Presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock believes it is time to re-look certain programmes, including that of the ethnic-based self-help groups.
One possibility is to merge these groups, in a move to promote unity among Singaporeans, he suggested.
The 71-year-old was speaking to reporters on Tuesday at a coffee shop at Raffles Place after he was cleared to run for the Presidency at the Nomination Centre.
He said, "Maybe we should re-look at Mendaki, Sinda (Singapore Indian Development Association) and the CDAC (Chinese Development Assistance Council)."
"I don't think I like to see people work within their component groups." he said. "A poor Singaporean, poor Malay Singaporean, is the same Singaporean. We should look at it at a national level now, no more at a racial level."
If elected, he would tap on the President's "inherent powers" to encourage good causes such as racial integration.
Last November, however, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said ethnic-based support groups are still needed. While the state rolls out social safety net programmes that are "race-blind", each ethnic based group has a unique role to play, he said.
If elected as President, Dr Tan Cheng Bock wants to galvanise all Singaporeans together. (Yahoo! photo/Christine …
If elected, Dr Tan would also seek to "galvanise" all Singaporeans and strive for "unity within political diversity".
He said he hopes to see political parties participate in events together, such as in a concert or football game. "As an ex-politician, I feel we politicians divide the country, because each one has his own political agenda. I don't want that to happen."
As he prepares to take on the other three Presidential candidates -- Tan Jee Say, Dr Tony Tan and Tan Kin Lian -- the former People's Action Party MP acknowledged that he may be elected as Singapore's third President with just over 30 per cent of the votes.
"I will have to work extra hard with that small margin to see if I can win over the other Singaporeans," he said, adding that he "won't dream" of getting over 80 per cent of the votes as he did in the 2001 General Election.
Nonetheless, earlier on Tuesday at the Nomination Centre, Dr Tan told reporters he believes his chances are "good".
"I feel that the men who are supporting me have a very strong cause. They believe in me, that's very important. ... I have Singaporeans who saw me when I was a young MP 30 years ago and now they know of my conviction, my sense of independence and my feel that the nation must always come above party and politics."
On the jeering at Dr Tony Tan at the Nomination Centre by some candidates' supporters, Dr Tan Cheng Bock said he had given clear instructions to his supporters not to boo others. Maybe those jeering were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm, he said.
Currently, he has a few hundred volunteers helping out with his campaign and is looking for another few hundred volunteers to be counting agents.
Dr Tan described his campaign as a mix of old and new styles due to the diversity of his helpers and supporters. They range from young Singaporeans who have not reached voting age, to opposition party members and former Members of Parliament.
He stressed, however, that he remains neutral and is not a "proxy to any party".
He said: "My mantra is: Whatever I do, my nation, my country comes first."
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