During a media interaction on June 11, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam expressed a mix of sadness and gratitude as he received well-wishes from the residents of Jurong. This interaction took place shortly after the official opening of ActiveSG Sport Village @ Jurong Town.
Tharman had recently announced his decision to step down from the People’s Action Party (PAP) and enter the upcoming 2023 Presidential Election.
When asked about his feelings, Tharman acknowledged his sadness, stating, “Of course, I’m sad. I think they will be very well taken care of, and I personally wish all of them well, both as individuals and as a community.”
Residents of Taman Jurong echoed similar sentiments. Speaking to Mothership, one resident expressed their sadness, emphasizing that Tharman had been a highly regarded figure in the area. Another resident shared that they would also feel a profound sense of loss, as Tharman had been instrumental in providing assistance during his tenure as their Member of Parliament (MP). Grateful for his contributions, the resident expressed heartfelt appreciation towards him.
Other residents echoed these sentiments, expressing their belief that Tharman’s absence would leave a void in their community, and they would miss his presence.
However, Tharman assured everyone that Jurong would be in capable hands. He expressed confidence in his fellow Jurong GRC MPs, Senior Parliamentary Secretary Rahayu Mahzam, Tan Wu Meng, Shawn Huang, and Xie Yao Quan, stating that they would work tirelessly to ensure Jurong’s well-being. He specifically mentioned their dedication to serving Taman Jurong as well.
Following his declaration about his intention to run for the upcoming presidential election in Singapore, Tharman Shanmugaratnam posted a statement on his Facebook profile looking back on his time in the government, as well as made promises to the people about how he would be like if he is “fortunate enough” to be elected as president.