A conversation with presidential candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam (FULL)

We sat down with presidential candidate Tharman Shanmugaratnam to find out more about why he decided to run for president, his values, and what he stands for.
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[@let-there-be-light]

I was oversea but my wife was resolved to vote for Tharma after watching this interview. I concurred wholeheartedly with her decision.😢

[@tonytee3372]

Tharman gives me the Obama vibe, but more articulate, sensible, and sincere. Ng Kok Song gives me the LKY vibe, but more laid back and down-to-earth. TKL? He doesn't even understand what a Singapore president is.

[@veloosoman697]

😊

[@iamwhoiamshhh9064]

I will vote u Mr Tharman. Ur personality suit u as our president . All the best sir

[@philemontan3103]

Loved this interview with Tharman. Ive no doubt he is the best president for Singapore at this time even b4 this interview but through this i know his noble motivations for our nation n singaporeans

[@neorenjie]

This is the best interview so far

[@deschan2246]

Interview is all about talking, no action. He can talk beautifully, bottomline is Does his actions match his talking? So far? NO

[@SazalibinkamsirSazali-dm1xk]

Thank you so much my Mr Tharman my new President. in Singapore.

[@malcolmang9867]

Tharman is really good in express himself and well debates on question ask.

[@alanlovebeer7952]

Hurray....me n all my friends will VOTE for you cos u r the Best 💯💖👍

[@deschan2246]

Typical Ghost commenters comment. 😂

[@nagarajarao8358]

And the Nation's sincere appreciation of your wife's role in walking in step with you through this journey. Thank You Jane Shanmugaratnam

[@nagarajarao8358]

Dear Tharman, Your victory was fully deserved. You will be our BEST PRESIDENT YET. With Kind Regards, Balu.

[@chrislim7615]

Yes l'm all for(pineapple)*Sept.1st.;)*

[@shirleytam2248]

GOD BLESS THARMAN

[@yangjohnny4395]

Just curious whether it is all along your plan to stand for elected president or is it the PAP idea that you should stand for elected president considering that you are involved in so many important ministries. Are you also endorsed and support from the PAP.

[@timtim-em6bx]

@ 18:20, My question is simple, why reject being a PM since he care so much for Singapore/Singaporean and especially people from Taman Jurong?

[@user-nb2dj4vq7f]

Age. You need the next generation to be younger, not let a 3G member take over the 4G era.

[@timtim-em6bx]

You must be living in your lalaland. Read your history before commenting.@@user-nb2dj4vq7f

[@linpingchow]

Is there a similar conversation video format with ng kok song?

[@FatmanQQ]

cool cool 👍

[@yangjohnny4395]

Thank you Mr. Tharman for highlighting the many challenges that Singapore will face in the future. As you are still relatively young, don't you think it will be better and can play a bigger role ito formulate policies and programmes to meet these challenges if you become the next PM instead of President as our current 4G team are still young and inexperienced.

[@peterang3952]

He just explaining what he had done and how good he is but very little of talking abt helping low and uncome earners can live better ....praised himself so much for what? Then it shows that previous Presidents are below par correct?

[@user-xh4zd6bf9m]

🎉🎉🎉

[@Gemini73883]

In fact, in his reply Tharman said he'd been promised minister status when he was asked to join the governmrnt. I'm not against this per se. I just read it from his reply to the question posed.

[@pohhuatan7675]

Why you not stop ho ching as head of temasek reserves becos her position is conflicting as husband pm And why u not stop her from smashing eggs all over her face? Walk your talk

[@user-vs1qo5wk1p]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@AL-hr9tv]

You know what you are doing, why you are doing it and I trust you are always trying to do the right thing at any given position! May all powers (nature and supernatural) give you continued strength (in every sense of the word) to keep our nation intact, as you know how!

[@deschan2246]

MAS reported $38.2 billion lost when he was MAS chairman, he was silenced till today. How do u hv confidence and trust in such individual?

[@stevenlim9640]

@@deschan2246 BAP ball carriers scared gohmen, no dare ask

[@emmelau6685]

😊😊

[@RemusRomulus]

Just how many videos on Tharman does this channel plan to release? The preference in the coverage is testament to Tharman's "independence".

[@eszeezee6967]

This is a re-upload but full version content. Don't like Don't watch. Simple.

[@cho-ol4oq]

Tharman's independence? or the impartiality of Mothership? Does Mothership have a public obligation to be impartial and apolitical?

[@chrislim7615]

Like he said,he,doesn't need 2b thumping(abt his independence)yah*

[@eszeezee6967]

@@cho-ol4oq non of the candidates are independent of you based them on their affiliations with political parties. The only difference is, NKS is the only one who is never in any political party. He was just a civil servant. As such he had to work with the governing body. He's the most "independent" in that sense.

[@shazamman8153]

His role in the CECA treaty signed with India?

[@deschan2246]

Be very wary of Sweet smooth talker, they articulate well . Dont be con by them. Look at their Action , Deliverables, mistakes, Achievements. What has he done for Singapore and Singaporeans after so many decades as Minister, Senior Minister, MAS Chairman? Sorry to say, till now i cant recall any positive things he did for the people. Few Notable things he did. 1. As Finance Minister, he increase petrol tax, till today we are still paying the extra tax he implemented. That does increase Cost Of Living n pple suffering. 2. During his time as MAS Chairman, MAS reported $38.2 billions ($30.4 billion recent report, $7.4 billions last report) lost. Till now, he has remain silenced. $38.2 billions is not $38.2 dollars. Shouldnt he explained in detail to people how $38.2 billions was lost? Why MAS CEO was not fired? If he is elected to President office, would he remain silence on Reserves losses? How does he expect anybody to hv trust and confidence in him as Singapore President?

[@emmelyn33]

Do you prefer to trust someone who thinks it's 'cool' to marry someone younger than his own children? We will become a joke internationally 😅 watch 'Sound of Freedom', the dark web is real.

[@peterang3952]

Heard he actually not qualified for this election cos he still active ..in PAP

[@twentyberries]

The interviewer asking several questions in one question…..😮‍💨

[@stevenzhao5846]

这是一个杈有势的想法。

[@kfchay5973]

Tharman your record has proven that you too have an independent of minds but yours has more credibility than that of the other 2 have no track record to back their claim. Gd job Tharman ❤

[@tonytee3372]

Independent does not mean confrontational, as TKL insists. It means always seeing what is good for the nation in a dispassionate way.

[@davidgoh681]

Mr Tharman fleeted over gadfly. Well in our political climate we need gadfly, just as the US will need the opposite

[@lamjay5189]

Mr Tharman should be our Prime Minister ❤❤❤ his understanding of what Singapore need locally n internationally is vital. It’s Singapore’s blessing to have such kind talented person to serve n govern us.

[@alitheia4946]

More a conformist rather than independent minded especially for climate change.

[@jojonsu]

Mr Tharman and Mr Ng are both good candidates. Unfortunately, there can only be one President.

[@tonytee3372]

True. Both are statesman-like. If only we could have 2 presidents.

[@yummycrepe]

Enough. Vote for PAP as government is good enough. Don't need another PAP as president. Thank you so much.

[@deschan2246]

Simple logic, if after so many decades as Minister, Senior Minister, he has done nothing for the people. What make people think he will do thing for people after he become President?

[@Cookie-CARE]

Curious you know he or in your judgement, who has done what ah? If any and every worthwhile act must be visible publicly to YOU, is it worthwhile acts at all?

[@deschan2246]

​@@Cookie-CARE ???

[@sheilakaur8119]

Errr... what specific issues where you disagreed or disagreed? Show what you did and said and how you walked away defeated or having won the way and why it was still a win for ALL of Singapore. Be the mentor of what independence and conflict of opinions look like, without being 'polite' but unbudging. And I think that I would like him to pull the anecdotes to a higher bar, we don't want stories of kids and young adults.

[@user-yb9dl6ok9r]

I feel many Singaporeans are missing the big picture. Lets set some facts: Tharman is the likely best candidate for the job. If he was bad he would have been voted out in GE (there were enough chances). NKS comes across as a Tharman 2.0. He is like Pepsi, when you want Coke. Everyone wants coke, but once in a while a restaurant will say they dont have coke but they have pepsi. Our obvious response is “ah its ok I will take it”. Why? Because the difference between the two is negligible. I think coke is the most obvious choice but we wont cry a river if we get a pepsi. Live goes on. Now what if you are watching your weight or you are diabetic you dont want neither, then you will opt for say Water. I think thats our TKL. So in a fight between Coke Pepsi and Water, Pepsi may split some of the vote of coke. Because they are alike. But people who doesn’t want soda will go to Water directly as thats the only alternative. So in an election this may create an upset or Tharman may win without a strong mandate (35%-40%). So i think NKS should consider dropping out of election (or PAP should influence him)for greater good of Singapore. Because lets be honest TKL can’t be singapore’s president for 6 years. So I hope someone talks to NKS and asks him for this sacrifice for the greater good of the country.

[@yusuf888]

He's never even once,opposed or voted against bills and laws tabled in Parliament during the 22 years he's been with the PAP... How can he be his own man overnight ? He'll definitely kowtow to the government's demands in matters related to the drawing out of past reserves and key appointments in the public service... He shouldn't be made the 9th President of Singapore!!!

[@stevenlim9640]

sinkapoleans cared gohmen 怕政府, but jump n shout on oppo 欺善怕恶

[@Jimmy_Kemmel_is_a_pedo]

Aeh, ho jiak boh?😊

[@gha9543]

Ho Seng Li😂

[@Tony-nr8dp]

Guarantee ho lah !!! ( self praise )

[@allblacks405]

Mothership is quietly supportive of Tharman perhaps because Mothership itself is a western mouthpiece. Of the 3 candidates, smooth-talking Tharman is the one most likely to be manipulated by outside forces and NGOs if he's not already their unspoken representative or Trojan Horse. We sometimes forget he was a key architect of the controversial CECA that today is still flooding the island with Indians and their families.

[@Kohroyce]

Hand down hard to compete politician and intellectual but nonetheless a none independent candidate which unfortunately negates..

[@pohmichael2978]

Any house for rent ? No hassle!!

[@mr.g702]

SG's potential President is an ex-con! Quite cool! Yet he sits poised for the cameras. … would any Singaporeans, before Tharman, would be allowed to get a govt job if they even had a minor criminal record. 😂.. This man is something else!

[@anziar3038]

Kin lian should be the president so that there will not be a shortage of toilets in the country.

[@davidwee130]

He needs the toilets

[@deschan2246]

Ghosts need toilets? 😂

[@hiroyukishinichi9873]

🍍🍍🍍🗳️✍️

[@alicephua4066]

❤

[@madmax8318]

I always see interview with Tharman and Kok Song but never Kin Lian. Think online news outlets also smart enough not to waste time 😂

[@MuhammadHadi-to1nn]

He always reject

[@greatasia606]

Angmoh gaos: 1st class Japanese and South Koreans: 2nd class Singaporeans: 3rd class Singaporeans can further be classified; English speaking Singaporeans: 1st class Mother tongue speaking Singaporeans: 2nd class Hokkien/Malay speaking Singaporeans: Seah suay Mr Tharman, will you deal with this meritocracy of PAP if you becomes the president? Ha ha ha!

[@johnlim1678]

Almost every one knows regardless of partisan or non paritsan , they do not want an " Ownself Check Ownself" President !!!! Please listen to the ground or take a walk at HDB food centres or People's Park Centre.?

[@greatasia606]

"We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people, regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society based on justice and equality so as to achieve happiness, prosperity and progress for our nation." Mr Tharman, will you deal with this biggest lie of PAP if you becomes the president? Ha ha ha!

[@stevenlim9640]

smooth talker niah, just tell us how much your election campaign expenditure like the other two candidate, why talk, 'is within limit...', be straightforward! laiddat how to be president?

[@francis_Teo_KY]

Taman .. why did u leave politic. Unless u know there are a PE coming up before public knowledge (or perhaps its publicised and i overlooked)

[@francis_Teo_KY]

And why, u never do what u want to do as a president before u leave the politic. President still have limited power ya. Even if president reject. The parliement vote can overright president decision ya? (Coreect me if i am wrong)

[@SamWee-dt2jd]

One little two, little three, little Indian....

[@squishypillow3162]

If people want to base their vote purely on ‘independence’, might as well vote for coffee shop uncle

[@deschan2246]

Kopi shop uncles r several times better than sweet talker that does nothing to help Singaporeans after so many decades

[@Tony-nr8dp]

Any difference ?

[@kyouichilogpose8059]

the only part i disagree on is that the continuem of evolution in education system, and non-radical change to education. Which is in my opinion, not true, and neither is it effective based on today;s context. First, there are radical change, i think it IS important to to instil grit in the children and therefore to test them at an early age to show let them experience discipline is important. Next, radical change has to be incorporated in the later years of education (and thus a more strict requirements on the early years) is required in this technological times. All in all, we are already very slow ... how slow you want it to be .... ? Precisely bringing the point that non-qualified people that are not on the ground have been making policies.. you should be a teacher for at least 3-5 years before trying to shape the educational journey of singaporean kids.

[@kilmarwong3721]

TKL wifey will swing 20% more votes for him. That is why i say he might win u big

[@somerslim25]

beware of two horns , you can't see it

[@user-ed5ul2sb4z]

At the recent Reinventing Destiny conference organised by IPS, the CEO of DBS, Mr Piyush Gupta, said that Asean neighbours tend to think of Singapore as a self-serving little red dot. Mr Gupta said that, going forward, we should think about investing our reserves differently, so as to buy greater goodwill and solidarity in the region. He also said that this is what the Japanese and Koreans have done, and that Singapore can learn from these two countries. Mr Tharman Sir, what do you think about his suggestions?

[@deschan2246]

Gupta is a new citizen who dont serve National Service , he has had robbed DBS top job from Singaporeans who served National Service. He does not hv history in Singapore nor has any feeling for Singaporeans. Worst he or his forefathers contribute NOTHING to Singapore Reserves. WHAT GIVE HIM THE RIGHT TO COMMENT ON SINGAPORE RESERVES WHICH HE HAS NO CONTRIBUTION?

[@user-ed5ul2sb4z]

I think about it slightly differently... For me, it's not so important whether the CEO of DBS is a Singaporean. It's more important that thousands and thousands of ordinary Singaporeans are earning good living wages and enjoy economic freedom. For me, it's also not an important question whether Mr Gupta has served NS. The more important question is whether Singaporean sons and daughters will be sent unnecessarily into the battlefield. For economic stability and peaceful war-free days, given the increasingly tense and unfriendly international environment, Singapore has to close ranks with its neighbours in Southeast Asia. If the big powers decide to cut us off, we at least have some bargaining space and power. Mr Gupta's contribution is that he alerted Singaporeans to what our neighbours in Southeast Asia are thinking, and what we may potentially do to help them and ourselves. His thinking and analysis may or may not be totally correct, but at least by making us reconsider our assumptions and challenging our worldview, he is helping to ensure our greatest chance of survival and success in the dangerous years ahead.

[@deschan2246]

​@@user-ed5ul2sb4z u think its not important because you are new citizen like him. Who has no contribution to Singapore Reserves.

[@saysoon7169]

More Anehs will take your rice bowls away. : o(

[@SamWee-dt2jd]

Another. Roti-praya man.....,

[@greatasia606]

Mr Tharman, the Great Asia won't be able to vote in the coming PE because I didn't vote in the last GE. I was not in Singapore during the GE. The PE got anything to do with the GE? The evil spirit of Lee Kuan Yew is still haunting Singapore? TMD! Ha ha ha!

[@dorianhoo1342]

forgot your meds ?

[@greatasia606]

@@dorianhoo1342 A sheep walking on two legs? Ha ha ha!

[@aiciba4634]

Please vote for AP Eugene Tan or Kurt Tay as President 🤡

[@PAPJOKEs]

Pap doesn’t wan a opposition candidate to win cause pap is scared of a real independent candidate

[@micahiah2]

you talk as if you know everything that is going on inside. you and your conspiracy theories. You love yourself more than Singapore. Here is a man of integrity, and yet you are just selecting against him because he is from PAP. How silly!

[@jayjay357]

Man with itegrity has to be neutral.

[@PAPJOKEs]

How can Tharman profess to be a person of good character when he is just as complicit as those PAP cabinet ministers?Cause his supporters will overlook all his mistakes

[@micahiah2]

Same as the other two lah

[@eszeezee6967]

How much the oppo pay you per hour to post negative comments under Tharman and Kok Song's content? 😊

[@mugenpower78]

vote wisely. do not vote for puppets

[@arcencielc2065]

Worse, do not vote for a crown who likes pretty girls.

[@mugenpower78]

@@arcencielc2065 you like puppets i presume

[@eszeezee6967]

mugepower78, you mean Tan Kin Lian? Got 3 opposition politicians behind him leh

[@micahiah2]

You are just another puppet that belongs to another person and party. If that is your way of argument. Just as blind as others.

[@arcencielc2065]

I am sure you are a frog living in a well. Uh,a blind frog somemore.@@mugenpower78

[@PAPJOKEs]

Tharman is a puppet himself of the pap gov

[@micahiah2]

you are also a puppet to another man and party. pls look at the mirror before you point your finger at others.

[@PAPJOKEs]

PAP fears checks and balances on its government What if the President is neutral and not in anyway swayed or influenced by the party that placed the person in the position?

[@PAPJOKEs]

We already know that Tharman is a man without even an iota of courage to stand up for himself, much less for others or the country, as evident when he was told off by PM Lee that Singapore is not ready for an Indian Prime Minister.

[@jHJHJjHidie]

His first plan is to increase further gst ?

[@Saiputera]

Because he a left wing person