Strong support for PAP based on PE results: Dr Yaacob Ibrahim

There is "strong support" for the ruling People's Action Party based on the results of the recent presidential election, said Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts Yaacob Ibrahim.

Speaking to reporters after Hari Raya prayers on Tuesday morning at the Assyafaah Mosque, Dr Yaacob, also the Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs, did not think there was a political divide among Singaporeans despite Dr Tony Tan beating Dr Tan Cheng Bock by 0.34 per cent, garnering 35.19 per cent of the total votes.

According to Today, Dr Yaacob noted that even though voters had to choose between two "very good" candidates, both of them — formerly from the PAP — had a combined vote share of 70 per cent.

He added, "There's strong support for the party in that sense. But it's clear that there are people who are divided, as explained by the Prime Minister, (who) were basically having to decide between two very good candidates."

Noting that the election reflects a maturing democracy in "that we're able to agree to disagree," Dr Yaacob added, "But most important thing is, as the Prime Minister has said, now we have to move forward and build the nation together."

President-elect Tony Tan made it clear, hours after winning the election, that part of his first order of business was to unify Singaporeans — including the two-thirds who did not vote for him.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, in a press statement on Sunday after Dr Tony Tan was declared Singapore's seventh President, noted that voters "faced a difficult choice between Dr Tony Tan and Dr Tan Cheng Bock".

Mr Lee had added, "This explains why the winning margin is so narrow, and why the winner only gained slightly more than one-third of the total votes. Nevertheless, under our first-past-the-post system, the election has produced an unambiguous winner, who has the mandate to be the next President."

He said, with the election over, it was time for Singaporeans to unite to tackle the challenges that Singapore faces so that the country moves forward.

At the Istana's Hari Raya Puasa open house on Tuesday, outgoing President S R Nathan — whose last day in office is 31 August — told reporters that Dr Tony Tan was "a highly capable person, very approachable, a person who carries himself well".

Mr Nathan said, "I'm sure he will be a great asset and the pride of Singapore... I'm sure he's got the experience and the ability to deal with it."