Ex-NTUC Income chief executive officer Tan Kin Lian has confirmed that a few opposition parties have approached him and expressed their interest in recruiting him.

He confirmed this in an interview with reporters from the Shin Min Daily News.

According to the report, Tan Kin Lian has said he has yet to decide if he will contest in the next general election.

Mr Tan says he has yet to decide which party he would join.

He told The Straits Times in an interview in Nov 2008 that he had been a People's Action Party member for 30 years, but quit because he was no longer active. He added that, increasingly, he also found that he did not agree with the PAP's value system over the years.

Reasons for hesitation

Mr Tan gave reporters from the Chinese daily his reasons for his hesitation in deciding whether or not to contest in the next election.

He said: "My hands are full in dealing with and fulfilling my private and public duties. If I were to contest, it would mean putting all my responsibilities aside or changing my key priorities."

Mr Tan's family is also not supportive of his going into politics, especially as an opposition party member.

He said most people seemed to hold the view that you were either "with or against" the government, but he hoped his participation would serve to provide a platform where alternative policies and methods of government might be voiced.

As for his reason for not running in the next election as an independent, it is because he feels running in an election requires many considerations, which more experienced party members may be able to help.

"If I were to contest in the next election, it is likely that I would compete for a seat in a group representation constituency (GRC)," he said.

When asked by reporters when the next election is likely to be held, Mr Tan's guess is that it would be held either at the end of 2009 or early next year.

Opposition parties should co-operate

In the interview with the Shin Min Daily, Mr Tan also revealed that he is friends with a few opposition party chiefs, whom he keeps in touch with regularly.

Mr Tan said he would encourage them to co-operate and consider the possibility of joining together to form a bigger party.

He said: "They need to learn to work together as one, in order to attract more members. If I decide to contest, I would hope my actions will encourage others who are able to join as well, so the public would have a bigger and better selection of people to choose their leaders from."

Even if he does not end up running in the election, he hopes to continue his role as the public's advocate and activist, as he wants Singaporeans to know the rights and responsibilities that they have as citizens.

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