SINGAPORE — It was touted as a solution to the infighting among Singapore Athletics’ (SA) executive committee, but instead, the national sports association’s decision to call a snap election at Friday’s (May 5) Extraordinary General Meeting (EOGM) could turn into a farce.

National sports governing body Sport Singapore (SportSG) has called the move “unconstitutional” in its letter — signed by its chief executive officer Lim Teck Yin — to the SA’s management committee (MC) on Wednesday.

According to the document, SportSG had looked into the matter after receiving information that there were concerns among some members that the motions being proposed — which included the dissolution of the MC and calling for elections — are unconstitutional.

Lim said in the letter: “We have looked into these concerns and agree that the proposed motions are unconstitutional. We urge the management committee to take all necessary steps to ensure that all motions being proposed and passed at the EOGM will be in compliance with the Constitution of the SA.”

Just 10 months ago, current president Ho Mun Cheong and his team were elected to office after a fierce battle against lawyer Edmond Pereira. But things soon fell apart, as disagreements and bickering led to the move to call for an EOGM and the election of new leaders.

While SportSG’s letter could derail those plans, Ho struck a defiant note on Wednesday, as he insisted that the EOGM would proceed “until such time that they (SportSG) do something.”

Ho, who is expected to challenge current vice-president (training & selection) Govindasamy Balasekaran in the fight for the presidency, said that he has written to SportSG to seek clarification on why the motions are unconstitutional.

“Our legal advisers have advised that the requisition of EOGM and the motions proposed are in compliance with the SA’s constitution,” said Ho in his response to SportSG. “Please be assured that the SA will ensure that the conduct of the EOGM and motions, if passed ... this Friday, are in compliance with the SA’s Constitution.”

Balasekaran and his team have asked for the EOGM and elections to be called off.

SA honorary secretary Alexander Charles Louis, a lawyer, said that the unconstitutional aspect of the EOGM was due to the notice for the dissolution of all 26-members of the MC under rule 11(k) of SA’s constitution.

Rule 11(k) of the constitution states that a member of the MC may be removed from office if he or she has absented himself from three consecutive meetings without a satisfactory explanation, had inadequately discharged their duties or acted injuriously against the interests of the SA.

“If the 26 members of the MC have fallen foul of rule 11(k), then it would only be right and fitting that due process is observed and a notice is served to us or a commission of enquiry investigates this issue,” said Louis, during a press conference yesterday to unveil the team.

“But we’ve not been given a chance to defend ourselves. If they want to proceed with this, then it will be a breach of natural justice.

“Also, the notice (of the EOGM) was signed by the president under the term ‘by order of the MC’, but there was no MC meeting held to discuss this. Yet, he has signed it, and this is not in line with the constitution.”

Louis said that he and several MC members could consider taking legal action to “nullify” the results of the elections if the EOGM and polls proceed on Friday.

He added: “The EOGM is unlawful, so the elections that are about to take place has no validity ... We are after all an IPC (institution of public charter), we are holding public funds, and as such, we have a responsibility to the public to ensure things are done right.”