[UPDATE at 6:15pm: Adding comments from potential candidates Farid Khan and Salleh Marican]

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has issued a writ for this year's Presidential Election, with Nomination Day to take place on September 13.

"I have issued the Writ of Election for the Presidential Election. Nomination Day will be on 13 September.

This is the first PE to be reserved for Malay candidates. I have explained in Parliament (http://bit.ly/2fcMNTZ), in last year’s National Day Rally, and in TV forums why we are adopting this “hiatus-triggered” model. (It means that if we have not had a President from a particular community for 5 consecutive terms, the next term will be reserved for a President from that community.)

We are a multiracial country, and every citizen should know that someone of his community can become President, and does become President from time to time, and thus represent all Singaporeans.

I hope Singaporeans will support the candidate who will best represent their interests and aspirations, and our nation.

Not just at home, but internationally too."

Nominations for the presidency must be submitted at the auditorium of the People's Association on King George's Avenue on that day, between 11am and 12 noon.

Each nomination must be accompanied by a $43,500 deposit, and must be submitted together with the following documents:

• Certificate of Eligibility;
• Community Certificate certifying that he/she belongs to the Malay community; and
• Political Donation Certificate.

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If there is more than one qualified candidate, polling day will take place on September 23, after a 10-day campaign period.

Update: Farid Khan and Salleh Marican respond

Following the writ of election, potential Presidential candidates Farid Khan and Salleh Marican issued responses of their own. According to Farid, in a statement issued by his campaign manager Borhan Saini:

"I am confident that both committees will affirm my eligibility to contest and that I belong to the Malay community. This is an important election, one that provide Singaporeans from all walks of life, an opportunity to uphold democracy and to show the world how multi-racialism is adopted and practised in Singapore."

Salleh made his own statement, issued by his campaign manager Abdul Halim Kader:

"I am confident of getting that green light...In all my interviews with the different media, I have maintained that I will be independent of political parties and other organisations."

He also reiterated his pledge to donate his Presidential salary to the smaller, underfunded charities if elected.

Top photo: file