Presidential Election Singapore

Presidential Election Singapore

This year's President's Star Charity - which is the last for outgoing President S R Nathan - garnered a record S$6.44 million in donations at the end of the two-and-a-half-hour show which was telecast live yesterday.

The amount has already surpassed the donations of previous years.

The show raised S$5.6 million last year and S$6 million in 2009. Yesterday's show featured a video tribute to Mr Nathan, who is not seeking re-election in the coming Presidential Election.

The show also featured performances by Italian teenage tenor trio II Volo, Singapore Idol alumni Sylvia Ratonel, Hady Mirza and Taufik Batisah, as well as celebrities such as Kym Ng, Belinda Lee, Hossan Leong and Sheikh Haikel.

Excluding this year's contributions, the President's Star Charity has raised more than S$100 million for more than 500 welfare organisations.

Viewers can pledge donations by dialling 1900 112-8821 (S$5), 1900 112-8822 (S$20) and 1900 112-8823 (S$100). The phone lines will close at midnight on Sunday.

With President Nathan at the close of the show are MediaCorp chairman Teo Ming Kian (second from right) and MediaCorp CEO Shaun Seow (right). In front of President Nathan is 10-year-old Adelyn Koh from the Singapore Association of the Visually-Handicapped, who played co-host. The hosts were Gurmit Singh, Glenda Chong and Soo Kui Jien.