At 80 per cent, we were tying: Tan Cheng Bock

Dr Tan Cheng Bock says he and eventual winner Dr Tony Tan were neck and neck until the votes from Sembawang came in on Polling night.

Revealing exactly how close the two top contenders for Singapore's Presidency were, Dr Tan Cheng Bock said on Sunday afternoon, "Sometimes I'm ahead, sometimes he's ahead … Even at 80 per cent (of the votes tallied) we were just tying, 35-35 (per cent)."

"It was only toward the last bit, when Sembawang came in then we took a little dip and he beat me by 0.34 per cent," said the 71-year-old, who was speaking to the media 12 hours after the final results were announced.

Dressed in a short-sleeved white shirt and seated on the sofa at his Holland Grove Drive home, a visibly relaxed Dr Tan shared the anxiety and happiness of the night as Dr Tony Tan and him took turns to lead the four-way race.

When he arrived at Jurong East Stadium on Saturday night, Dr Tan Cheng Bock had told the media he was "very happy" and that while counting was "very, very close", he was confident he would have the "edge" in the final stages because he enjoyed strong support in West Coast.

However, after the recount concluded at 4.25am on Sunday morning, Dr Tony Tan was announced as Singapore's seventh President, winning by a margin of over 7,000 votes.

"I am disappointed," admitted Dr Tan Cheng Bock. But he also told his men "not to be discouraged" because "at the end of the day, we won also, fighting against the big machinery".

Learning how to take the pain will help them to develop strength as well, he added.

"I think Singaporeans endorsed us," he said. "In spite of the odds, we did it. We have conducted a well-planned campaign."

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called him on Sunday morning, said Dr Tan.

"I was quite surprised to receive his call. It was to compliment my election campaign. He said, 'You've done a very well, dignified campaign'," he recounted.

Unlike other candidates, Dr Tan steered clear of addressing bread and butter issues during his campaign as he felt this was out of the purview of the President.

However, Dr Tan noted that if it were a two-horse race, he would have stood a "much much better chance" but he also expected to see more rejected votes.

He also said the election showed a division in the ruling People's Action Party, with some grassroots volunteers telling him they support him.

He said, "I think the party has to have a critical look at their own way of doing things. I think they have to learn how to fight again."



What's next for Dr Tan?

Dr Tan, who did not rule out the possibility of running in the next Presidential Election, said he will stay "watchful of what's happening in Singapore" through his blog and Facebook page.

No longer a Presidential candidate, he will be able to contribute his thoughts on bread and butter issues.

The former Ayer Rajah Member of Parliament, however, said he would not join any political parties as he wants to remain neutral and continue with his aim of promoting unity in Singapore.

While some have suggested Dr Tony Tan could invite Dr Tan Cheng Bock to join the Council of Presidential Advisers, the latter said, if invited, he would have to "think very carefully" and it would depend if the two "share common grounds".

"I must pay compliment to him (Dr Tony Tan). He has won and good luck to him. He has got a very difficult task ahead of him but I guess he has been given the mandate, he has to do it."

The challenge for the President-Elect would be to convince the 64 per cent who did not vote for him, noted Dr Tan. "Knowing that his strength is with the economy, he's got to put some effort into the ground. ... You have to concentrate on the people."

"The 64 per cent, majority of them are ordinary Singaporeans and they want to see how well-connected he is," added Dr Tan.

When asked about his future plans, Dr Tan replied, "I want to relax for a while, maybe go back to my medical practice. I got a lot of old patients waiting for me."

"Maybe they voted against me," he joked, noting that, if elected, he could be too busy to see his patients. "But I like to believe they are quite clever voters."

Article By Alicia Wong

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Dr Tan Cheng Bock's post-election press briefing, Aug 28

At a casual press briefing held in his living room, Dr Tan Cheng Bock speaks about his narrow loss to President-Elect Tony Tan, and what his plans are for the future.

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

Smurf me a GOAL !!

New Trading card Game : Hero of Robots

Hero of Robots is a card verus card game where players will give attack or defense orders to robots when fighting against enemies and win the victory.

A game consist of 5 rounds and players will take turns to attack once. Players give orders to decide the attack or defense ways for each round. To win, one must pick the right attack or defense order to defeat the other.

Hero of Robots will be available at ZONE X @ Jurong Point #03-25 from 27 August 2011. For a limited period only!

New Trading card Game : Gacchu Guts

Think Transformers, Gacchu Guts is packed with action that features an EXTREME BEETLE FIGHT! Combine Beetle cards, collect energy balls and charge Gacchu Power to generate ULTIMATE SUPER BEETLES to defeat your opponents!

Coming soon to ZONE X!

Introduce Schwarz! He is the real leader of the Dark Force!

A wonderful LOVE poem

Everyday I will make you see,
Just how much you mean to me.
I hate not having the feeling of your touch or your kiss,
Or not being able to hear, "I love you" from your lips.
Once we're together sweetheart,
I never again want us to be apart.
I want to hold you in my arms so tight,
And know that everything's going to be alright.
I want to feel our hearts beat in line,
To beat in rhythm, at the very same time.
I will lay you down on a bed of satin,
On the day you become Mrs. Patton.
On this night, intertwining will be our soul,
Not as two in the night but one as a whole.
From there we will start a wonderful life,
Living together as husband and wife.
We will live, laugh and love,
And live the life we dream of.
I will love you until my final day,
I spread my wings to fly away.
I wrote this poem just for you,
Because I really really do love you!

Tan Cheng Bock's Rally Speech, Singapore Expo, Aug 25