The joker story below
Kuan joined JTC to boost chances
By Li Xueying
Aug 8, 2005
The Straits Times
IT WAS in 1999 - the year Mr S R Nathan was elected president -
that Mr Andrew Kuan began to harbour the ambition of running for
the highest office.
Two years later, he joined JTC Corporation as its group chief
financial officer (CFO) in June 2001, in a calculated move to boost
his chances.
He told reporters yesterday at his Tanah Merah apartment: 'I needed
the exposure. I wanted to be involved in the machinery of the
Government, to understand and to know more people, establish good
relationships with people in the civil service, with political
leaders as well as the rank and file.'
Mr Kuan has submitted papers to qualify him to run for president.
The only people who qualify are those with at least three years'
senior management experience in positions like chairman and CEO of
big statutory boards like JTC or heads of ministries, or 'any other
similar or comparable position of seniority and
responsibility'.
Mr Kuan was CFO, not CEO, so it is uncertain if he will qualify.
Candidates also need to be a person of integrity and good character
as assessed by the Presidential Elections Committee.
Mr Kuan was in JTC for three years and one month. He said he helped
it invest its surplus funds which yielded results 'way above what
they used to get'. He also implemented a framework to measure JTC's
economic productivity.
On rumours that he left JTC on an unhappy note, he said: 'I don't
leave any place on a sour basis.'
He declined to give details about his campaign or his
platform.
He did say one supporter, a senior officer in a real estate
company, has already put up the $37,500 for the poll deposit.
Mr Kuan, who had offered the interview to the press, was eager to
respond to a report in The New Paper yesterday which said he was
ousted from his position as chairman of the management council of
his condominium in May 2001 after members were not happy with his
management style.
He said the conflict arose after he made a police report about a
forged signature by a council member who later resigned.
He claimed the man's friends in the council were 'not happy' and
tabled a resolution to remove him. Mr Kuan said he then
resigned.
Yesterday evening, he made his first public appearance since
announcing his presidential bid - as the guest of honour of a dog
walk in West Coast Park to celebrate National Day organised by a
pet boutique.
Some people expressed support, but others who shook his hand were
bemused, apparently not knowing who he was
