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PE: Tony Tan hits out at "baseless allegations" made against his sons By S Ramesh | Posted: 25 August 2011 1147 hrs SINGAPORE: On the final day of the Presidential election campaign, candidate Dr Tony Tan has hit out at allegations made against his family, in particular, his sons. He said he is saddened by the personal attacks which have no basis at all. Speaking to the media on Thursday after touring Chong Pang Market in Sembawang with his wife, an area he's familiar with since his days as MP, he said the personal attacks are designed to distract Singaporeans from the key issues in the Presidential election campaign. He said: "I am outraged by the false allegations that have made this (a) smear campaign - the lies, (the) baseless allegations and the attacks on my family. "These personal attacks and allegations are baseless, they are all lies. They are designed to distract Singaporeans from the true debate and the role of the President and the future of Singapore. "I am saddened by such personal attacks because it sets a wrong tone in Singapore. "Our politics should be based on debate on issues and real problems and not on personal attacks on myself or family members which have no basis at all. "I hope we should stamp this out because if this goes on, it will lower the tone of politics in Singapore and doesn't do anybody any good." Dr Tan's sons responded on Thursday with a statement to refute allegations about their National Service (NS) record. The trio - Peter, Patrick and Philip Tan - said they have fulfilled all obligations in accordance with the rules, regulations and deployment policies of Mindef (Ministry of Defence), and that allegations concerning their NS circulated on the Internet and reinforced by Dr Tony Tan's opponents, are lies. Last month, Patrick Tan had posted a statement on his father's Facebook page to refute allegations that he had received preferential treatment during his National Service in 2000, after he returned from overseas studies. Dr Tony Tan was the Defence Minister from 1995 to 2003. Wrapping up his campaign, Dr Tan added that on the whole, it had been a dignified one, although there had been some strong statements made once in a while. He said this was to be expected in the heat of the hustings. And he hopes that the overall tone of this year's Presidential campaign would set the tone for future ones.