I’m the true-blue independent candidate: Andrew Kuan

For Presidential hopeful Andrew Kuan, it is not the case of once bitten twice shy.

The former JTC Corporation group chief financial officer submitted on Friday morning his application forms for the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) to stand as a candidate in the coming Presidential Election.

This will be his second attempt at the presidency after he failed to qualify to stand as a candidate in the 2005 contest in which incumbent President SR Nathan was elected unopposed.

Kuan arrived at 11am at the Elections Department with two other friends to submit his forms.

After taking 30 minutes to sort out the paperwork, Kuan told reporters that his "independence" in that he is not associated with any political party sets him apart from the other hopefuls.

"I'm the true-blue independent candidate without any party affiliation," he said. "People want somebody who is independent, who can listen to them carefully and speak out for them."

Although Kuan is currently not with any party, he was previously a PAP member until he quit in 2005.

Three other presidential hopefuls — former deputy prime minister Dr Tony Tan; former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian; Dr Tan Cheng Bock — all were from the PAP, while former civil service high-flyer Tan Jee Say ran in the General Election under the Singapore Democratic Party banner.

All four have handed in their applications for the eligibility certificates.

Similar to Tan Kin Lian and Tan Jee Say, Kuan believes he qualifies under a provision 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."

But the Presidential Election Committee (PEC) will decide if the position or responsibility will have given the candidate the "experience and ability in administering and managing financial affairs as to enable him to carry out effectively the functions and duties of the office of President."

Back in 2005, Kuan was unsuccessful in his bid to run for president after the committee did not issue him an eligibility certificate because the seniority and responsibility of his JTC position did not match the criteria stated in the Constitution.

Saying that he has done his "very best" to fulfill all the criteria this time round, Kuan added: "I will leave it to the good judgment of the three members of the PEC."

Wanting to take one step at a time by first qualifying for the COE, he revealed that he will only discuss his plans as a presidential candidate after receiving confirmation from the committee.

Kuan, who now runs his own business consultancy, hopes his "strong financial management experience" from his four years at JTC and his grassroots experience as the Finance Chairman of Punggol Town Council will help him to garner support from Singaporeans.

Pointing out that he has three Cs — commitment, competency and courage — to serve his fellow countrymen, he said: "I've not stopped listening to the voice of Singaporeans.

"I'm looking forward to be able to be at the People's Association during Nomination day," he added, before thanking reporters in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong passed the Writ of Election, which means candidates have up to three working days from which it is issued to submit the forms for the eligibility certificate.

Nomination Day will fall on 17 Aug while Singaporeans will head to the polls on 27 Aug.