Vivian Tay Siew Hong
Vivian Tay Siew Hong (born 1956) is the wife of presidential candidate Tan Kin Lian.[1] Tay is a homemaker and together with Tan, has three children and five grandchildren. Tay has supported Tan’s presidential bids in 2011 and 2023.[1][2]
Background
Family
As previously mentioned, the couple have three children. Two of them were identified during Tan’s presidential campaign: His daughter, Tan Su Ling; and his son, Tan Boon Keng.[3][4]
In a Facebook post dated 14 July 2018, Tan shared a photo of him and Tay with her extended family.[5] He revealed his wife’s grandparents had 11 children, and the photo featured “their grandchildren (3rd generation) and their spouses.” Tan also shared that Tay is the “eldest in [her] generation.”[5]
When speaking about his wife during his presidential bid, Tan revealed he first met Tay when she was a bridal shop salesgirl.[6]
Apart from the above posts and comments, Tay and Tan are largely discreet in their personal lives.
Presidential Elections 2023
Tan Kin Lian’s launch of his presidential bid (11 August 2023)
On 11 August 2023, Tan held a media conference to launch his second presidential bid.[7][8] Tay was not interviewed during this conference, but she is noted to have accompanied her husband.
Nomination Day (22 August 2023)
On 22 August 2023, Tay, along with a few other family members, accompanied Tan to the nomination place at the People’s Association Headquarters at Jalan Besar.[9] During the media interview segment, Tay was questioned about her views on her husband’s social media comments about “pretty girls”.[10] Tan intervened and asserted his social media posts were unrelated to Tay.
Tan Kin Lian formally introduces Tay Siew Hong during his walkabout at Geylang Serai Market (25 August 2023)
On 25 August 2023, Tan first introduced Tay to the public on his walkabout at Geylang Serai Market.[11][12] When introducing Tay, Tan commented on the rationale behind the outfit she wore for the walkabout:
“When I told her I’m coming to Geylang Serai Market, see what she wear. Green. She knows that green is the colour that our Muslim friends like. So she’s very sensitive to this.”[8]
Tan went on to state that he introduced Tay to the public so that “Singaporeans will also have a choice of the first lady.” He then affirmed he and Tay are “blue-blooded Singaporeans” before claiming Singaporeans have a preference for their President and First Lady to be of the same nationality.[8]
Tay’s first media interview (25 August 2023)
During the same walkabout at Geylang Serai Market, Tay fielded media questions for the first time in Tan’s presidential campaign.[1][6][13] Speaking in English and Mandarin, Tay shared that she had decided to support her husband’s campaign as he “really loves Singapore and wants to make a contribution to help the people.”[6]
She also shared she had been brewing herbal tea daily to help Tan stay hydrated amidst the hot weather. To further support him, Tay cooked his favourite dishes, such as Indonesian rendang (a Malay meat dish that is cooked slowly with coconut milk and spices until dry).[6]
Tay also shared her concerns about the presidential bid, stating she had been stressed by the “unfair comments” made about Tan and their family. Choosing to adopt a positive outlook in response to the negativity, Tay asked for the public to be mindful of what they said, especially “behind the computer.”[6]
Presidential Elections 2011
Tay addressed the public during a rally (2011)
Tay played a more active role during Tan’s first presidential bid in 2011. Footage of Tay addressing the public during a rally can be found on TikTok, where she spoke about her husband in a mixture of Mandarin and English:
“I am Tan Kin Lian’s wife, and we’ve been together for 40 years. He has always led a simple life, and he’s frugal, selfless, and studious. When I don’t carry myself well around others, [Tan] would always remind me to ‘please think of others!’”[2]
Tay ended her speech by affirming her support for Tan’s presidency bid and urged Singaporeans to vote for him.
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lee, Joshua. "Tan Kin Lian's wife shares why & how she supports his 2nd presidential bid”. Mothership. August 25, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 sgkakinang. "Mrs Tan Kin Lian, pls blink twice if u need help 🥺”. TikTok. August 25, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ Tan, Claudia. “Too little time? Tan Kin Lian's daughter frustrated with 'extremely unfair system of campaigning”. Asia One. August 23, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ wakeupsingapore. “There are posts going around showing maliciously angled photo of Mr Tan Kin Lian holding onto a little girl”. Instagram. August 24, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kin Lian, Tan. "My wife's grandparents had 11 children". Facebook. July 14, 2018. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Abdullah, Zhaki. "Tan Kin Lian says he will seek good relations with PM to exercise ‘soft power’ of presidency". The Straits Times. August 25, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ The Straits Times. “Tan Kin Lian and family arrive at nomination centre”. YouTube. August 22, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Chia, Han Keong. "Tan Kin Lian announces intention to run for Singapore presidency for the 2nd time". Yahoo! News. August 11, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ Chia, Han Keong. "Tan Kin Lian announces intention to run for Singapore presidency for the 2nd time". Yahoo! News. August 11, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ Lee, Loraine. "PE 2023: Tan Kin Lian says sorry to women 'uncomfortable' over 'pretty girls' online posts but asks why they are offensive". Today. August 22, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ Loh, Renald. "PE 2023: Tan Kin Lian claims voters 'prefer chance to have' S'pore-born President and spouse; comment slammed as 'dangerous''". Today. August 25, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ Ganesan, Natasha. "Voters would 'prefer a chance to have' Singapore-born President and spouse, claims Tan Kin Lian". Channel News Asia. August 25, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.
- ↑ sgwhatsup. "Good job Tay Siew Hong aka Mrs Tan Kin Lian!". TikTok. August 25, 2023. Accessed 16 September 2023.