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Summary The former deputy PM said he welcomed the development as part of a maturing democracy.
President-elect Tony Tan, the ruling partys proxy candidate who narrowly escaped defeat, said Sunday that Singaporeans have become more vocal and want more say in how they are governed.I think we must recognise the fact that there are many voices here in Singapore today. Singaporeans are more vocal, they want to make their views known, he told a news conference the day after winning a cliffhanger race.I think thats a good thing, we should have a diversity of views in Singapore. It enriches our society, it makes Singapore more vibrant, he added.Decision-making may be a little bit slower but I think thats a maturing of our democracy, civil society and our politics in Singapore and its a development which I welcome.Tan was elected president with a margin of just 7,269 votes out of 2.1 million ballots cast.The 71-year-old banker took just over 35 percent of the vote, well below the 60 percent garnered by the ruling Peoples Action Party (PAP) in general elections in May, its lowest ever showing.
