Singaporeans vote to elect 9th president

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) – More than 2.7 million people in Singapore are expected to cast votes on Friday to elect their new president.

The election will see a three-way presidential contest among investor Ng Kok Song, former senior minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and businessman Tan Kin Lian.

The successful candidate will become the city-state’s ninth president for a six-year term.

The Elections Department of Singapore urged people “to go out to vote throughout the day.”

“The (voting) queue has improved at most polling stations,” the election authority said in a statement.

Incumbent President Halimah Yacob is not seeking a second term.

Singapore’s Constitution mandates that the new president has to be elected three months before the incumbent’s term ends.

This year, candidates from all races can vie for the post but they cannot be affiliated to any political party when the date of nomination reaches.

The first presidential election in Singapore was held on Aug. 28, 1993.​​​​​​​