"My Fellow Singaporeans...": Indian-Origin Leader Is New Singapore President

Singapore's former Indian-origin Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam was elected President on Friday, comfortably securing victory in the city-state's first contested vote for the largely ceremonial position in more than a decade.

"My fellow Singaporeans, I am truly humbled by the strong endorsement you have given me in our nation's presidential election. My fellow candidates put full effort and energy into their campaigns, and made this a worthy contest. I thank and commend them," Mr Shanmugaratnam posted on Facebook.

"Above all I thank my fellow Singaporeans, whichever way you voted, for your interest and calm engagement in the issues raised in the election. I believe the vote for me and what I stood for is a vote of confidence in Singapore itself, a vote of optimism in how we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans," he said.

"I believe that it's a vote of confidence in Singapore. It's a vote of optimism for a future in which we can progress together and support each other as Singaporeans," the former Finance Minister said in a speech before the results were announced.