Despite an unsuccessful attempt in 2005,
Andrew Kuan has collected forms for the eligibility certificate to
contest …
Former JTC Corporation group chief financial officer Andrew Kuan collected on
Wednesday the application forms for the Certificate
of Eligibility to stand as a candidate in the upcoming
Presidential Election.
His decision to apply for eligibility for the second time comes
after his failed attempt to stand as a candidate in the 2005
contest.
Kuan — who arrived at the Elections Department at 10.45am — told
reporters that he plans to highlight two points to the Presidential
Elections Committee in the hope that they would grant him the
eligibility certificate this time around.
Now running his own business consultancy, he pointed to a clause
in the JTC Act outlining the duties of a CFO — a position he held
from June 2001 to July 2004 — which would qualify him under one of
the eligibility criteria.
The Act stated that the CFO will "prepare the financial
statements in respect of each preceding financial year and submit
them to the Corporation's auditor who shall audit and report on
them to the Minister and the President".
The presidential hopeful added that he will also submit a copy
of JTC's appraisal of his work from April 2003 to March 2004, which
he claimed "exceeded expectations" in his work performance.
In addition, Kuan will also be applying under a clause which
states that applicants must hold a "comparable position of
seniority and responsibility in any other organisation or
department of equivalent size or complexity in the public or
private sector".
This however, is subject to the approval of the presidential
committee.
Back in 2005, he was unsuccessful in his bid after the committee
did not issue him an eligibility certificate because the seniority
and responsibility of his JTC position did not match the
eligibility criteria stated in the Constitution.
At that time, JTC also held a press conference to say that Kuan
— a former People's Action Party (PAP) member — was asked to leave
the statutory board because his performance was not
satisfactory.
In the recent May 7 general election (GE), Kuan had announced
his intention to contest in the single-member ward of Joo Chiat,
but he pulled out to avoid a three-cornered fight between the
Workers' Party (WP) and the PAP.
His announcement to run as a possible candidate comes after four
other hopefuls voiced similar intentions.
They are former deputy prime minister Dr Tony Tan; former NTUC
Income chief Tan Kin Lian; Dr Tan Cheng Bock
and former civil service high-flier Tan Jee Say.
While the first three have already submitted their application
forms, Tan Jee Say has yet to do so.
The presidential election must be held by 31 August. Application
for the certificate of eligibility will be
closed on the third day after the Writ of Election is issued.
