*[Update: Mar. 31, 2030hrs]: In response to press queries if the Government had any response to Dr Tan Cheng Bock’s press conference today on the Elected Presidency, a Ministry of Communications and Information spokesman said:

"This matter has been considered and debated extensively for more than a year. A Constitutional Commission chaired by the Chief Justice, undertook extensive consultations on the EP, including public hearings. Dr Tan did not participate in those hearings or give his views to the Commission. The Government gave its response to the Commission’s report in a White Paper, and Parliament debated the matter over three days, before passing amendments to the Constitution.

Dr Tan has not raised any new points that require response."

Former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock who once seemed to be resigned to the fact that he will be unable to stand in the upcoming poll to pick Singapore's next President, is fighting back.

In a press conference held on March 31, the 76-year-old Tan called for an open election as he questioned the government's motives for counting the term of former president Wee Kim Wee in its decision to trigger a reserved election this year.

There were speculations before the press conference that Tan was announcing that he will be filing for a judicial review.

Instead, he asked for the government or the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) to explain its position or refer the issue to the court for independent judicial verification:

"But if the Government simply accepts AGC’s advice without explaining why they accepted the accuracy of the opinion, I am concerned that our Elected Presidency will always be tainted with the suspicion that the reserved election of 2017, was introduced to prevent my candidacy."

Here are four thoughts we have after attending his press conference.

1. The race to be the next President of Singapore is on.

The next Presidential Election (PE) due in September, will be reserved for candidates from the Malay community.

From June 1, qualified candidates can apply for their Certificates of Eligibility and Community Certificates to the Presidential Elections Committee and the Community Committee.

However, Tan's remarks in a way herald the start of the PE campaigning season, three months ahead of time. The mood at the press conference had the feel of the launch of an election campaign.

Besides a healthy turnout of reporters from various media, some of which conducted live streaming, the room was also filled with supporters including another former presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian and Singapore People's Party GE2015 candidate for Mountbatten SMC Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss.

Tan, who is also known as Adrian Tan had declared his intention to stand again last March.

One year later, he is effectively telling the public, he will still try to stand for office, despite not being qualified under the new rules.

Some interesting words from Tan that more or less showed that he is all ready to start campaigning:

"It is never too late for anything. Since my last press conference, if you remember it has been one year, there's a reason why I chose this month. So when I do anything, I have a reason and I plan very carefully. Any time an election is called, my men is ready, because I have a team now."

"I always tell my men, timing is important. So you trust me, when I see something that I think need to be done, I will do it. And I am sure I will do it in such a way that I won't miss the boat."

"I hope you are satisfied. I am in the mood. I love to be challenged."

2. Tan will inject some much needed drama interest in the PE.

Currently, Halimah Yacob, the Speaker of Parliament, and the minority race member of Marsiling-Yew Tee GRC, has been widely tipped to be a potential candidate from the Malay community for the upcoming reserved election.

The inadvertent address of Halimah as "Madam President" by Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office Chan Chun Sing in February, had further entrenched the most open secret impression that she is the front runner for the position.

Tan's most recent remarks mean that there could be more discussions on the PE after public interest in the issue has dwindled, given the lack of suspense on the potential candidates and outcome.

Tan did not set a time frame for the government to act nor specified his next course of action. He also did not confirm whether he would seek an independent judicial review should the government not act on his request.

"I keep my options open. But I would like to choose a more civilised way, I don't think I want to go to court."

With potential new twists ahead, this PE may turn out to be a not so boring election.

3. Tan is deploying the "money factor" spin to mobilise public opinion

Last November, changes to the Elected Presidency scheme also included a revised criteria for candidates with private sector background to have been the most senior executive of a company with at least S$500 million in shareholders' equity.

This new criteria would have disqualified Tan for the upcoming PE, even if it was an open election.

At the press conference, Tan made his strategy quite clear that he intends to contest the election if given the chance, through the "deliberative track".

"If I believe I want to serve this country, I will do it (go through the deliberative track). I will present all my credentials to the select committee, and let them decide. I was given the COE (Certificate of Eligibility) (in 2011), that shows that I must have qualified."

"We must never define the presidency by money. We must define the presidency by people who believe in multi-racialism, people who have the right character and who have served this country for a long time, who believes in the people. That is the kind of President we want. But you want to define the presidency by money. I don't know what sort of legacy I am going to leave for my children and grandchildren. It is very sad for this country."

By seeking to reopen the debate on the appropriateness of a threshold for financial management experience, he may be seeking to connect with Singaporeans who may disagree with the onerous new criteria.

4. Is Tan doing this for himself or is he doing it for Singaporeans? No one knows.

Tan came in a razor-thin second at the four-Tan PE 2011 to current president Tony Tan. He had garnered 738,311 votes (34.85 percent of the valid vote) in 2011, just 7,382 votes fewer than Tony Tan (35.2 percent).

The S$1.54 million question: Is Tan doing this for himself, or is he doing this for Singaporeans?

During the question-and-answer segment, he said:

"I could put forward my case, you (the government) tell me I am wrong or right. If I am wrong and you can prove it in court, I close the case, I will let Singaporeans decide and let history decide, whether what I am presenting to you is right or wrong.

Singaporeans at large must learn to question whether it is correct or not, we cannot just accept everything at face value. Even if I can't stand, never mind, but at the end of the day, Singaporeans must stand up and ask yourself whether this particular issue is right, and why is it right. Because in our eyes, it is not. If all of us stay silent, I feel sorry for this place, we are always so frightened to ask questions."

But the more important question was probably asked by Tan himself, when he asked a rhetorical question at the floor:

"So are you convinced or not convinced?"

Related articles:

The race to the 2017 Presidential Election has officially started, you just haven’t noticed

Law minister K Shanmugam singles out Tan Cheng Bock’s disqualification from presidency

Based on the Commission’s recommendations, Tan Kin Lian will be the only losing Tan automatically eligible for Presidency

Goodbye Tan Cheng Bock, looks like S’pore won’t be needing the services of a Chinese president next

5 observations we had from Tan Cheng Bock’s presidential candidacy announcement

Top photo by Tan Guan Zhen

If you like what you read, follow us on Facebook and Twitter to get the latest updates.