Tony Tan elected 7th president Singapore

SINGAPORE, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Tony Tan was elected the seventh president of Singapore Saturday after more than 83 percent of eligible voters cast their ballots.

Tan edged ahead of Tan Cheng Bock by 7,269 votes, the Straits Times reported.

An estimated 1.9 million voters had flocked to 781 polling stations across the country to vote for one of four presidential candidates, including incumbent President S. R. Nathan, Channel News Asia reported.

"I know that Singaporeans are sensible people. Whatever their gripes, they will do what is best for Singapore," Nathan, the country's sixth president, told reporters after voting with his wife at Haig Girls' School at 8:30 a.m.

The four candidates for president made their final pitches during a 10-minute television broadcast Friday night, the Straits Times said.