As NTUC Income’s CEO from 1997 to 2007, renowned Singaporean businessman Tan Kin Lian was instrumental in the company’s expansion. At the astonishingly young age of 29, he took on the position of general manager in 1977, marking the start of his career inside the company. He then rose to the post of chief executive officer, a capacity he maintained until April 2007, showcasing his aptitude for leadership.
When Tan Kin Lian ran for president in 2011, he demonstrated his commitment to public service in the political sphere. He made news once more on August 11, 2023, when he declared his candidacy for the 2023 presidential election.
Tan Kin Lian Scandal And Controversy: Pretty Girl Posts Resurfaced 2023
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A recent issue involving presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian and his contentious social media posts about encounters with “pretty girls” has sparked political agitation in Singapore. These posts have sparked an intense political debate just as Tan Kin Lian is ready to run for president of Singapore.
Tan Kin Lian has defended himself by saying that the outcry over his posts is part of a planned “smear campaign” that his opponents and the media are putting together. He said that images from his Facebook posts, in which he described his observations of ladies out shopping or exercising, were shared with mainstream media.
After initially blaming this on a single person, he subsequently claimed that a coordinated “attack group” was responsible, even involving media editors in the scheme. The situation escalated when the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware), a women’s rights organization, voiced concerns regarding Tan’s alleged objectification of women in his posts.
The Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) expressed similar worries in comments. The PEC, however, claimed that they had no knowledge of Tan Kin Lian’s social media posts before allowing him to run for president and that they lacked the power to withdraw his eligibility.
Charges Against Tan Kin Lian Regarding Tharman Shanmugaratnam
By accusing public officials of dishonest behavior—specifically, former Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam—Tan Kin Lian intensified the conflict. He asserted that he was a part of the discrediting effort. Additionally, the former CEO of Income Insurance Singapore declared that he would reconsider and think the man unsuited to serve as Singapore’s president.
However, Tan Kin later withdrew his charges against Tharman. Given that Tan Kin and Tharman Shanmugaratnam are both prospective candidates for president, Tan Kin likely believed Tharman Shanmugaratnam was involved in the “Pretty Girls” incident and scandal.
Tan made an effort to minimize the controversy on his Facebook page by saying that admiring “pretty girls” was a common human emotion and that people who don’t think of themselves as “pretty” might be the ones causing the commotion.
Mr. Tan expressed in a different statement his total disagreement with Aware’s assertions and inferences that he objectifies women in his posts. Additionally, he conveyed his faith in Singaporeans’ integrity to shield the election process from unjustified attacks.
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