Tharman Shanmugaratnam to be sworn in as Singapore’s president today

Indian-origin Singapore-born economist Tharman Shanmugaratnam will be sworn in as the ninth president of the city-state today, days after he was overwhelmingly elected as the head of state.

A predominantly Chinese society overwhelmingly endorsed Mr Shanmugaratnam. He has served Singapore all his life in public service. Prior to being president-elect, he served as a senior minister and Deputy Prime Minister from May 2011 to May 2019. He is also a member of the Board of Trustees of the World Economic



Forum.

Earlier on September 1, the 66-year-old president-elect won 70.4 percent of the 2.48 million ballots cast by local voters.

On the other hand, his Chinese-origin rivals Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian received 15.72 percent and 13.88 percent respectively. This was the first contested presidential election since 2011. Incumbent President Halimah Yacob's term will end on September 13. 

The elected president serves a six-year term.