Singapore: First entrepreneur declares plan to run for presidency

Businessman George Goh Ching Wah (Photo: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/)

Singapore (VNA) - Businessman George Goh Ching Wah, a former non-resident ambassador of Singapore to Morocco, on June 12 announced his intention to enter the race to become President of Singapore as an independent candidate.

George Goh is the second person to step forward as a prospective candidate for the Presidential Election after Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who announced on June 8 that he will resign from the People's Action Party and step down from his ministerial roles to contest the Presidential election. 

According to Channel News Asia, George Goh was born in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. He is best known as the founder of Harvey Norman Ossia, which distributes consumer electronics and furniture in Asia under the Australian brand. He also chairs ITG International, whose main project is a property development investment in Jiangxi, China.

As a young entrepreneur, he set up his first business in shoemaking at the age of 22.

The term of Singaporean President Halimah Yacob will expire on September 13. The presidential election, which is held on a regular six-year cycle, will take place from June 13 to  September 13. Unlike the 2017 election, which was only open to Malays, the 2023 presidential election will be open to candidates of all races./.

VNA