SINGAPORE – Singapore headed to the polls from 8am to 8pm on Friday to vote for the nation’s ninth president.
We look at who has cast their votes.
President Halimah Yacob
At about 8.15am, President Halimah Yacob and her husband, Mr Mohamed Abdullah Alhabshee, arrived at the polling station at Chung Cheng High School (Main) in Goodman Road. They left at around 8.45am.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his wife, Madam Ho Ching, arrived at Crescent Girls’ School in Tanglin to cast their votes at 9.25am. They left at around 9.40am.
Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian
At about 9.15am, Mr Tan Kin Lian and his wife, Madam Tay Siew Hong, arrived at the polling station at Anderson Serangoon Junior College in Yio Chu Kang. The former NTUC Income chief was also with his son and daughter.
As he walked to the junior college, Mr Tan waved to voters and said: “I’m feeling great. Quite well rested.
“I will be going to a few polling stations to see what it is like.”
Speaking to the media after voting, Mr Tan said the process was very easy, and the arrangements were very good.
“Being a senior citizen, I could go to the priority queue,” he said.
When asked about his thoughts on his chances, he said: “Tonight, we will know.”
He left the polling station at around 10am.
Presidential candidate Ng Kok Song
Mr Ng arrived at the polling station at Katong Community Centre at around 10am.
The former GIC investment chief, who left at around 10.15am, was with his fiancee, Ms Sybil Lau. Ms Lau had earlier cast her vote at Cairnhill Community Club in Newton.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Ng said: “I’m feeling very nice today, bright and busy. I had a good night’s sleep, so thank you all for coming.”
He added that he planned to visit various polling stations for the rest of the day and greet people.
When asked how confident he felt, he said that it was “up to the people of Singapore”.
Presidential candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam
Mr Tharman, 66, and his wife, Ms Jane Ittogi, 69, arrived at the polling station at Raffles Girls’ Primary School at around 5.30pm.
Speaking to the media, Mr Tharman said he visited a few polling stations in the morning, including the ones in Tampines and Marsiling, and observed that the voting process was smooth.
“I’m feeling fine... It feels good. Just the calmness of Singapore feels good,” he said, adding that he woke up pretty early in the morning.
The former senior minister added that he took the advice of the Elections Department (ELD) to vote in the afternoon.
“I thought ELD’s advice was excellent. It issued a notice early in the morning to tell people to come in the afternoon, so we thought it was a good idea,” he said.
He left the polling station at around 6pm.
