Tan Jee Say

Tan Jee Say (born 12 February 1954) is a Singaporean politician and former civil servant who stood in a four-cornered fight for the 2011 presidential election.

Tan had worked in the Civil Service for 11 years, including six years in the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) from 1979 to 1985, before leaving as Deputy Director for Economic and Manpower Planning.

During that period, he served as the secretary to Albert Winsemius, the government's economic adviser, concurrently.

Tan refuted Goh's claims and explained that he had intended to leave the Civil Service in 1984 after his scholarship bond ended, but was persuaded by Goh to become the latter's principal private secretary.

After serving as Goh's principal private secretary for five years, Tan said he stated his intent to leave again, which Goh accepted.

Tan's team, composed of Vincent Wijeysingha, Ang Yong Guan and Michelle Lee Juen, lost to the PAP team led by Vivian Balakrishnan, which won 60.1% of the vote.

He went on to serve as the principal private secretary to Deputy Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong from 1985 to 1990.

In response, Tan pointed out that his proposals were endorsed by Lord Butler of Brockwell, British Cabinet Secretary from 1988 to 1998.

Tan left the Civil Service in 1990 and entered the finance industry, where he has worked for more than a decade.

Tan became Director of Corporate Finance at Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in 1990.

He subsequently became Head of Peregrine Capital Singapore in 1994.

He was the regional managing director for AIB Govett, an asset management company, from 1997 to 2001.

Tan was subsequently appointed as Regional Director for ACCA in the Asia-Pacific region in 2006.

He disputed Lee's assertion that the manufacturing sector is more steady by citing a 2009 study by the Ministry of Trade and Industry which concluded that the services sector as a whole has a relatively low volatility.

During the campaign, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong claimed that Tan left the Civil Service because Goh "did not think he could make it as a permanent secretary."

Tan joined the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) in April 2011 due to his "dismay" at Singapore's society and economy.

During the 2011 general election, Tan contested the Holland–Bukit Timah GRC.

On the economy, Tan proposed S$60 billion to be set aside for a National Regeneration Plan.

He called the sum "small change" compared to the government's supposed surpluses and losses in investments.

The "small change" label was criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivian Balakrishnan, who said Tan's plans could put 500,000 jobs at risk.

Tan proposed that Singapore shift its focus away from manufacturing to the services sector.

He argued that "we should not promote manufacturing because it requires a lot of land and labour. But Singapore is short of land and labour... We want to promote, we want to use our land, limited tax incentives... promoting services sector such as medical, health sectors, education, creative industries." Tan's suggestion was rebuked by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who questioned his qualifications.

Lee said the manufacturing sector is more "steady" compared to the "volatile" services sector.

In July 2011, Tan resigned from the SDP and announced his candidacy for the 2011 presidential election.

He campaigned on a platform of being a candidate who is "clear[ly]" independent from the ruling PAP and declared that he would be the "conscience of the nation."

Tan said he could "provide real and effective checks and balances on the excesses of the PAP government" since the President has veto power in some key areas.

He cited the country's new casino industry (referring to the Integrated Resorts) as an example of PAP "[losing] its moral compass."

In addition, Tan said he wanted to "raise the profile of all non-PAP forces" in preparation for the next general election.

He added that he aimed to show Singaporeans that the office of the president "is not a shoo-in for the PAP."

Tan also emphasised his economics background and policymaking experience.

On 25 May 2014, Tan established a new political party, Singaporeans First, which pledged to put "Singaporeans at the heart of the nation".

He is now advocating abolishing GST.

When Tan was asked by Chris of the TR Emeritus that Singaporeans saw him as an opportunist, he responded that in Singapore there are very few platforms for alternative views to be expressed as the public media is dominated by the government and that Singaporeans heard nothing but the views of the government on issues as though there is only one view in the world.

He added that because of this, the general election and the presidential election are important opportunities and important forums to tell Singaporeans what alternative views and solutions there are.

He also founded the defunct political party, Singaporeans First which was disbanded prior to the 2020 general election.

Tan graduated from University College, Oxford with a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy, politics and economics (PPE) under the Government Overseas Merit Scholarship.

The party did not fare long however, as he dissolved Singaporeans First on 25 June 2020.

On 29 June 2020, the eve of Nomination Day for the 2020 general election, Tan made a last minute bid to party secretary-general Chee Soon Juan to rejoin the SDP.

His appeal was successful and he contested as an SDP candidate in Holland–Bukit Timah GRC.

However, his SDP team lost to the PAP team led by Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan.