Presidential hopeful Farid Khan welcomes ‘more choices’ for election
SINGAPORE — Presidential hopeful Farid Khan Kaim Khan acknowledged on Tuesday (Aug 8) he needed to “reach more people” but is undaunted by the challenge from former Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, should he be deemed eligible for the September election.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his company’s annual beach clean-up on Tuesday, the 62-year-old chairman of marine services provider Bourbon Offshore Asia Pacific said he welcomed Mdm Halimah’s bid.
“What we want is for the people to have more choices ... (There are) three of us (keen to contest for the presidency), currently. If more come, then we welcome them also,” said Mr Farid, who was with a group of 70 employees, family members and friends at Pasir Ris Park.
His campaign team is compiling the necessary documents and plans to submit his application by next Wednesday, he said. Aspirants must apply for a certificate of eligibility and a community certificate, among other requirements.
Mr Farid’s team was initially waiting for the verdict on Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s court appeal challenging the legitimacy of reserving the coming presidential race for Malay candidates, he said.
“But it seems like we can’t wait that long, so most probably we will submit by next week ... I think we are ready, almost ready,” said Mr Farid, who is married with two children, a 24-year-old daughter and an 18-year-old son.
Asked about his two potential rivals, Mr Farid said his edge over them was his non-partisan political stance.
Former Speaker and long-time Member of Parliament (MP) Mdm Halimah, 62, announced on Sunday she would run for the post of head of state. She quit the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) and resigned as Speaker and MP on Monday.
Second Chance Properties chief executive Mohamed Salleh Marican, who has also declared his intention to contest, is said to have been courted by both the PAP and opposition Workers’ Party.
Said Mr Farid: “As I (have) always mentioned, I am not linked to any political party (and have) no personal agenda. I am here to serve the people and they will have to decide. If they want someone independent, then it’s me.”
Mdm Halimah would meet the eligibility criteria for the elected presidency — having spent at least three years in a key public office — but Mr Farid and Mr Marican may not. Among other things, the two men’s respective companies do not have at least S$500 million in shareholders’ equity, which is required for private-sector candidates. The Presidential Elections Committee has the discretion to certify that a candidate who does not automatically meet the criteria can stand for election.
While Mdm Halimah — a unionist for more than 30 years and former Minister of State for Community, Youth and Sports — has strong credentials, this “will only make me work harder”, said Mr Farid.
“I need to reach more people, it seems, but okay ... People just need to know me and what I stand for. I think that is what everybody is watching right now,” he said. His team plans to tap social media to reach out to more Singaporeans.
“They kind of see this independent guy, but what does he stand for? This is an important message I will drive (home) to the public,” he said.
