Anyone keen in joining
opposition after Andrew Kuan?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Kuan
Kuan Yoke Loon Andrew (simplified
Chinese: 关玉麟;
pinyin: Guān
Yùlín) is the managing director of executive search firm
Blue Arrow. From 2001
to 2004, Kuan was the group chief
financial officer of the Jurong Town Corporation, one of four designated statutory
boards that confer eligibility to contest in the presidential
elections.
Kuan applied to run as a candidate in the Singapore presidential election, 2005. However, his
application for a Certificate of Eligibility was rejected as his
seniority and responsibility as JTC's Group Chief Financial Officer
were, in the opinion of the Presidential Elections Committee, not
comparable to those required under the Constitution.
Kuan announced his intention to compete in an election where the
incumbent president S R Nathan
is a candidate. However his application for a certificate of
eligibility to compete was unsuccessful resulting to Kuan alleging
conspiratorial theories involving the government.
Kuan was disqualified by the Presidential Elections Committee
for failing to meet the criteria for running for President in
Singapore. The Committee said Mr Kuan's seniority and
responsibility as JTC's Group Chief Financial Officer were not
comparable to those required under the Constitution. A presidential
candidate is required to have experience as chairman or chief
executive officer of a statutory board or a company with a paid-up
capital of at least S$100 million.
Singaporean media have reported extensively on the circumstances
surrounding Kuan's departure from his condominium's management
council in 2001. Kuan originally said he left amicably, but later
admitted to being voted out with 13 council members voting against
him, 2 abstaining and 1 voting for him. Kuan attributed this to
enmity aroused after he filed a police report against council
member Chia Boon Teck, who is also a member of PAP,
accusing him of forging signatures. The case was closed without
prosecution, but Chia filed a defamation suit
against Kuan in 2005 after details of the case and his identity
were leaked by The New
Paper.
On 9 August 2005, Singapore Prime
Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong
called for all candidates to be open about their records, so that
Singaporeans can make an informed judgement on them. He also
encouraged Andrew Kuan's former employers to come forward, speak
freely and tell Singaporeans what they know about him. [1]
2 days later on 11 August 2005, Kuan's former employer
government-linked JTC Corporation
called a news conference to provide details on the circumstances
leading to Kuan's resignation in July 2004. Chong Lit Cheong, chief executive officer of JTC Corporation
said that Andrew Kuan's work at JTC was unsatisfactory since his
first year there and was asked to resign twice on 2003 and 2004. No
details of why his work was unsatisfactory were provided, other
than to note that no fraud or other crime was involved and that Mr
Kuan required "quite a fair bit of hand holding". In reply, Kuan
noted that he had worked at JTC Corporation for 37 months,
extending his contract several times, and he was given performance
bonuses and a raise during this period.[2].