Update @ 0200hrs (2 am)

The unofficial vote count reveals 744K for Tony Tan, 736K for Tan Cheng Bock. That's how tight this is. So off to a recount we go!



"ovearseas vote may come into play now...5504 in total...if this happens, we will have to wait until Tues"
~ Teo Boon-Pin


"what about the rest of the 790k votes? spread evenly between the two other candidates???"
~ Andy Tang



"so sad. :( but its ok, TT is a also a good candidate for the job but TCB just appears to have more heart for the pple"
~ Priscilla Tang


"The result does not match the sentiments of the people I know... everyone prefer a real doctor that can heal the nation...."
~ Lester Neo


"So sad ... PAP veteran won. Even he's an ex. He is very close to them tho. Looks like prices for everything gonna raise again and again, my poor next generation."
~ Clement See


"Tony Tan Won....recount wont magically change back 2% of the votes to Cheng Bock's favor.... sob................"
~ Jusme Alo



"Add TJS n TKL's votes t oTCB he won la!!! T_T ... don't want TT!!!" ~ Clara Fu


"‎8k difference guys...do you think it's even possible to count 8k votes WRONGLY? If it's only a few hundreds, it's understandable...but now it's in term of thousands...4 digits...Time to sleep. :< "
~ Ang Zhi Kai

"Whoever becomes the next elected president based on a recount, the final result will augurs well for Singapore, which will stand to achieve another notch in better political stature and stability in the eyes of many countries. A clean and dignified presidential election in this part of the world that others could only dream of as theirs are covered by all shades of colours and hues. Some of their elections have seen violence and even deaths. I salute Singapore for our hard-earned and well-respected political stability, which will stand us in good stead to become one of the shining examples of hopes for the establishment of a new world that is based on stability, peace, love and harmony in this 21st century."
~ Tan Kok Tim


"We should've voted for oranguTan or rambuTan instead"
~ Ng Junn Yann


Blog Master: It had been a long night watching update from Channel News Asia ...the unofficial result shows Dr Tony Tan leading by a margin of 8K ...which is within the 2% gap from 2.2 million votes...hence Dr Tan Cheng Bock ask for re-count which will take another 2-3 hours until 4 - 5am perhaps? Too tired...to press on...time to get some zzz....shall update in the morning again

President Nathan looking forward to next phase

President S R Nathan said on Friday he is looking forward to the next phase of his life, "which will hopefully (have) less pressure".

Speaking to reporters on the eve of Polling Day, he was quoted as saying by Channel NewsAsia, "My feeling is the same - I've decided to step down, so I'm ready for it."

He added that Singaporeans are sensible people who will do what is best for the country. He hopes voters will look at the polls from that perspective, as they have done all these years.

President Nathan was speaking at the sidelines of the Teachers' Day reception at the Istana, where five teachers were given the President's Award for Teachers.

By Alicia Wong

Tan Kin Lian (陈钦亮): I will continue to be voice of people...by other channels

Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian has promised to continue being "the voice of the people", despite a disappointing Presidential Election campaign.

Mr Tan, who conceded defeat barely three hours into the vote count on Saturday night, said he was "disappointed" at the results.

The former NTUC chief, who scrapped plans to go to the Elections Department to head straight to his supporters' homebase at Begonia Drive, said he made his decision after visiting three polling centres.

"I'm a statistician, so I know from this analysis that I will lose this elections," said the visibly disappointed Tan.

Thanking those who voted for him, the 63-year-old said he plans to continue being "the voice of the people", the banner under which he ran his campaign.

Nevertheless, his wife and daughter were immensely proud of him.

His wife, Vivian, said, "We have done our best and contributed to the country. I told him we've already won. I feel proud of him. Everything he's wanted to say and do, he's already done. We've made a contribution to the country."

His daughter, Tan Su Ling, said she was proud of her dad's courage.

"He had courage to stand up for what he believed in, that's what matter. My father is a really strong person."

Adding that contesting the elections was a "new experience" for her father, she said it was a "good learning experience" and that he "raised debate of what the president should or should not do."

Among Mr Tan's proposals during his election campaign was to have a President's Personal Council, giving more to NSmen and the elderly.

He had also stood up for those who lost their savings in the wake of the Lehman Brothers collapse.

Political analyst Gillian Koh, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, said one of the low points of Tan Kin Lian's campaign was when Tan Jee Say decided to enter the PE fray as it had the effect of "splitting the votes".

Koh also added that it wasn't that voters disliked Tan Kin Lian, but more that many could identify with the "more vociferous" Tan Jee Say and Tan Cheng Bock.

Earlier on, Tan Kin Lian himself admitted that Tan Jee Say had initally been invited to be part of his strategic team to formulate ideas for his Presidential campaign before he decided to run on his own.

Article By Liyana Low

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Presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian concedes defeat, Aug 27