Confirmed: Tharman Shanmugaratnam is Singapore’s 9th President With 70.40% Votes

At about 10:45 pm on 1 September 2023, the sample count of the Presidential Election showed that Tharman Shanmugaratnam was leading with 70% of the votes. With such overwhelming results, candidates responded as if the results were final, mainstream media livestreams ended, and most of us went to sleep, knowing that Singapore’s 9th President should be Mr Tharman.

At 12:24 am on 2 September, it was confirmed: Tharman Shanmugaratnam is Singapore’s 9th President with 70.40% of the votes.

After that, not much changed because ever since the sample votes were announced, the official results were more or less confirmed.

Confirmed: Tharman Shanmugaratnam is Singapore’s 9th President With 70.40% Votes

Tharman Shanmugaratnam, the former senior minister whom almost all Singaporeans know, won in a landslide victory with 1,746,427 votes, which comprises 70.40% of the total votes.

Ng Kok Song came in second with 390,041 votes, which comprises 15.72% of the total votes.

Tan Kin Lian came in last with 344,292 votes, which comprises 13.88% of the total votes.

That is almost similar to the sample count results, which indicated that Tharman got 70% of the votes, Ng Kok Song got 16% while Tan Kin Lian got 14%.

Immediately after the official results were out, PM Lee released a statement, thanking the three candidates for putting themselves forward in this Presidential election.

He added, “Mr Tharman has a long and distinguished record of public service. I have every confidence that he will carry out his duties as President with distinction.

“I have called Mr Tharman to congratulate him on his election and to assure him of my Government’s full cooperation. Mr Tharman has also declared his intention to work closely with the Government.”

Now, it’s time to get used to seeing the portraits of Mr Tharman and Mrs Tharman everywhere.