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An Open Letter to Mr Khaw
August 2nd, 2012 |
Author: Contributions
Dear Mr. Khaw,
I applaud you for your willingness and courage to be open and transparent. Despite all the criticisms leveled against you by netizens, I do believe that you are sincere in improving things for the better of Singapore.
However, that said, I do think there are serious issues with MND that warrant further investigation and/or explanation to the public.
The problem with the bicycle matter is not the questionable nature of the transaction per se in isolation, as you seem to be focusing on. Rather, the real problem with the bicycle matter is that it may be manifestation of a wider, underlying and systemic problem within the MND.
The MND has had its shares of controversy even before the bicycle matter. To be fair to you, we recognize that you may have inherited many of the problems from your predecessor, Mr. Mah Bow Tan; but regardless, because you are the current minister responsible for MND, it is not unfair to say that you have the responsibility to fix problems within the MND, whether the problems are pre-existing or new.
The mere fact that the bicycle matter was allowed to happen would seem to suggest that there are underlying, systemic issues within the MND in regards to checks and balances. More troubling is the fact that, according to you, the subsequent audit “verified that the procurement formally observed and complied with the existing rules.”
If the existing rules within the MND allow the bizarre bicycle transaction to occur and would be considered as having been observed and complied with, then what exactly does that say about the existing rules within the MND?
And this is not the only issue of controversy generated by the MND in recent memory. If one is aware of the public sentiment on the ground, one would be aware that many, many Singaporeans (particularly the newly-weds and the young working adults) are extremely frustrated with the chronic shortages and the excessively high prices of HDB flats for citizens. There is a wide-spread perception, rightly or wrongly, that policies have erroneously allowed HDB to be subject to speculative investments by PRs.
And of course, there is that infamous Serangoon Gardens foreign workers dormitory saga, a matter also involving MND (if I recall correctly), although that occurred prior to your taking charge of the MND.
The PAP has always taken the position that it deserves the vast majority parliamentary power because it is capable of making right decisions. However, even assuming that it is wise for Singapore to entrust such vast power to the PAP, it is now questionable given these shocking controversies whether PAP is indeed capable of making right decisions as claimed. If you are indeed sincere (I think you are) in stating that you will not condone wrong-doing in the MND and will get to the bottom of things, then I hope you will ***act*** accordingly.
.
Bedok Resident
* Comment first appeared in: Minister Khaw: I don’t think I have jumped the gun
Dear Mr. Khaw,
I applaud you for your willingness and courage to be open and transparent. Despite all the criticisms leveled against you by netizens, I do believe that you are sincere in improving things for the better of Singapore.
However, that said, I do think there are serious issues with MND that warrant further investigation and/or explanation to the public.
The problem with the bicycle matter is not the questionable nature of the transaction per se in isolation, as you seem to be focusing on. Rather, the real problem with the bicycle matter is that it may be manifestation of a wider, underlying and systemic problem within the MND.
The MND has had its shares of controversy even before the bicycle matter. To be fair to you, we recognize that you may have inherited many of the problems from your predecessor, Mr. Mah Bow Tan; but regardless, because you are the current minister responsible for MND, it is not unfair to say that you have the responsibility to fix problems within the MND, whether the problems are pre-existing or new.
The mere fact that the bicycle matter was allowed to happen would seem to suggest that there are underlying, systemic issues within the MND in regards to checks and balances. More troubling is the fact that, according to you, the subsequent audit “verified that the procurement formally observed and complied with the existing rules.”
If the existing rules within the MND allow the bizarre bicycle transaction to occur and would be considered as having been observed and complied with, then what exactly does that say about the existing rules within the MND?
And this is not the only issue of controversy generated by the MND in recent memory. If one is aware of the public sentiment on the ground, one would be aware that many, many Singaporeans (particularly the newly-weds and the young working adults) are extremely frustrated with the chronic shortages and the excessively high prices of HDB flats for citizens. There is a wide-spread perception, rightly or wrongly, that policies have erroneously allowed HDB to be subject to speculative investments by PRs.
And of course, there is that infamous Serangoon Gardens foreign workers dormitory saga, a matter also involving MND (if I recall correctly), although that occurred prior to your taking charge of the MND.
The PAP has always taken the position that it deserves the vast majority parliamentary power because it is capable of making right decisions. However, even assuming that it is wise for Singapore to entrust such vast power to the PAP, it is now questionable given these shocking controversies whether PAP is indeed capable of making right decisions as claimed. If you are indeed sincere (I think you are) in stating that you will not condone wrong-doing in the MND and will get to the bottom of things, then I hope you will ***act*** accordingly.
.
Bedok Resident
* Comment first appeared in: Minister Khaw: I don’t think I have jumped the gun
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