SINGAPORE — Former presidential candidate Tan Cheng Bock has slammed Deputy Attorney-General (AG) Hri Kumar Nair over remarks in the latter's court submissions against Dr Tan's legal challenge on the coming reserved Presidential Election, calling them "hitting below the belt" and  “highly inflammatory".

Dr Tan's challenge was thrown out by the courts on Friday (July 7), with Mr Nair — who was representing the Attorney-General's Chambers — describing Dr Tan's case as "entirely self-serving", "purely selfish", and having “no regard for the principle of multiracial representation" 

Writing on Facebook, Dr Tan, who was not present in court when the ruling was delivered in chambers, said Mr Nair had encroached into "dangerous racial politics” with his words.

Dr Tan pointed out that as a public servant and a former People's Action Party Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Nair “should not have made such a statement”. Mr Nair was a two-term MP who stepped down in 2015, before he was appointed as Deputy AG in March this year. 

“This case is not about race. It is about process and procedures. It is about upholding the Constitution. Let’s keep it that way," said Dr Tan, who is also a former PAP MP. 

Dr Tan was first elected into Parliament in 1980, and stepped down in 2006. He said that throughout his 26-year political career, he had championed multi-racialism and continues to do so. The former Ayer Rajah MP said he was "fortunate enough to take care of a constituency comprising 27 per cent Malay constituents".

“We served together well and they graciously supported me with record high election percentages including 88 per cent in 2001,” said Dr Tan, who lost narrowly in the 2011 Presidential Election to current President Dr Tony Tan. “I am thankful for the great rapport I had with my Malay constituents and grassroot leaders — some of whom still continue to visit my home during Chinese New Year until this day.”

Dr Tan noted that Justice Quentin Loh, who presided over his legal challenge, "did not entertain" this particular point of submission by Mr Nair in his judgment, “presumably because that submission was irrelevant to the case”. Mr Nair could not be reached for comment. 

Expressing disappointment on the High Court ruling, Dr Tan said that his lawyers are studying the 65-page judgment and he will announce whether he will appeal against the decision after the weekend. He has until Wednesday to file the appeal.