Tan Jee Say
Encyclopedia
Tan Jee Say is a Singapore
an investment adviser, politician and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
and contested the 2011 general election under the opposition Singapore Democratic Party
(SDP), but failed to win a seat. Tan stood as a candidate in the 2011 presidential election
and finished in third place with 25% of the national vote.
, on a Government Overseas Merit Scholarship. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Tan was a member of the civil service for 11 years, including six years in the Ministry of Trade and Industry
from 1979 to 1985. He rose to become Deputy Director for Economic and Manpower Planning. During that period, he served concurrently as secretary to Albert Winsemius
, the government's economic adviser.
He went on to serve as then-Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
's principal private secretary from 1985 to 1990.
He left the civil service in 1990 and entered the finance industry, where he has worked for more than a decade. Tan became director of corporate finance of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in 1990. He then became head of Peregrine Capital Singapore in 1994. He was regional managing director for AIB Govett, an asset management company, from 1997 to 2001. Tan was subsequently appointed as a Regional Director for ACCA
in the Asia Pacific region in 2006.
(SDP) in April 2011 due to his "dismay" at Singapore's society and economy. In the 7 May 2011 Singaporean general election, Tan contested the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.
On the economy, Tan proposed $60 billion to be set aside for a National Regeneration Plan. He called the sum "small change" compared to the government's supposed surpluses and losses in investments. The "small change" label was criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean
and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan
, who said that the $60 billion set aside could put 500,000 jobs at risk.
Tan proposed that Singapore shift its focus away from manufacturing to the services sector. He argued that "we should not promote manufacturing because it requires a lot of land and labour. But Singapore is short of land and labour... We want to promote, we want to use our land, limited tax incentives... promoting services sector such as medical, health sectors, education, creative industries." Tan's suggestion was rebuked by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
, who questioned his qualifications. Lee said the manufacturing sector is more "steady" compared to the "volatile" services sector. In response, Tan pointed out that his proposals were endorsed by Lord Butler of Brockwell
, the British Cabinet Secretary
from 1988 to 1998. He disputed Lee's assertion that the manufacturing sector is more steady by citing a 2009 study by Ministry of Trade and Industry economists which concluded that the services sector as a whole has a relatively low volatility.
During the campaign, Senior Minister Goh claimed that Tan left the civil service because Goh "did not think he could make it as a permanent secretary." Tan refuted Goh's claims and explained that he had intended to leave the civil service in 1984 after his scholarship bond ended, but was persuaded instead by Goh to become the latter's principal private secretary
(PPS). After five years as Goh's PPS, Tan said he stated his intent to leave again, which Goh accepted.
Tan's team, comprising of Vincent Wijeysingha
, Ang Yong Guan and Michelle Lee lost to the People's Action Party
(PAP) team led by Vivian Balakrishnan, which won 60.1% of the vote.
.
has veto power in some key areas. He cited the country's new casino industry
as an example of PAP "[losing] its moral compass."
In addition, Tan said he wanted to "raise the profile of all non-PAP forces" in preparation for the next general election. He added that he aimed to show Singaporeans that the office of the president "is not a shoo-in for the PAP."
Tan also emphasized his economics background and policymaking experience.
He pledged to lobby the government to reduce its role in private business to encourage entrepreneurship. He explained: "[I]t is not the business of Government to be in business... I think Singaporeans can get better service from people who are motivated to serve, not because they are civil servants." Among his proposals are to gradually sell Temasek Holdings
' assets to the private sector and invest the earnings in education and health infrastructure. Tan estimated that Temasek Holdings accounted for 60 percent of Singapore's GDP, but this claim was discredited by the company, which put the figure at 10 percent.
Tan also hoped for a review on taxes, saying: "The fact that you have accumulated huge surpluses every year... is excess of revenue over expenditure. So by having more revenue than necessary to finance government service, you are overtaxing the people. I think that's wrong."
Tan called for a minimum wage
in Singapore, saying that not having one would be "unconscionable." He also said the government's "hard-nosed approach" had left some Singaporeans behind: "Whoever wants a job will get a job, whoever works enough will have a good living – that's not true. There are people who, despite all that they do, cannot make it in life here."
His campaign symbol (which is printed on the ballots) was a heart, which he said represents "empathy and compassion."
He also pointed out that he had met the alternate criterion of having served for not less than three years in "any other similar or comparable position of seniority and responsibility in any other organisation or department of equivalent size or complexity in the public or private sector."
He submitted his application to the Elections Department on 4 August under the latter criterion and was awarded a certificate of eligibility (COE) a week later, along with Tony Tan Keng Yam, Tan Cheng Bock
and Tan Kin Lian
. The awarding of the COE to Tan Jee Say was seen as a liberal interpretation of the eligibility criteria by the Presidential Elections Committee.
, Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss, Steve Chia
, and candidate-hopeful Andrew Kuan (who was not awarded a COE).
His interpretation of the president's role was challenged by Law Minister K. Shanmugam
, who pointed out that the president acts only on the advice of the government and has veto power only in specific areas. Nonetheless, Tan persists on the president's check and balance role, and described the office as "a centre of moral power" rather than "a second centre of executive power."
Political pundits suggested that among Tan Jee Say, Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Kin Lian, two candidates should withdraw to facilitate a straight contest between one of them and Tony Tan, who is widely seen as the leading candidate. On 12 August, Tan Jee Say said he wouldn't back out of the contest.
Also on 12 August, Tony Tan said it would be a "grave mistake" to phase out manufacturing in Singapore. Tan Jee Say responded by telling The Online Citizen
blog that he did not suggest closing down factories and that his views were "distorted" during the general election. During nomination day, his supporters jeered at Tony Tan. Tan Jee Say later acknowledged that their actions were "not the correct way to conduct our campaign."
During a forum hosted by The Online Citizen attended by all four candidates on 19 August, Tan Jee Say got into a heated exchange with Tony Tan over the Internal Security Act
(ISA), which allows the government to detain people without trial. Tan Jee Say said that the law has been used to detain political opponents of the government, which drew a pointed response from Tony Tan, who labelled it a "very serious charge" and asked the former to back it up. Tan Jee Say shot back: "The people who have been detained have opposed the government. That's what I'm saying," before he was interjected by the moderator.
Reflecting on the result, Tan conceded that his "confrontational" image may have hurt his bid.
, National Solidarity Party, and Reform Party
.
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
an investment adviser, politician and former civil servant. He was a principal private secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
and contested the 2011 general election under the opposition Singapore Democratic Party
Singapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
(SDP), but failed to win a seat. Tan stood as a candidate in the 2011 presidential election
Singaporean presidential election, 2011
The Singapore presidential election of 2011 was the fourth Singapore Presidential Election, held on 27 August 2011. Nomination day for eligible candidates was held on 17 August 2011. Mr. S.R. Nathan, the previous President of Singapore, stepped down on 31 August 2011 when his term drew to a close...
and finished in third place with 25% of the national vote.
Education, civil service and the private sector
Tan attended University College, OxfordUniversity College, Oxford
.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...
, on a Government Overseas Merit Scholarship. He graduated with a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics.
Tan was a member of the civil service for 11 years, including six years in the Ministry of Trade and Industry
Ministry of Trade and Industry (Singapore)
The Ministry Of Trade and Industry is a ministry of the Government of Singapore that directs the formulation of policies related to the development of trade and industry in Singapore.-Mission:...
from 1979 to 1985. He rose to become Deputy Director for Economic and Manpower Planning. During that period, he served concurrently as secretary to Albert Winsemius
Albert Winsemius
Albert Winsemius , a Dutch economist, was Singapore's long-time economic advisor from 1961 to 1984. He led the United Nations Survey Mission to Singapore, and was to play a major role in the formulation of Singapore's national economic development strategy.In 1960, Dr Winsemius led the United...
, the government's economic adviser.
He went on to serve as then-Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong
Goh Chok Tong is the Senior Minister of Singapore and the chairman of the central bank of Singapore, the Monetary Authority of Singapore. He also served as the second Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore from 28 November 1990 to 12 August 2004, succeeding Lee Kuan Yew, the former Prime...
's principal private secretary from 1985 to 1990.
He left the civil service in 1990 and entered the finance industry, where he has worked for more than a decade. Tan became director of corporate finance of Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in 1990. He then became head of Peregrine Capital Singapore in 1994. He was regional managing director for AIB Govett, an asset management company, from 1997 to 2001. Tan was subsequently appointed as a Regional Director for ACCA
Acca
-ACCA as an abbreviation:ACCA may refer to:In Biology* Acetyl-CoA carboxylaseIn Business:* American Corporate Counsel Association, now Association of Corporate Counsel , is a group for attorneys who practice in the legal departments of corporations, associations and other private-sector...
in the Asia Pacific region in 2006.
Entry to electoral politics
Tan joined the Singapore Democratic PartySingapore Democratic Party
The Singapore Democratic Party is an opposition political party in Singapore.The party was founded in 1980 by Chiam See Tong, who as Secretary-General became the party's first Member of Parliament in 1984 when he was elected as MP for Potong Pasir...
(SDP) in April 2011 due to his "dismay" at Singapore's society and economy. In the 7 May 2011 Singaporean general election, Tan contested the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.
On the economy, Tan proposed $60 billion to be set aside for a National Regeneration Plan. He called the sum "small change" compared to the government's supposed surpluses and losses in investments. The "small change" label was criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean
Teo Chee Hean
Teo Chee Hean is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Home Affairs and Co-ordinating Minister for National Security, and a Member of Parliament for the Pasir Ris-Punggol Group...
and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan
Vivian Balakrishnan
Vivian Balakrishnan is a politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources....
, who said that the $60 billion set aside could put 500,000 jobs at risk.
Tan proposed that Singapore shift its focus away from manufacturing to the services sector. He argued that "we should not promote manufacturing because it requires a lot of land and labour. But Singapore is short of land and labour... We want to promote, we want to use our land, limited tax incentives... promoting services sector such as medical, health sectors, education, creative industries." Tan's suggestion was rebuked by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew
Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH is a Singaporean statesman. He was the first Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore, governing for three decades...
, who questioned his qualifications. Lee said the manufacturing sector is more "steady" compared to the "volatile" services sector. In response, Tan pointed out that his proposals were endorsed by Lord Butler of Brockwell
Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell
Frederick Edward Robin Butler, Baron Butler of Brockwell, is a retired British civil servant, now sitting in the House of Lords as a Life Peer.-Life:Butler was born in Lytham St Annes on on 3 January, 1938...
, the British Cabinet Secretary
Cabinet Secretary
A Cabinet Secretary is almost always a senior official who provides services and advice to a Cabinet of Ministers. In many countries, the position can have considerably wider functions and powers, including general responsibility for the entire civil service...
from 1988 to 1998. He disputed Lee's assertion that the manufacturing sector is more steady by citing a 2009 study by Ministry of Trade and Industry economists which concluded that the services sector as a whole has a relatively low volatility.
During the campaign, Senior Minister Goh claimed that Tan left the civil service because Goh "did not think he could make it as a permanent secretary." Tan refuted Goh's claims and explained that he had intended to leave the civil service in 1984 after his scholarship bond ended, but was persuaded instead by Goh to become the latter's principal private secretary
Principal Private Secretary
In the British Civil Service and Australian Public Service the Principal Private Secretary is the civil servant who runs a cabinet minister's private office...
(PPS). After five years as Goh's PPS, Tan said he stated his intent to leave again, which Goh accepted.
Tan's team, comprising of Vincent Wijeysingha
Vincent Wijeysingha
Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha is a politician and civil activist from Singapore. He is currently the Assistant Treasurer of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party and was a candidate in the 2011 Singaporean general election...
, Ang Yong Guan and Michelle Lee lost to the People's Action Party
People's Action Party
The People's Action Party is the leading political party in Singapore. It has been the city-state's ruling political party since 1959....
(PAP) team led by Vivian Balakrishnan, which won 60.1% of the vote.
2011 presidential election
In July 2011, Tan resigned from the SDP and announced his candidacy for the 2011 presidential electionSingaporean presidential election, 2011
The Singapore presidential election of 2011 was the fourth Singapore Presidential Election, held on 27 August 2011. Nomination day for eligible candidates was held on 17 August 2011. Mr. S.R. Nathan, the previous President of Singapore, stepped down on 31 August 2011 when his term drew to a close...
.
Platform
He campaigned on a platform of being a candidate who is "clear[ly]" independent from the ruling PAP and declared that he would be the "conscience of the nation." Tan said he could "provide real and effective checks and balances on the excesses of the PAP government" since the PresidentPresident of Singapore
The President of the Republic of Singapore is Singapore's head of state. In a Westminster parliamentary system, as which Singapore governs itself, the prime minister is the head of the government while the position of president is largely ceremonial. Before 1993, the President of Singapore was...
has veto power in some key areas. He cited the country's new casino industry
Integrated Resort
An integrated resort is a resort with a wide variety of leisure and entertainment attractions, all housed in one resort property. The first known integrated resort began in early 1980s in Malaysia, when Resorts World Genting was developed from a single hotel with casino facility to a variety of...
as an example of PAP "[losing] its moral compass."
In addition, Tan said he wanted to "raise the profile of all non-PAP forces" in preparation for the next general election. He added that he aimed to show Singaporeans that the office of the president "is not a shoo-in for the PAP."
Tan also emphasized his economics background and policymaking experience.
He pledged to lobby the government to reduce its role in private business to encourage entrepreneurship. He explained: "[I]t is not the business of Government to be in business... I think Singaporeans can get better service from people who are motivated to serve, not because they are civil servants." Among his proposals are to gradually sell Temasek Holdings
Temasek Holdings
Temasek Holdings is an investment company owned by the government of Singapore. With an international staff of 380 people, it manages a portfolio of about S$193 billion at end of March 2011, focused primarily in Asia...
' assets to the private sector and invest the earnings in education and health infrastructure. Tan estimated that Temasek Holdings accounted for 60 percent of Singapore's GDP, but this claim was discredited by the company, which put the figure at 10 percent.
Tan also hoped for a review on taxes, saying: "The fact that you have accumulated huge surpluses every year... is excess of revenue over expenditure. So by having more revenue than necessary to finance government service, you are overtaxing the people. I think that's wrong."
Tan called for a minimum wage
Minimum wage
A minimum wage is the lowest hourly, daily or monthly remuneration that employers may legally pay to workers. Equivalently, it is the lowest wage at which workers may sell their labour. Although minimum wage laws are in effect in a great many jurisdictions, there are differences of opinion about...
in Singapore, saying that not having one would be "unconscionable." He also said the government's "hard-nosed approach" had left some Singaporeans behind: "Whoever wants a job will get a job, whoever works enough will have a good living – that's not true. There are people who, despite all that they do, cannot make it in life here."
His campaign symbol (which is printed on the ballots) was a heart, which he said represents "empathy and compassion."
Eligibility
Doubts were initially raised over his eligibility as a presidential candidate as he did not meet the criterion of being the chief executive officer of a Singapore company with a paid-up capital of S$100 million. Tan said he was CEO with the title of regional managing director of AIB Govett Asia which managed total assets in excess of S$100 million which, in his view, would make it equivalent to managing a company with a paid-up capital of S$100 million.He also pointed out that he had met the alternate criterion of having served for not less than three years in "any other similar or comparable position of seniority and responsibility in any other organisation or department of equivalent size or complexity in the public or private sector."
He submitted his application to the Elections Department on 4 August under the latter criterion and was awarded a certificate of eligibility (COE) a week later, along with Tony Tan Keng Yam, Tan Cheng Bock
Tan Cheng Bock
Tan Cheng Bock is a politician and physician from Singapore. Tan was a People's Action Party Member of Parliament in Singapore politics for 26 years and the first non cabinet minister elected into the People's Action Party Central Executive Committee .-Early life:Tan was educated at Radin Mas...
and Tan Kin Lian
Tan Kin Lian
Tan Kin Lian is the former CEO of NTUC Income. Since stepping down as CEO in April 2007, his activities have included organising public rallies for people who lost their money due to investing in Lehman Brothers' Minibond products to seek redress, and setting up FISCA, an organisation to teach...
. The awarding of the COE to Tan Jee Say was seen as a liberal interpretation of the eligibility criteria by the Presidential Elections Committee.
Campaign
Tan is the only eligible candidate with no previous ties to the PAP. He is regarded as the most opposition candidate having participated in a general election under the SDP. His bid was endorsed by the Temasek Review Emeritus website, opposition politicians Nicole Seah, Vincent WijeysinghaVincent Wijeysingha
Dr. Vincent Wijeysingha is a politician and civil activist from Singapore. He is currently the Assistant Treasurer of the opposition Singapore Democratic Party and was a candidate in the 2011 Singaporean general election...
, Jeanette Chong-Aruldoss, Steve Chia
Steve Chia
Steve Chia Kiah Hong is a politician from Singapore. He is the former Secretary-General and current Treasurer of the opposition National Solidarity Party...
, and candidate-hopeful Andrew Kuan (who was not awarded a COE).
His interpretation of the president's role was challenged by Law Minister K. Shanmugam
K. Shanmugam
Kasiviswanathan Shanmugam better known as "K Shanmugam", is a Tamil Indian politician from Singapore. A member of the governing People's Action Party , he is currently the country's Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Law...
, who pointed out that the president acts only on the advice of the government and has veto power only in specific areas. Nonetheless, Tan persists on the president's check and balance role, and described the office as "a centre of moral power" rather than "a second centre of executive power."
Political pundits suggested that among Tan Jee Say, Tan Cheng Bock and Tan Kin Lian, two candidates should withdraw to facilitate a straight contest between one of them and Tony Tan, who is widely seen as the leading candidate. On 12 August, Tan Jee Say said he wouldn't back out of the contest.
Also on 12 August, Tony Tan said it would be a "grave mistake" to phase out manufacturing in Singapore. Tan Jee Say responded by telling The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen
The Online Citizen , a community blog of Singaporeans, has been said to be one of the most important socio-economic blogs in Singapore and at the forefront of political activism in the city-state. It was gazetted as a political association in February 2011...
blog that he did not suggest closing down factories and that his views were "distorted" during the general election. During nomination day, his supporters jeered at Tony Tan. Tan Jee Say later acknowledged that their actions were "not the correct way to conduct our campaign."
During a forum hosted by The Online Citizen attended by all four candidates on 19 August, Tan Jee Say got into a heated exchange with Tony Tan over the Internal Security Act
Internal Security Act (Singapore)
The Internal Security Act of Singapore is a law that allows the Singapore government to investigate security threats like international terrorism, foreign subversion, espionage and acts of violence or hatred using race or religion...
(ISA), which allows the government to detain people without trial. Tan Jee Say said that the law has been used to detain political opponents of the government, which drew a pointed response from Tony Tan, who labelled it a "very serious charge" and asked the former to back it up. Tan Jee Say shot back: "The people who have been detained have opposed the government. That's what I'm saying," before he was interjected by the moderator.
Result
The election was won by Tony Tan who garnered 35.19 percent of the vote, just 7,269 votes ahead of Tan Cheng Bock. Tan Jee Say finished third with 25.04 percent of the vote.Reflecting on the result, Tan conceded that his "confrontational" image may have hurt his bid.
Post-presidential bid
Immediately after losing his bid to become president, Tan declined to join any political party, and announced that he would focus on forming a coalition of opposition parties to contest the next general election. His proposal was welcomed by the Singapore People's PartySingapore People's Party
The Singapore People's Party is a left of centre opposition political party in Singapore. The party's leader is Chiam See Tong.-Foundation:...
, National Solidarity Party, and Reform Party
Reform Party (Singapore)
The Reform Party is a political party in Singapore. It was founded in 2008 by the late Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam, and is currently headed by his son Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who succeeded him as party secretary-general after the elder Jeyaretnam died in 2008...
.