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In his final pitch to voters during the second Presidential Candidate Broadcast on Aug 30, Tharman Shanmugaratnam argues that if he were guilty of being a partisan, it is that he is a "partisan for better chances and better support for Singaporeans".

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Transcript
00:00 Why did I choose to serve in politics over the last two decades, after being a technocrat
00:06 over the previous two decades?
00:08 I wanted to serve actively on the ground, as well as to have a direct hand in shaping
00:15 policies for a fairer and more inclusive society.
00:21 My motive throughout has never been politically partisan.
00:28 As everyone familiar with me and the work I have done, both within and outside government,
00:34 has known.
00:36 I have played an active role in the shift in government policies to provide greater
00:41 support for the disadvantaged, to improve the quality of jobs and pay for lower-income
00:48 workers, and to improve retirement security for our seniors.
00:55 If I am a partisan, it is that I am a partisan for better chances and better support for
01:01 Singaporeans who have less, to help them uplift themselves and to uplift all our spirits.
01:11 That is my purpose in life.
01:14 The elected President has no decision-making power on the investment of reserves, and in
01:20 fact plays no role in investment strategies.
01:25 The President's most fundamental role when holding the second key to the reserves is
01:31 quite different.
01:33 It is to ensure that the spending policies of the government and various other public
01:38 agencies do not lead to the nation's reserves being misused.
01:45 This concerns the Ministry of Finance and Government, rather than the GIC.
01:51 [Music]
01:53 [Music]
01:55 [Music]
01:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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