If something is wrong, I will tell you: Tan Cheng Bock

Throughout his election campaign, people have questioned Dr Tan Cheng Bock about his financial background, his diplomatic expertise and his independence as a candidate.

On Thursday night, the eve of cooling off day, the presidential candidate systematically and occasionally, fiercely, sought once more to convince voters why they should give him their vote during his rally at the Singapore Expo.

"Independence is very important. I am not going to say that I am independent because I have to show you my records in the past, whether I am independent," said the 71-year-old former Member of Parliament (MP).

He raised the instances where he voted against the Nominated MP scheme when the whip was not lifted, and asked the government to tone down on foreign talent in 1999.

"If something is wrong, I will tell you, that's my motto," he said, speaking to a crowd of about 8,000.

Dr Tan pointedly rebutted presidential candidate Tan Jee Say, who has said that Dr Tan Cheng Bock, Dr Tony Tan and Tan Kin Lian are not independent because of their ties with the People's Action Party.

But he failed to realise that he is from the Singapore Democratic Party and he cannot say that his short stint in the SDP makes him more independent than the three of us, stated Dr Tan.

"But I have to ask questions about independence," added Dr Tan.

Then firing a salvo at Dr Tony Tan, often seen to be the front runner in this four-way race, Dr Tan Cheng Bock pointed out that Dr Tony Tan is chairman of the National Research Foundation, which is a department of the Prime Minister's Office.

"So, he has to report to the Prime Minister. I think you all have the right to know whether he is independent or not," he said.

He pointed to a ruling by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, where an independent director of a company has to have moved away from the company for three years.

"Tony only left GIC three months ago. So he owes an explanation to you whether he is really independent because there should be no double standards," said Dr Tan Cheng Bock, citing a Hokkien phrase.

Translated it means, "(If Dr Tony Tan is voted President) the soup is changed but the ingredients remain the same."

Guarding Singapore's reserves

Addressing Dr Tony Tan's remarks that Dr Tan Cheng Bock was mischievous for saying Singaporeans were afraid to support his presidency bid, he said, "He does not know the ground."

He pointed to Dr Tony Tan striking fear among the business community by warning of "dark clouds" in the horizon and suggesting the need for a resilience package.

But Dr Tan again reiterated that it is not the President's job to help create a resilience package: "The President cannot be seen to be helping plan a package and then approving it later. This is a conflict of interest."

Over the past nine days of campaigning, Dr Tan has stuck closely to what he believes is the role of the Presidency.

He reminded people on Thursday not to carry the issues of the General Election into the Presidential Election.

Give the Workers' Party, an elected Opposition voice, room to provide the check on the government, he said. "I shall not be confrontational to the ruling party but I can report a wrong and warn them if they make very bad decisions," he added.

He reiterated on Thursday night that if elected he will guard Singapore's reserves closely.

He explained how his years as a non-executive chairman at investment company Chuan Hup Holdings and independent director for ING Bank have well equipped him for the role.

If elected, Dr Tan added that he will appoint men or women with as little links with the government to advice him on the Council of Presidential Advisers.

He will also issue an annual statement that will, for instance, outline any drawdown on past reserves, and update Singaporeans on the status of their Central Provident Fund savings.

Dr Tan also stressed that he wanted to be a unifying figure for Singapore, to bring together people of all income levels, race and political affiliations. He was the only candidate to bring in an interpreter so the hearing-impaired could understand his rally.

Dr Tan, whom many speakers described as a man with love for people, ended his speech by saying, he would like to bring his wife to the Istana with him.

"I want to make sure I have my lovely wife with me, she's a very capable woman and I think she will do you proud as a First Lady."

The other 14 speakers ahead of Dr Tan regaled the crowd with anecdotes of Dr Tan as a "people-person". They said he would make a good "people's President".

While former grassroots leader of Ayer Rajah Constituency Peter Kong told of how Dr Tan as an MP helped one of his constituents when her husband died in the SilkAir plane crash without seeking recognition, Dr Tan's children -- Joshua, 36, and Ming Li, 40 -- shared experiences from their life.

Years ago, when Dr Tan was recovering from meningitis, all he could think about was getting back to his Meet-the-People sessions, said his daughter.

Han, a retiree, told Yahoo! Singapore, coming to Dr Tan's rally confirmed his vote. "I came to this rally to see for myself if Dr Tan is really what he is described in the media. The rally is quite inspiring and the issues he raised were relevant," he said.

A 48-year-old contactor, Yap, said, "My biggest concerns about the reserves were addressed at Dr Tan's rally. My vote was decided before the rallies and it remains the same."

- Additional reporting Fann Sim