Arrears collection, governance: Aljunied voters will decide

[Confuseous]

As to the issue of arrears collection, the charge by MND is that the “sharp decline” in the S&CC arrears situation in AHPETC as being “of grave public concern”. Aljunied’s S&CC arrears rate rose from 2.6% in FY10 to 8.4% in FY11 and FY12, after Aljunied merged with Hougang. This was significantly above the national norm of about 3%, the MND noted.

The arrears rate rose further to 29.4% at the end of April 2013. “From May 2013, the TC stopped submitting its monthly S&CC arrears report altogether, despite repeated reminders.”

Well going by the figures, there seems to a serious arrears problem. The issues are is it a serious problem and if so why has it arisen, are steps necessary to bring it down, and are they being taken. The WP should explain and not simply repeat a variation of Low famous saying, by asking “Problem? What Problem?”

But at the end of the day, if the people the GRC, especially those who are paying their bills regularly, are willing....

http://atans1.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/arrears-collection-governance-aljunied-voters-will-decide/

 

[zhihau]

I had a quick check with my kakis in the neighborhood, no one gave a flying fuck to what color banding or ranking done up by this MND report... True story!

Oh, bytheway, we're still voting the PAP out :p:p:p

 

[sochi2014]

What about the corporate governance? Aren't we all interested about it?

 

[mojito]

Aiyo. Malu sia! Like do too many CCA fail CA see parent.

Not teacher want to tekan him. No such thing! See all the "white" kids are doing so well? Shame on you voters never "discipline" your kid lah.

 

[frenchbriefs]

Let me paraphrase what a comedian once said when the hoes and prostitutes are not bringing in the money...."what's this?only one?Benjamin Franklin here is looking awfully lonely.where's my money???" "Is Wayne Brady going to have to choke a bitch?sonofabitch,is Wayne Brady going to have to step out of the car and choke a bitch????"

 

[Force 136]

Did Desmond Lee call Low Thia Khiang a Liar?

Minister of State for National Development Desmond Lee has said he is taken aback with Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang's remarks to the media that residents of his Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council need not worry about its poor performance in service and conservancy charges (S&CC) arrears management and corporate governance.

Mr Lee said of Mr Low's comments in a Lianhe Zaobao article: "He explained that poor financial management does not impact the TC’s operations and services, and therefore residents’ safety and the living environment. He added that S&CC arrears were a common problem, which he also experienced in Hougang, and that residents would eventually pay up; 'it was a matter of time'."

He said he disagreed with Mr Low's "sanguine assessment", and said the sharp increase in S&CC arrears has serious implications for residents. Mr Lee's statement is reproduced below:


"As at April 2013 (when his TC last reported a shocking arrears rate of 29%), 39,000 households in AHPETC were effectively subsidising 16,000 households who did not pay their S&CC," Mr Lee said in a statement to the media.

If this trend continues, the TC’s finances must surely decline and the TC will not be able to sustain its operations. The delivery of essential services must then be affected, to the detriment of residents. We should bear in mind that all TCs have to replace at their own cost, critical infrastructure, like lifts and water tanks and carry out all sorts of other building, mechanical and electrical repairs.

Mr Low disclosed that Hougang TC had a similar approach to S&CC arrears management. Indeed, its S&CC arrears rate was 7.8% in FY10, the highest amongst all TCs.

But what Mr Low did not disclose is that in the same year, Hougang TC’s own independent Auditor raised concerns regarding the adequacy of the TC’s operating funds to support its daily operations. This is because Hougang TC’s finances were in deficit – it had by then wound up with a net operating deficit of about $92,000 and an accumulated deficit of about $9,000.

What Mr Low also did not disclose is that Hougang managed to avoid a cash flow problem only after he merged Hougang with Aljunied after GE 2011. The two TCs’ finances were then co-mingled. Before merger, Aljunied had an operating surplus of $3.3m. Within two years, the merged AHPETC’s financial position has deteriorated rapidly. The operating surplus of $3.3m Aljunied had in FY10 had turned into an operating deficit of $734,000 in FY12.

AHPETC’s financial position today may in fact be worse. For the TC has not submitted its FY13 financial statements, despite repeated reminders. It has also stopped submitting its monthly S&CC arrears report since May 2013, again despite repeated reminders. This was 10 months before the AGO Audit started in Feb 2014, so it could not be because of the AGO Audit.

And yet Mr Low says AHPETC “has no cash flow problems”. I hope he is correct.”

- CNA/ly

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/aljunied-town-council-s/1459836.html

 

[frenchbriefs]

Re: Did Desmond Lee call Low Thia Khiang a Liar?

thats why we need high pay ministers to do a good job,bring in the men in white,they will raise all the conservancy charges,throw the defaulters in jail,turn the Town council deficit into surplus and give themselves a big fat bonus!!!!

 

[wendychan]

Re: Did Desmond Lee call Low Thia Khiang a Liar?

how can it be when some can do NO worng?

 

[AhMeng]

Re: Did Desmond Lee call Low Thia Khiang a Liar?

machiam PAP damn good hor,...good at sucking people dry...wtf!

 

[borom]

Re: Did Desmond Lee call Low Thia Khiang a Liar?

.......the men in white,they will raise all the conservancy charges,throw the defaulters in jail,turn the Town council deficit into surplus and give themselves a big fat bonus!!!!

So its Ok to lose millions by investing in junk bonds but not OK to give residents and fellow citizens more time to pay?

 

[Confuseous]

Re: Did Desmond Lee call Low Thia Khiang a Liar?

So its Ok to lose millions by investing in junk bonds but not OK to give residents and fellow citizens more time to pay?

By the screwed up logic of the screwed up people like Desmond Lee.
These puppies are begging to park to raise their profiles for re-selection as MP?

 

[makapaaa]

FAP Wolf Pack Joins In to Attack WP Town Council's 'Poor Performance

[h=1]DESMOND LEE JOINS IN TO ATTACK WORKERS’ PARTY TOWN COUNCIL[/h]
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7 Nov 2014 - 11:05pm





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Desmond Lee, the Minister of State for National Development has also joined in to attack Workers’ Party saying that he is “taken aback” by WP Chief Low Thia Khiang’s response on the “red” rating that it received in a recent MND report on town council management.
The National Development Ministry had once again give Aljunied, Hougang, Punggol East Town Council a “Red” rating in both Corporate Governance and S&CC arrears.
Mr Low Thia Khiang had remarked that residents should not worry about the poor performance ratings that MND had given them.
Mr Lee then took it upon himself to “summarise” the comments made by Mr Low in a media statement and said proceeded to attack his comments.
Mr Lee wrote:



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"As at April 2013 (when his TC last reported a shocking arrears rate of 29 per cent), 39,000 households in AHPETC were effectively subsidising 16,000 households who did not pay their S&CC," Mr Lee said in a statement to the media.
If this trend continues, the TC’s finances must surely decline and the TC will not be able to sustain its operations. The delivery of essential services must then be affected, to the detriment of residents. We should bear in mind that all TCs have to replace at their own cost, critical infrastructure, like lifts and water tanks and carry out all sorts of other building, mechanical and electrical repairs.
Mr Low disclosed that Hougang TC had a similar approach to S&CC arrears management. Indeed, its S&CC arrears rate was 7.8 per cent in FY10, the highest amongst all TCs.
But what Mr Low did not disclose is that in the same year, Hougang TC’s own independent Auditor raised concerns regarding the adequacy of the TC’s operating funds to support its daily operations. This is because Hougang TC’s finances were in deficit – it had by then wound up with a net operating deficit of about S$92,000 and an accumulated deficit of about S$9,000.
What Mr Low also did not disclose is that Hougang managed to avoid a cash flow problem only after he merged Hougang with Aljunied after GE 2011. The two TCs’ finances were then co-mingled. Before merger, Aljunied had an operating surplus of $3.3m. Within two years, the merged AHPETC’s financial position has deteriorated rapidly. The operating surplus of $3.3m Aljunied had in FY10 had turned into an operating deficit of S$734,000 in FY12.
AHPETC’s financial position today may in fact be worse. For the TC has not submitted its FY13 financial statements, despite repeated reminders. It has also stopped submitting its monthly S&CC arrears report since May 2013, again despite repeated reminders. This was 10 months before the AGO Audit started in Feb 2014, so it could not be because of the AGO Audit.
And yet Mr Low says AHPETC “has no cash flow problems”. I hope he is correct.”
​