S’pore Swimming amends constitution for future elections

SINGAPORE – To ensure a fairer and more transparent process for future elections, the Singapore Swimming Association (SSA) has amended their constitution to include a clause which details what will happen in the event of a tie during voting.

Under the amendment, which was included under “Section 10.4 Delegates and Voting”, if two or more candidates at future elections receive an equal number of votes, a re-vote will be taken.

Should there be another tie after the re-vote, the chairman presiding over the elections will cast the deciding vote.

However, if the SSA president is the chairman of the meeting, and it is his role which requires a tie-break, the next highest appointee in the executive committee (exco) will cast the vote instead.

Speaking about the amendment, which was officially adopted at the SSA’s annual general meeting (AGM) at the OCBC Aquatic Centre today (June 29), SSA president Lee Kok Choy said: “The purpose of including the tie-break clause into our constitution is to ensure that there is no ambiguity when it comes to the elections.

“We want to be as transparent as possible, to ensure that we are accountable for all our affiliates during the voting process.”

Another amendment that was adopted at the AGM was the change in title of Vice-President (Finance) to Vice-President (Partnerships).

Under the current constitution, the Vice-President (Finance), is responsible for matters relating to fundraising and marketing of the Association and the aquatic activities.

Lee said the change in title was meant to more accurately reflect the “responsibilities of…the position” that has been held by managing director of communications agency Spin Worldwide Jose Raymond since 2014.

The AGM also saw Lee reflecting on a successful year for Singapore swimming, which culminated in Joseph Schooling’s historic gold medal win in the 100m butterfly at the Rio Olympic Games.

Other highlights include swimmer Quah Zheng Wen making the Olympic semi-finals in the 200m fly, as well as officials William Lee and Steve Chew becoming the first Singaporeans to judge at the Olympics in Diving and Synchronised Swimming respectively.

Said Lee: “(The year) 2016 brought us many reasons to cheer, and for that, we also need to thank the affiliates and the swimming fraternity for being supportive of the SSA and our mission.

“We will continue to do nothing but our very best, to keep taking the sport to higher levels.”