Entrepreneur George Goh clarifies his independent stance, rejecting rumors of political ties.
SINGAPORE: Presidential hopeful George Goh Ching Wah has firmly denied circulating claims that he holds a senior position within the ruling People’s Action Party’s (PAP) grassroots network. Goh, a businessman and philanthropist, has consistently emphasized his independence, noting his only past government role was as Singapore’s non-resident ambassador to Morocco—a position he resigned from on June 9 to pursue his presidential aspirations.
Following his collection of eligibility forms on June 13, a rumor began circulating on WhatsApp and Telegram, alleging that Goh was previously the chairman of the Kampong Ubi Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC). An image attached to these messages referenced a media release from 2000 that mentioned a “George Goh” as CCC chairman. However, Goh’s team quickly debunked this claim, clarifying that the referenced individual is “George Goh Tiong Yong,” not George Goh Ching Wah.
In a statement, Goh’s team emphasized his lack of political ties: “Mr. George Goh Ching Wah was never a CCC member, let alone chairman, and has no political affiliations—past or present.” Goh reiterated that his vision for the presidency is centered on a truly independent, non-political head of state. Citing past election results, he noted Singaporeans’ preference for non-establishment candidates, referencing the 2011 presidential election, where non-establishment candidates collectively received 65% of the vote.
Addressing potential competition with Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Goh expressed confidence that today’s voters remain inclined toward an independent candidate, stating, “We win when we stand together.”
