SINGAPORE: Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam (pix) has been sworn in as the seventh President of Singapore at a ceremony held at the Istana on Thursday.
Dr Tan, 71, took his oath in the presence of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong for a six-year term.
In his speech, the soft spoken Dr Tan said he "wants to be President for all Singaporeans and a President all Singaporeans will be proud of."
The former Deputy Prime Minister said he would devote all his energy and all his heart to the new task, which he described as the biggest challenge of his political career.
Witnessed by Cabinet ministers, members of the judiciary, parliamentarians and senior civil servants, Dr Tan said Singaporeans have to work together to respond to the new challenges that the country was facing.
Dr Tan takes over the president's post from President S.R Nathan, 87, whose term ended on Aug 31 after serving as Singapore's head of state for the last 12 years.
He won the presidency in a four-cornered fight last week and after a recount of votes which saw him won by just over 7,000 votes.
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