choice of such candidates, Ng told This Week in Asia ahead of nomination day on Tuesday.
“They will say, well, we know Tharman as a political leader, as a central bank governor, as a minister for finance, but we know you – Kok Song – as a global business leader,” he said. “We know you as the person who helped to build up the GIC to be one of the leading sovereign funds in the world.”