PSP NCMP Leong Mun Wai posed a parliamentary question in which he asked for the estimated number of Singaporeans qualified to run for the presidency, broken down by those who fulfil public and private sector service requirements.
In a written response, Minister in Charge of the Public Service, Chan Chun Sing, said today that there are around 50 public service positions the fulfil the public sector requirement.
Regarding the private sector, he said that “There are currently more than 1,200 companies with average shareholders’ equity at or exceeding $500 million.”
Chan added that the Elections Department did not track the specific number of Singaporeans qualified to be elected as president.
This has naturally riled Singaporeans who were expecting a proper account from Chan, who is also Education Minister.
Many have pointed out that unlike those employed in the said public service positions, not all 1200 firms have Singaporean CEOs – the foremost criteria needed to be eligible.
Besides this, a qualified candidate to run for president also has to have lived in the Republic for at least a decade in the lead-up to Nomination Day.
