Singapore President-elect Tharman surprised at margin of victory, says he is serious about fulfilling mandate

President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who won 70.4 per cent of the vote, said he had not expected “such remarkable unity”. - ST PHOTO: JASON QUAH

SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): President-elect Tharman Shanmugaratnam said on Saturday that he was surprised at the margin of his victory at Friday’s polls, calling it a vote for an optimistic future and a vote for unity.

The 66-year-old former senior minister scored a landslide win with 70.4 per cent of the ballot, beating fellow candidates Ng Kok Song and Tan Kin Lian, both 75, who received 15.72 per cent and 13.88 per cent of the vote respectively.