SINGAPORE, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Singapore will hold a presidential election on Sept. 1 if more than one candidate is nominated to run for the largely ceremonial post, the government said on Friday.
This year's presidential election in the diverse city-state will be open to all ethnic groups, unlike the last time, in 2017, when the post was controversially reserved for those of Malay ethnicity.
The 2017 election was uncontested when applications from four candidates were rejected, sparking a rare protest by several hundred people in a city park who raised a banner with the message "ROBBED OF AN ELECTION #NotMyPresident".
They will have to get certificates of eligibility from the Presidential Elections Committee to stand.
Singapore has about 3.5 million citizens, about three-quarters of them ethnic Chinese, 12.5% ethnic Malay and 9% ethnic Indian, with the rest classified as Eurasians.
Persons:
Halimah, Singapore's, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Ng Kok, George Goh, Xinghui Kok, Jason Neely, Robert Birsel
Organizations:
Presidential, Thomson
Locations:
SINGAPORE, Singapore, Malay