The email announcement from the FASS Club last Wednesday (5 Jun ’13) left many confused. The email announced that Shaun Niyo-Ramdas had vacated his post as Logistics Director of the 33rd Management Committee in the FASS Club after a vote of no confidence but also that it resulted in his “resignation” due to “commitment issues”. This, despite the fact the Ramdas had declared in his election manifesto that “FASS is my first priority.”
The few people (who declined to be named) that The RIDGE spoke to said that Ramdas was a controversial figure, especially in the College of Alice and Peter Tan (CAPT) where he served as Vice-President of Guitarpella as well as neighbourhood head of the Phoenix Neighbourhood. Although he led the Phoenix Neighbourhood to clinch the Neigbourhood Shield, he is described as “irresponsible” within Guitarpella. Loved and hated in equal measure.
The fact of the matter is that Ramdas did not resign. In an interview, FASS Club President, Tan Wei Yuan revealed that the vote of no-confidence was taken after Ramdas missed the latest meeting. At that point, Ramdas had not attended “five to six meetings consecutively.” Although Ramdas explained that he was sick and therefore unable to attend the latest meeting, he refused to go to the doctor to get a medical certificate. According to Tan, besides missing meetings, Ramdas also failed in many of his responsibilities as Logistics Director. Tan then informed Ramdas that a vote of no-confidence would be called. An extraordinary meeting was called and a vote of no-confidence was taken after some debate. The vote almost passed unanimously, save for one dissenter.
The RIDGE understands that at the moment, Tan has taken on the duties of the Logistics Director himself which entails staying back for the past three to four weeks to collect back the lockers rented to FASS students – a responsibility that Ramdas failed to fulfil.
In an interview, FASS Club President, Tan Wei Yuan revealed that the vote of no-confidence was taken after Ramdas missed the latest meeting after not attending “five to six meetings consecutively.”
According to Tan, Ramdas wanted to run for the position of Freshmen Orientation Project Committee Chairperson instead of the Logistics Director but the nature of our student electoral process did not allow him to do that. Instead, Ramdas had to settle for the position of Logistics Director, if he wanted to stay in the Management Committee – a factor that Tan speculates could have led to Ramdas disinterest in his duties. Tan said that this is not the first time someone had left the management committee; the other being Tan Yilin, who wanted the Vice-President position but ended up with the role of Assistant General Secretary.
Several NUS students have emailed Tan questioning the need for the Club to announce Ramdas sacking but Tan explained that it is “not pleasant to lose a committee member at this crucial [FOP] period. The remaining members in the management committee bear the brunt of this decision.” He added that the club is taking this seriously as Ramdas is an elected member of the management committee (he received 56.31% of the 515 votes that were casted during the election period).
This incident is not just about Ramdas but highlights the problems that exist within our current student electoral process – where popularity and capability, passion and position are not necessary complementary. It should get all of us thinking about what kind of student elections we want and how to ensure that such a debacle will not happen again.
Shaun Niyo-Ramdas declined to be interviewed.
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