[h=2]COC seeking clarification from May Day protest organiser[/h]
April 28th, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
On Fri (26 Apr), TNP published a news article (‘Charity
watchdog in walks with NGO’), revealing an “internal squabble via e-mail
involving people behind the Feb 16 Population White Paper protest at Hong Lim
Park”.
TNP wrote, “One of the issues highlighted in the e-mail exchanges was the
state of the funds raised to organize the event, which about 5,000 people
attended.”
“Then, someone alerted the Commissioner of Charities (COC). So the COC has
now stepped in and is speaking with the organiser, Transitioning Unemployment
Support Services (TUSS).”
TNP added that it found out about the squabble after a reader forwarded the
e-mail chain, “which was confirmed to be authentic by several of those listed as
recipients.”
TNP said that in the e-mail chain, someone wrote about his unhappiness at
being unable to contact Gilbert Goh, President of TUSS, a NGO registered with
the Registrar of Societies.
TR Emeritus (TRE) contacted Mr Goh for comments on the matter and he has
refuted some of the points published in the TNP article.
Mr Goh said, “It’s sad to see that TNP, in its eagerness to publish the news
article, has got some of the facts wrong.”
“There is a misunderstanding between me and some members of the group in the
e-mail list but I would like to categorically state that this group has nothing
to do with TUSS at all. So I don’t understand why TNP said it was an ‘internal
squabble’?”
Mr Goh also said that he in fact, was only introduced to this group after the
Feb 16 protest. He said, “They are in fact, an enthusiastic bunch of opposition
supporters wanting to lend a hand to the May Day protest when they heard that
there would be a second protest.”
Mr Goh added, “TNP also got its information wrong on the fund raising matter
too. The group was trying to help raise funds for the May Day protest, not the
first one which 5,000 people attended. As said, I was only introduced to this
group long after the Feb 16 protest. In the article, TNP is trying to portray
that there is an internal strife inside the protest organiser, TUSS, which is
completely untrue. TUSS is doing fine and proceeding to organise the May Day
protest as planned. I want to say again that the group mentioned by TNP is not
associated with TUSS in anyway.”
Mr Goh explained that the misunderstanding with some members of the group
came about because TUSS declined to take up their funding proposals due to
statutory requirements imposed on NGO. He in fact did tell one of the members of
the group that he wouldn’t be attending their meeting. However, Mr Goh admitted
that he told them late and the members were clearly upset about it. He
subsequently sent an e-mail to the group to apologise for not attending the
meeting.
He said, “I also e-mailed them to explain that in fact, COC currently wants
to review the fund raising activities of TUSS.”
Mr Goh added, “However, I’m quite disappointed that some members of the group
later leaked out the e-mail exchanges to TNP. I do not know what is the
intention of this person or persons for doing this.”
COC has confirmed that it’s reviewing the fund raising activities of TUSS.
TNP quoted COC saying, “Upon receiving public feedback on the fund-raising
activities of TUSS, the COC’s office contacted TUSS to seek clarification on
matters related to those activities.”
“COC also advised them of their legal obligations under the Fundraising
Regulations, which include duty to the donors, use of donations and keeping
records of donations received and disbursed.”
Mr Goh also confirmed with TRE that COC, indeed, is seeking clarification
from TUSS with regard to its fund raising activities. Mr Goh fowarded the COC’s
e-mail to TRE:
From: Mei Chen ONG (MCCY) <[email protected]
>
Subject: Transitioning – Unemployment Support Services
To:
“[email protected]
” <[email protected]
>
Cc: “Ming Lee OOI (MCCY)” <[email protected]
>
Received: Thursday, 11 April, 2013, 10:12 AM
Dear Mr Goh,
The Office of the Commissioner of Charities has received feedback that
Transitioning – Unemployment Support Services [“TUSS”] has been appealing for
donations on its website at www.transitioning.org.
2 We would like to bring to your attention that all fund-raising
appeals for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes are regulated
under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable
Purposes) Regulations. There are certain legal obligations under these
Regulations that one will need to comply with, in terms of duty to the donors,
use of donations and record keeping. Particularly, please be advised that anyone
raising funds shall maintain accounting records showing all the donations
received and disbursed as well as the expenses incurred. Such records shall be
maintained for a minimum of 5 years and may be inspected by the Commissioner of
Charities.
3 In view of the above and for us to have a better understanding of
the fund-raising activities of TUSS, we would appreciate if you could provide us
information on the following:
i. The various types of fund-raising appeals that TUSS is conducting
including the modes and the specific purpose of each appeal (e.g. the types of
programmes that the donations will be used for).
ii. The period of these
fund-raising appeals and the target amount to be raised.
iii. The amount of
donations that TUSS has received and the expenses incurred under each
appeal.
iv. The procedure and control that TUSS has put in place to ensure
proper accountability to the donors (e.g. periodic update to the donors on the
use of the donations).
v. The last two years financial statements of
TUSS.
4 We would appreciate if you could let us have your response by 24
April 2013 and please feel free to contact me if you need any clarification.
Meanwhile, if you like to know more on matters relating to fund-raising appeals
and its regulations, information is also available online at
www.charities.gov.sg.
Thank you.
Ong Mei Chen (Ms)
Assistant Manager (Charities Unit)
Tel: +65 6837 8523
• Fax: +65 6837 8090
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
140 Hill
Street, #01-01A, Old Hill Street Police Station, Singapore 179369
http://www.mccy.gov.sg
COC wanted TUSS to submit all the information before 24 Apr. However, because
of the May Day protest, Mr Goh asked COC for an extension till 7 May, after the
protest event so that he can have time to prepare the financial information for
COC. COC has agreed to extend till 7 May for TUSS.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
watchdog in walks with NGO’), revealing an “internal squabble via e-mail
involving people behind the Feb 16 Population White Paper protest at Hong Lim
Park”.
TNP wrote, “One of the issues highlighted in the e-mail exchanges was the
state of the funds raised to organize the event, which about 5,000 people
attended.”
“Then, someone alerted the Commissioner of Charities (COC). So the COC has
now stepped in and is speaking with the organiser, Transitioning Unemployment
Support Services (TUSS).”
TNP added that it found out about the squabble after a reader forwarded the
e-mail chain, “which was confirmed to be authentic by several of those listed as
recipients.”
TNP said that in the e-mail chain, someone wrote about his unhappiness at
being unable to contact Gilbert Goh, President of TUSS, a NGO registered with
the Registrar of Societies.
TR Emeritus (TRE) contacted Mr Goh for comments on the matter and he has
refuted some of the points published in the TNP article.
Mr Goh said, “It’s sad to see that TNP, in its eagerness to publish the news
article, has got some of the facts wrong.”
“There is a misunderstanding between me and some members of the group in the
e-mail list but I would like to categorically state that this group has nothing
to do with TUSS at all. So I don’t understand why TNP said it was an ‘internal
squabble’?”
Mr Goh also said that he in fact, was only introduced to this group after the
Feb 16 protest. He said, “They are in fact, an enthusiastic bunch of opposition
supporters wanting to lend a hand to the May Day protest when they heard that
there would be a second protest.”
Mr Goh added, “TNP also got its information wrong on the fund raising matter
too. The group was trying to help raise funds for the May Day protest, not the
first one which 5,000 people attended. As said, I was only introduced to this
group long after the Feb 16 protest. In the article, TNP is trying to portray
that there is an internal strife inside the protest organiser, TUSS, which is
completely untrue. TUSS is doing fine and proceeding to organise the May Day
protest as planned. I want to say again that the group mentioned by TNP is not
associated with TUSS in anyway.”
Mr Goh explained that the misunderstanding with some members of the group
came about because TUSS declined to take up their funding proposals due to
statutory requirements imposed on NGO. He in fact did tell one of the members of
the group that he wouldn’t be attending their meeting. However, Mr Goh admitted
that he told them late and the members were clearly upset about it. He
subsequently sent an e-mail to the group to apologise for not attending the
meeting.
He said, “I also e-mailed them to explain that in fact, COC currently wants
to review the fund raising activities of TUSS.”
Mr Goh added, “However, I’m quite disappointed that some members of the group
later leaked out the e-mail exchanges to TNP. I do not know what is the
intention of this person or persons for doing this.”
COC has confirmed that it’s reviewing the fund raising activities of TUSS.
TNP quoted COC saying, “Upon receiving public feedback on the fund-raising
activities of TUSS, the COC’s office contacted TUSS to seek clarification on
matters related to those activities.”
“COC also advised them of their legal obligations under the Fundraising
Regulations, which include duty to the donors, use of donations and keeping
records of donations received and disbursed.”
Mr Goh also confirmed with TRE that COC, indeed, is seeking clarification
from TUSS with regard to its fund raising activities. Mr Goh fowarded the COC’s
e-mail to TRE:
From: Mei Chen ONG (MCCY) <[email protected]
>
Subject: Transitioning – Unemployment Support Services
To:
“[email protected]
” <[email protected]
>
Cc: “Ming Lee OOI (MCCY)” <[email protected]
>
Received: Thursday, 11 April, 2013, 10:12 AM
Dear Mr Goh,
The Office of the Commissioner of Charities has received feedback that
Transitioning – Unemployment Support Services [“TUSS”] has been appealing for
donations on its website at www.transitioning.org.
2 We would like to bring to your attention that all fund-raising
appeals for charitable, benevolent, or philanthropic purposes are regulated
under the Charities (Fund-Raising Appeals for Local and Foreign Charitable
Purposes) Regulations. There are certain legal obligations under these
Regulations that one will need to comply with, in terms of duty to the donors,
use of donations and record keeping. Particularly, please be advised that anyone
raising funds shall maintain accounting records showing all the donations
received and disbursed as well as the expenses incurred. Such records shall be
maintained for a minimum of 5 years and may be inspected by the Commissioner of
Charities.
3 In view of the above and for us to have a better understanding of
the fund-raising activities of TUSS, we would appreciate if you could provide us
information on the following:
i. The various types of fund-raising appeals that TUSS is conducting
including the modes and the specific purpose of each appeal (e.g. the types of
programmes that the donations will be used for).
ii. The period of these
fund-raising appeals and the target amount to be raised.
iii. The amount of
donations that TUSS has received and the expenses incurred under each
appeal.
iv. The procedure and control that TUSS has put in place to ensure
proper accountability to the donors (e.g. periodic update to the donors on the
use of the donations).
v. The last two years financial statements of
TUSS.
4 We would appreciate if you could let us have your response by 24
April 2013 and please feel free to contact me if you need any clarification.
Meanwhile, if you like to know more on matters relating to fund-raising appeals
and its regulations, information is also available online at
www.charities.gov.sg.
Thank you.
Ong Mei Chen (Ms)
Assistant Manager (Charities Unit)
Tel: +65 6837 8523
• Fax: +65 6837 8090
Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth
140 Hill
Street, #01-01A, Old Hill Street Police Station, Singapore 179369
http://www.mccy.gov.sg
of the May Day protest, Mr Goh asked COC for an extension till 7 May, after the
protest event so that he can have time to prepare the financial information for
COC. COC has agreed to extend till 7 May for TUSS.
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
