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SINGAPORE: George Goh, the founder of Harvey Norman Ossia, on Monday (Jun 12) announced his intention to run for the Singapore presidency, becoming the second person to do so after Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.
A statement from his media team said that Mr Goh will contest as an independent candidate.
“He has no political party affiliations – past or present. He has no political baggage. He was never in the public sector. He is an entrepreneur who started working at the age of 16, and has since built a business empire spanning 14 countries,” it said.
The 63-year-old – who brought Australian electronics store Harvey Norman to Asia – had been floated as a possible presidential hopeful.
Mr Goh is chairman of Ossia International, an SGX-listed investment holding company, and has served as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Morocco.
Married with four children, he also co-founded the charity Border Mission and is a council member at the Red Cross Society, among other roles.
Mr Tharman announced his intention to run for President last week, saying he will resign from the People’s Action Party and retire from all his positions in government.
The former Deputy Prime Minister told reporters on Sunday that it is important for him to have a contest in the upcoming Presidential Election, saying he would “much rather win or lose with a contest”.
Potential candidates can apply for a Certificate of Eligibility from Jun 13 – the first step in order to enter the presidential race. Prospective candidates must also submit a community declaration.
President Halimah Yacob’s six-year term ends on Sep 13 this year. The 68-year-old announced on May 29 her decision not to seek a second term. She is the country’s eighth President and first female President.
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