Dr Tan Cheng Bock. (File photo: Melissa Zhu)
SINGAPORE: Former presidential hopeful Tan Cheng Bock will appeal against a High Court decision to dismiss his application contesting the legitimacy of the upcoming reserved Presidential Election.
Wednesday (Jul 12) is the last day for Dr Tan to file an appeal, after Justice Quentin Loh’s decision last Friday to maintain the status quo that only Malay candidates are eligible to stand in the next presidential election due in September.
When Channel NewsAsia asked him on Wednesday if he plans to appeal, Dr Tan said: "Yes, appealing through my lawyers today."
Dr Tan, a Member of Parliament for 26 years (1980 to 2006), ran unsuccessfully for President in 2011. In March 2016, he announced his intention to run again, but amendments to the Constitution passed late last year have precluded him from doing so.
Under new rules, if there is not a President from a particular racial community for five consecutive terms, the next term will be reserved for a President from that community.
Dr Tan filed an application in May calling for the September election to be an “open” one, arguing that the Government's decision to count five terms from President Wee Kim Wee's was “unconstitutional”.
More at Channel News Asia
We need a huge majority of spoilt votes to signal clearly to this government we are extremely displeased with the way the courts have interpreted the constitution. Ong Teng Chong was the first elected president, end of story. Stop trying to bend the narrative just to stop a good man from running.
Much as I like the very principled Uncle Tan, his chances of turning things around are pretty low given that he is up against the entire PAP machinery. Push comes to shove, I shall spoil my vote at the upcoming PE.