Presidency has been the highlight of my career, says Dr Tan
President Tony Tan shakes hands with Istana staff during his final day in office as his six-year term comes to an end, Aug 31, 2017. Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY
SINGAPORE — Looking back on his six-year term, Dr Tony Tan said on Thursday (Aug 31) that the presidency, on a personal level, was a “deeply moving opportunity to see Singapore in all its diversity and to meet Singaporeans from all walks of life”.
Speaking at a farewell reception and ceremony to mark his last day in office, Dr Tan also reiterated that the President is “not a centre of political power”, but a resource and symbol.
“When I took office, I pledged to be a President for all Singaporeans. I was committed to the understanding that our nation’s President is not a centre of political power. But the President can be a resource. And our President must be a symbol,” said Dr Tan, 77.
Addressing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who was among the guests at the event held at the Istana, Dr Tan said: “I am glad that my experience has been a resource to you and your colleagues in Government. But more important, I was determined that the President’s Office should symbolise and champion the role we all can play to make Singapore a better society.”
He added: “Our cordial relationship has allowed formal as well as informal opportunities to work together. I have greatly valued our regular meetings, and I am happy that my contributions and views have been helpful and constructive.”
Dr Tan said that during his term, he sought to encourage initiatives to build “social reserves”. “Like our financial reserves, these social reserves are important when we navigate through uncertain times,” he said.
For example, he expanded the President’s Challenge — which was started by his predecessor, Mr S R Nathan, as an annual campaign to raise funds for charity — beyond philanthropy to include volunteerism and social entrepreneurship. The aim was to encourage citizens, corporations and other organisations here “to be active in building our social reserves”.
“Our progress as a nation is measured not only by our ranking on international tables or the success of our highest flyers. The measure of our society rests on how we care for those less fortunate than ourselves,” Dr Tan added.
On the international front, Dr Tan noted that the President is sometimes dubbed Singapore’s “chief diplomat”. In today’s interconnected world, state visits are important for raising Singapore’s international profile, promoting government-to-government ties, and creating opportunities for Singaporean companies in new markets, Dr Tan said.
“On each visit, I was also delighted to meet Singaporeans living, studying, and working overseas. Within their own communities, they are Singapore’s ambassadors,” he said.
Dr Tan was elected in the 2011 Presidential Election, after decades in public service as a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister, among other roles. “My time as President has been the highlight of my career,” said Dr Tan, who started his working life as a university mathematics lecturer. “From tomorrow, I look forward to continuing to serve Singapore — as a citizen.”
Singapore’s “remarkable” golden jubilee celebration in 2015 was “the high point” of his presidency, he said. “Like many, my joy at our nation’s 50th birthday was tempered by Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s passing earlier that year. But we also came together to pay our respects to Mr Lee, and in the process revealed the depth of our relationships as one people.”
He added: “We are now stewards of the legacy that (Mr Lee) left us — the values of meritocracy, honesty, integrity. These will serve us well as we look forward to our next half century.”
Dr Tan also paid tribute to his wife, Mary: “Throughout our marriage, she has been a tremendous source of strength and wise counsel. Mary has been a key pillar of support to me, both during and before my Presidency. She has a genuine empathy for people which has brought warmth to this Office and helped me throughout my career.”
