Andrew Kuan has announced his intention to contest next month's Presidential Election
By Nigel Tan
Chief Editor
Despite the fact that three candidates have already announced their intentions to contest next month’s Presidential Election, Andrew Kuan seems to be undaunted by the prospect of a possible four-cornered fight. The former Chief Financial Officer of JTC is reportedly interested in making a second bid for the Presidency, even though he was disqualified by the Presidential Elections Committee six years ago.
Mr Kuan, who is 57, told The Straits Times that he would collect the eligibility forms “some time in July”. He applied for a Certificate of Eligibility to stand as a candidate in 2005, but soon became the victim of a smear campaign, with individuals including his former JTC bosses publicly denouncing his performance during his time as CFO. He was also publicly criticised by certain members of his condominium management committee, which he sits on.
He vehemently denied all the allegations thrown at him, calling them “allegations of no sense”. To prove his case, he has been willing to publicly reveal certain private documents including his performance appraisal reports signed by his former JTC bosses, in which he was said to have done a good job.
Mr Kuan was planning to stand as an independent candidate in the May 2011 general election in the constituency of Joo Chiat, where he is from. However, he was widely criticised on the internet, including here on The Satay Club, where he engaged in lengthy debates with other netizens. They urged him to withdraw from the race so as not to split the opposition votes.
Over the course of his online debates here, it was revealed that Mr Kuan was a former PAP member who has close personal links to former establishment figures who became opposition candidates, including Mr Tan Jee Say and Dr Ang Yong Guan – both of whom were field by the Singapore Democratic Party. Mr Tan was formerly the Principal Private Secretary to former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, whereas Dr Ang was once a grassroots leader who volunteered actively at PAP party branches. All three are thought to have left the PAP because they were disillusioned that the party had deviated from its original principles.
Under immense pressure, Mr Kuan eventually backed out, leaving the ruling People’s Action Party and main opposition Workers’ Party to duke it out in a straight fight. Ultimately, the PAP’s Charles Chong defeated the WP’s Yee Jenn Jong by a slim margin of just over 300 votes, a result which returned Mr Yee to Parliament as a Non-Constituency MP.
It is not clear how Mr Kuan intends to obtain the Certificate of Eligibility this year when his application was denied six years ago. Under the provisions of the Presidential Elections Act, candidates have to meet a set of extremely stringent criteria in order to qualify. The other three individuals who have filed applications for eligibility are Dr Tony Tan, Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Kin Lian.
–
The author is Chief Editor of The Satay Club
THE
The last sentence of para you quoted says
“All three are thought to have left the PAP because they were disillusioned that the party had deviated from its original principles.”
You read carefully.
Pingback: Daily SG: 13 Jul 2011 « The Singapore Daily
I am certain Mr Andrew Kuan is going to make history
he will undoubtedly be the very first presidential candidate should he be eligible to ….
Lose his deposit
someone have to make a start somewhere
Tan Jee Say was a member of the PAP? Doesn’t sound right.
As civil servant he could not have been a member. After he left service in 1991, he was sliming the government to people he met, something that a PAP member would not do.
DML – read properly lah. Who said TJS was a member of the PAP? He was a former establishment figure – meaning he was a civil servant and the PPS to GCT.
/// former establishment figures who became opposition candidates, including Mr Tan Jee Say and Dr Ang Yong Guan ///
Would prefer Andrew Kuan over Tony Tan . Just refuse to accept another PAP’s choice pushed down my throat. If I cannot have a completely non PAP connected participant, Andrew Kuan will be best option for me.