SINGAPORE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Singapore's presidential candidates can start applying for the September presidential race from Thursday, Channel NewsAsia reported.
According to the Elections Department, the applications will close five days after the writ of election is issued in August, ahead of the elections in September.
Applicants will be notified whether they qualify before Nomination Day.
Incumbent President Tony Tan Keng Yam will complete his term of office on Aug. 31. In the interim period from September 1 to the date of new President taking office, an acting President will assume the role of President according to the law.
Application forms of candidates who are successfully nominated will be made public after the close of nomination proceedings, in line with recommendations of the Constitutional Commission.
Singapore's presidential election is reserved for Malay candidates according to the Constitution amended last November. Thus, the prospective candidates must apply to the Community Committee for a Malay community certificate.
The Singapore parliament passed the bill to amend the Constitution to raise bar for presidential candidates and ensure multiracial representation in the Presidency last November.
Under the new constitution, an election will be reserved for a particular racial group if no one from that group has been president for five continuous terms.
Since Wee Kim Wee became the first elected president in 1991, Presidents in Singapore have come from the Chinese and Indian community.
