In a letter dated 8 June to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Senior Minister Tharman stated that he would resign from the People’s Action Party (PAP) to contest the 2023 Presidential Elections. The constitution requires this – SM Tharman will have to step down as MP and Senior Minister – amongst many other roles – to contest the election.
Resounding support from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong
Workers at the heart of everything he does
SM Tharman spent nearly 10 years as an advisor to the unions and has been serving as chairman of the Ong Teng Cheong Labour Leadership Institute (OTCi) Board of Governors since 2002, overseeing a doubling in training places. He was also behind several national schemes to support workers, such as the following:
- Jobs Credit Scheme (during the global financial crisis)
- Progressive Wage Model (for lower-wage workers)
- Special Employment Credit (for older workers)
- Wage Credit Scheme
He also oversaw the development of tripartite committees to develop skills-based career progression across more than 20 sectors and other efforts in industry transformation plans.
As such, the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has also come out to support Tharman’s decision to run for the presidency. Secretary-General Ng Chee Meng released a Facebook statement to reaffirm NTUC’s support.
