http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,92724,00.html
FOUR years ago, Presidential hopeful Andrew Kuan was already in a
seat of power.
He was chairman of the management council of his condominium, The
Tanamera.
That would add to his list of credentials in his quest for the
necessary certificate of eligibility - except for one nagging
question:
Was he ousted by his own committee on his own home ground?
Picture: Tay Shi'an
His reply: No, he stepped down.
The minutes of a council meeting on 16 May, 2001, however, suggests
otherwise.
The minutes, obtained by The New Paper on Sunday, stated that Mr
Kuan was voted out of his chairman position in the council - before
his term was completed.
The council, representing members of the 288-unit condominium,
voted for another council member, Mr Neo Son Chai, to replace Mr
Kuan, 51, as chairman.
Eight of the 13 voted to replace him. One voted against it. The
rest abstained.
Voting was carried out by secret ballot.
The minutes stated: 'Therefore, the motion to replace Mr Andrew
Kuan with Mr Neo Son Chai as council chairman, with immediate
effect, was carried.'
The New Paper on Sunday understands that the motion to replace Mr
Kuan was tabled because of some unhappiness over his leadership
.
Immediately after the vote which ousted him as chairman, Mr Kuan
asked to leave the meeting.
ASKED TO CLARIFY SOME ISSUES
But he was asked to stay on to help clarify some issues.
During the meeting, Mr Kuan was queried about why he had not
informed the rest of the council of some of the developments within
the council, and why it was not told of legal costs incurred in
dealing with an issue.
According to the minutes of the meeting, the managing agent replied
that the cost incurred was confidential, and it was up to Mr Kuan,
as chairman, to decide whether or not to reveal it to the
council.
At this stage, Mr Kuan again asked to leave the meeting. This time,
he was excused.
This vote was carried out at a usual monthly council meeting and
not at the annual general meeting, when leadership changes would
normally be decided.
Mr Kuan confirmed on Friday that he was once the chairman of his
condominium council.
He added that he had been treasurer of the management council for
two years, followed by another three years as its chairman.
He said: 'I stepped down just before I joined JTC in May
2001.'
Was he voted out?
'No,' he said. 'I wanted to step down, to hand over to somebody
else who wanted to take over.'
Were the circumstances surrounding the changeover
contentious?
He said that they were not.
Pressed about whether or not he was voted out, he said: 'No, I was
not. I actually wanted to step down because I stand for what I
think is right.
'They wanted a change, and I wanted a change myself too.
'And I was preparing to go to JTC, so I was willing to pass
on.
'I was looking for fresh blood for a long time.'
Did he succeed in finding fresh blood?
He said: 'I let the committee decide who they wanted to take
over.'
Mr Kuan joined JTC in June 2001, as its group chief financial
officer.
He left JTC in July last year.
Yesterday afternoon, The New Paper on Sunday asked to interview him
again on whether he stood by his previous reply that he had stepped
down as chairman voluntarily.
election agent, Mr Francis Goh, 42, replied in an SMS: 'He stands
by what he said in his interview with you and he has no further
comment at this stage.'
When contacted, Mr Leo Cheng Suan, a lawyer who advises on
Management Council Strata Title matters, said: 'Normally, a motion
would not have been required to be passed if an office bearer
voluntarily stepped down.
'It is usually only passed if the other council members want to
remove him.'
ACCURATE REFLECTION
His Council members contacted confirmed the minutes are an accurate
reflection of what took place.
Mr Kuan's first hurdle on his road to the Presidency would be to
show that he has what it takes to be Singapore's President by
securing the certificate of eligibility.
If he gets the certificate, he will have to win the battle for some
2.1 million votes.