Polls walkover irks S’pore netizens

SINGAPORE: Singaporeans yesterday poured scorn on the process to select their new president after an establishment figure was deemed the only eligible candidate, meaning no election will be held.

Halimah Yacob, 63, a former Parliament speaker, will be the first woman to hold the largely ceremonial role if, as expected, she is formally nominated to the presidency today.

But, she will avoid an election originally slated for Sept 23, as others hoping to run against her were judged by authorities not to have met eligibility criteria.

Five people had expressed an interest in becoming president.

Two were Malay businessmen, who were disqualified as their companies were too small.

On Facebook, user Fazly Jijio Din said: “Don’t call it an election if we Singaporeans can’t vote.”

Hussain Shamsuddin commented: “As a citizen of this democratic island nation, I’m deeply embarrassed.” AFP