Presidential candidate Ng Kok Song declined to comment further when asked about Tharman Shanmugaratnam's claim that Ng had "completely misquoted" his statements during the live presidential forum.

Did not want to "reopen the subject"

"I think I've already said what I said yesterday," Ng stated at a media doorstop interview at Hougang on Aug. 30 morning, adding that he does not want to "reopen the subject".

"But let me say this... here we are, Tharman and me, both contesting for the presidency. We're good friends, we worked together at the MAS, at the GIC.

Our differences are differences of opinion, such as when we speak about the presidency. I was concerned about the system, not the individuals. I just wanted our system to be a better system, a better system in terms of having a non-partisan president."

Ng said that he has a "deep respect" for Tharman, adding again that they are "good friends" and whenever they both meet, they would be happy and would shake hands.

Says people know him internationally too

Ng pointed out that he is also recognised internationally, explaining that he spoke to people from the U.S. and Europe, telling them that both he and Tharman are contesting in the presidential election.

"They know Tharman and they know me internationally. You know what is their comment? 'Singapore is so fortunate to have the two best people they can think of standing for the presidency.'"

However, he reiterated that he and Tharman are "different", with the difference being that Tharman "has belonged to a political party", while he "did not".

Tharman's claim that Ng misquoted him

In a statement to the media on Aug. 29, Ng claimed that Tharman's remark about the "fund management company" in the live presidential forum is "clearly about me, and I would like to respond to that".

"[Tharman] also went on to say that private companies, construction companies, and fund management companies are also dependent on the government and thus could be seen as not independent.

First, Mr Tharman’s remark about the fund management company is clearly about me, and I would like to respond to that. I have said during this campaign that, should I be elected president, I will fully divest my ownership of Avanda.

This is a worthwhile financial sacrifice to ensure the independence and impartiality of the office of the presidency."

At a media doorstop on the same day, Tharman said that Ng had "completely misquoted" him on the former's reference to "a fund management company that depends on government monies" during the presidential forum.

Tharman said Ng seemed to have thought that because Tharman had alluded to the fact that the latter ran a fund management company dependent on government money, he was therefore not independent.

But Tharman clarified that he was actually trying to make the opposite point.

"I said the opposite actually, I said it doesn't mean you're not independent.

The whole point I'm making is whether you're a member of a political party, or you've been a top civil servant, or you're running a company that's dependent on the government for its business — the whole issue is your character."

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Top image by Alfie Kwa.