When asked for comment about being viewed as the 'Goliath' of 2023's Presidential Election on Tuesday (Aug 22), Tharman shared that the reality is that Singapore is David in a world of Goliaths, and that she will need the ‘best person’ to represent her.
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00:00 I just gave my short speech, looking forward to a fair and dignified contest, as is befitting
00:08 the office of the presidency.
00:09 And I hope the contest itself serves to unite Singaporeans and not divide us.
00:16 I explained my rationale for entering the race, which of course I've stated before,
00:21 but it is essentially because we are entering a very different future, a much more challenging
00:28 future and a much more complex future.
00:32 And the demands on the elected presidency will only grow.
00:36 I will bring my full experience and background, my decades of connecting with people on the
00:43 ground, my experience nationally, as well as my international experience, to be able
00:48 to serve Singaporeans to the fullest as president, if I'm fortunate enough to be elected.
00:55 The real David is Singapore in a world of Goliaths.
01:01 Singapore is the David in a world of Goliaths.
01:02 And we need the best person with the best abilities, track record on the ground nationally
01:09 and internationally to represent Singapore as head of state in this new era we've entered.
01:16 More than ever before, the Goliaths are in tension and conflict with each other.
01:21 And the Davids mustn't be trampled upon.
01:24 So we've got to all think of ourselves as Davids.
01:26 We're all underdogs in the world.
01:29 I'm not going to change my personality because I've been at this for more than 20 years.
01:34 I enjoy meeting people.
01:36 I enjoy interacting with them.
01:38 I enjoy solving their problems.
01:40 I enjoy being with them when they go through their joys and frustrations.
01:45 I'm not changing.
01:47 I have a track record on the ground nationally and internationally, which I believe allows
01:54 the elected presidency to play a full role in the future for Singapore.
02:01 And I hope Singaporeans will vote on the basis of those attributes and the character that
02:09 I bring to the position.
02:12 Of course, I've been meeting all age groups all through the years because I'm not suddenly
02:17 entering into public life.
02:19 So this is not new to me.
02:20 I've been meeting a whole range of people in the last few weeks, including very good
02:27 groups of young people, large groups of young people, and had very rich dialogues with them,
02:34 I must say.
02:36 I enjoy listening and reflecting on what people say.
02:40 And I take in a lot of what the young aspire for and what they are advocating for.
02:45 And I intend to be a champion for what they are advocating for, for a more equal and fair
02:52 society, for efforts to combat climate change and the shifts in the environment, and to
02:58 make Singapore a better place for all.
03:00 I've been with the labour movement for a very long time, both chairing the Ong Teng Chong
03:06 Labour Leadership Institute for 22 years, in fact, but also supporting the labour movement
03:11 through policy making, progressive wage model, workfare, all the other efforts we are making
03:17 to improve lives for ordinary Singaporeans.
03:20 So I'm running not on the basis of new positions and new statements, but on the basis of a
03:28 long-held purpose in my life, that I believe in a fairer, more compassionate and more inclusive
03:35 society, and my life is dedicated to that.
03:39 Singapore can be special.
03:41 Thank you very much.
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