A RIFT has erupted in the usually staid ranks of the prestigious and powerful Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI).
In a night of high drama, the 55th SCCCI council elections on Wednesday resulted in four of the seven council positions being left unfilled.
This followed an apparent falling out over the four candidates, who represent Chinese dialect groups at SCCCI - which is 102 years old and the most influential business chamber in Singapore.
The unprecedented rift has already sparked calls for a review of the SCCCI's election system, which requires unanimous support for each candidate.
'I hope this issue can be resolved expeditiously and quickly,'' said corporate member Robson Lee, a partner at law firm Shook Lin and Bok.
'I think the rule of the unanimous voting was brought in to promote unity and harmony, and it is sad that it has become legal provision to create such a situation,'' he said.
'If the rule needs to be refined, maybe it would be good for the new management committee to review the constitutional provision so that such a deadlock would not happen again.''
The SCCCI itself is not commenting on the furore, beyond a brief statement setting out the election result.
