Khaw, Sylvia in terse exchange

[BuiKia]

SINGAPORE — A terse exchange broke out in Parliament between National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan and Ms Sylvia Lim yesterday, after the Workers’ Party (WP) chairman suggested that the People’s Action Party (PAP) would risk compromising residents’ interests to trip up the Opposition.

Mr Khaw also turned the tables on the WP, pointing out that its town council appointed — and handed large contracts to — FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), a company run by a husband-and-wife team who are long-time WP supporters and were, in fact, the assentor and proposer for former Hougang Member of Parliament (MP) Yaw Shin Leong in the 2006 General Election. The company was set up just four days after the WP won Aljunied GRC and it was given a S$5.2 million-a-year managing agent contract without the town council calling a tender, Mr Khaw said.

In response, Ms Lim said the couple were not WP members and a special audit called by the opposition party had concluded that the contract was “value for money” for the residents.

Mr Khaw was wrapping up the debate on the Ministry of National Development review report on the controversial sale of a town council management computer software by the PAP town councils to a PAP-owned company. Towards the end of his speech, he zoomed in on Ms Lim’s claim: “This is self-righteous and — pardon me for saying so — arrogant. Many of us in this House have been serving Singaporeans for decades, long before she entered this House. Please, don’t behave as if you’re the only patriot in this House.”

Mr Khaw said he was “disappointed” with Ms Lim’s suggestion that the saga showed that the PAP “sees hurting people in Aljunied as ‘collateral damage in a bigger political game’”.

He added that the PAP would not be “so stupid” as to want to deliberately disrupt the lives of residents in Aljunied knowing that the WP would make a political issue out of it and cause residents to pile the blame on the PAP.

“What is the bigger political game? It is about winning back Aljunied, not about doing something petty that will just upset everybody and make us lose Aljunied permanently,” Mr Khaw said.

He said it was Ms Lim who had politicised the episode instead, questioning why she had chosen not to request the company, Action Information Management (AIM), to extend the software’s contract if she was concerned about the disruptions to town council services as a result of AIM exercising a termination clause.

“If there is anything suspicious about timing, it is really the timing of Ms Sylvia Lim raising the AIM issue. Why didn’t she raise the termination of (the software) back in 2011 when they took over, instead of thanking AIM for agreeing to the extensions that they had requested? Why, after thanking AIM, then wait 18 months till December 2012 when the MND revealed that the town council’s audit report had been delayed to raise this complaint against AIM?” Mr Khaw questioned.

He said: “I presume she will claim that they had been too busy setting up their own system to bother about raising this issue. Anyway, I must say it has been quite an effective move in distracting the public from the actual situation in the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council.”

He added: “Maybe pride or political motives got in the way, and residents’ interests became secondary.”

Mr Khaw cited how Potong Pasir MP Sitoh Yih Pin, in contrast, “worked quietly round-the-clock” and also asked the long-time general manager of his predecessor — veteran opposition politician Chiam See Tong — to stay on in order to minimise disruptions during the handover.

Ms Lim rose to speak immediately after Mr Khaw ended his round-up speech. “I have to take issue with his ascribing to me personal motives of pride and arrogance because I think nothing can be further from the truth,” she said.

“The reason why we raised this matter for public discussion and debate is because we want to improve things for the future. So I definitely do not accept his ascription of those motives to me personally.”

During the debate, Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh suggested that town councils should be blocked from transacting with companies that are owned by political parties in the wake of this saga. In response, Mr Khaw, who revealed that AIM was the only company owned by the PAP, said the prohibition should instead extend to firms owned by those affiliated in any way to political parties, should such a rule change come about.

In reiterating that his ministry had exercised the existing rules fairly across all town councils, Mr Khaw cited how Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council was not barred from appointing estate management company FMSS, which was set up by Mr Danny Loh and Ms How Weng Fan.

He also noted that managing agent rates in Aljunied were 20-per-cent higher under FMSS than it was when the PAP ran the town council.

Mr Khaw said: “To be precise, when it was under (former Foreign Minister) George Yeo, the rate was S$6.51 per unit per month. Now, it is S$7.87 in FY2011 — the first contract — and then it went up to S$8.04 per unit per month in FY2012. In fact, the FMSS rate is more than 50-per-cent higher than the rate for Tampines Town Council which is of similar size.”

 

[Rogue Trader]

....and then it went up to S$8.04 per unit per month in FY2012.

Now that's more expensive than a bypass op!

 

[BuiKia]

Saw some postings in facebook that Ms How Weng Fan was the former secretary in WP's Hougang Town Council and she actually resigned so that she can join FMSS as its director.

Anyone can confirm?

 

[kopikia]

hammer getting hammered la.

Bringing the gavel down on Workers Party I
MSN builds campaign against WP and Sylvia Lim
http://akikonomu.blogspot.sg/2011/08/bringing-gavel-down-on-workers-party-i.html

There is an unfolding situation over at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council. No doubt it's been angled ever so subtly by the government-owned media in Singapore as the B plot and convenient distraction to its presidential election due to take place on 27 August. Like a carefully plotted campaign, Singapore's news media is content to put its citizens on a drip on this story, calibrating the slow release of information that may build up to an implied allegation of mismanagement or corruption in the AHTC as well as the original HTC.

The reporters have the full story but they will not release all of it, not all at once - even though they have the fullest access to the information for a long time. Their cynical exercise may be rightly dismissed as a ploy but what if the story does have legs?

Non-transparency? Improper procedures? Or something far worse?

Consider this: Almost immediately after winning the ward of Aljunied, the Workers Party's town council HATC employed a new managing agent without a tender. The managing agent is FM Solutions (FMSS).

What is even more peculiar is how Ms Sylvia Lim, the incoming MP for Aljunied and concurrently the chairman of AHTC and HTC before that, defends this decision. She alleges "the decision to award FMSS the contract without calling for a tender was due to the deadline set by the Ministry of National Development".

That's bizarre logic there, Sherlock! If there's a deadline that the town council can't meet, the most obvious thing to do is to retain the old managing agent temporarily for a year - not replacing the incumbent with a new managing agent!

We see no logic for WP to claim grounds for its extraordinary measures. During the last election, the Aljunied ward had the least amount of redrawing. We do not hear of other town councils having to enact such measures despite their greater turmoil and reorganisation.

What's even more bizarre is how the managing agent was formed and registered with ACRA only just - on 15 May 2011, to be precise. Yes, AHTC terminated the ongoing incumbent whose contract was still in existence so they could hire a managing agent that is literally brand new. According to ACRA reports, this entity was formed not long before the elections with a paid up capital of $500,000 for the expressed sole purpose of providing town council services.

Let's say anyone with access to competent polling would have known Aljunied would fall to the Workers Party. Let's say someone is enterprising enough to do pre-emptively sink half a million to form a company whose sole business activity is "town councils" to bid for the managing agent position with the new Aljunied Town Council. And hire 77 people on short notice. But that doesn't really make sense unless they're very certain they'd get the contract. And it makes even less sense if FMSS was formed just to contest for the sole tender of AHTC.

None of us would believe that a newly established, costly venture will be content to get a one year contract by the back door. For all intents and purposes, FMSS will be awarded the full contract next year by the AHTC and hence help the press build up its allegations of procurement corruption.

One director, five directors, how many key directors?

Now Sylvia assures us that its managing agent's "key directors have been in the field for an average of 20 years". I don't know what this sentence means. No one can know what it means because it means nothing. It's nonsense, gobbledegook, balderdash. Here, I'll hold your hand in this exercise.

What is an "average" and why is it a meaningful number? An average is the sum total of the attributes of all the units divided by the total number of units there are.

The statement "FMSS's directors have been in the field for an average of 20 years" would make sense in this case. But to say that its key directors (i.e. not all directors) have an average of 20 years tells you exactly nothing. It's an intellectually dishonest and cynical statement. It's intellectually dishonest because an average of a subset of a population says nothing about the population, and cynical because legally speaking, all the directors of a company are jointly accountable - key directors or otherwise.

FMSS has 6 directors in total. Which are its "key directors"? What is the average experience of all the directors in FMSS? These are questions we want answered!

Of course ACRA has all this on record. You'll also notice how FMSS suddenly increased from its original sole director, Mr Danny Loh Chong Meng, registering 4 more directors hurriedly on 16 June just after the press started reporting on WP town councils. Who are these mysterious men? Are they normal directors or key directors? Where did they work previously and how much experience do they have in town council management?

Of interest to us is of the 4 new directors found their way into FMSS, a certain How Weng Fan also happens to be a former secretary of HTC, the direct precursor of AHTC. Is this not already a conflict of interest? When did How Weng Fan stop being a secretary of HTC? Was that before or after the formation of FMSS? How many other directors of FMSS have rendered services for HTC in the past? How many of them have rendered exclusive services for HTC?

Now you see why the news media is preparing the ground with the initial charge of non-transparent procedure in the Workers Party's management of the Aljunied-Hougang town council? It's so it can lead to the eventual allegation of corruption in public procurement.

Love me tender, WP

In fact, Sylvia's logic is even more warped if you take into account the fact that AHTC did have the time anyway to call for a tender for four other contracts on 17 June, barely weeks after winning the ward. And again, it made this decision over the option of holding on to its existing contractors temporarily for a year. Yes, AHTC had so little time that it found the time to call for a tender for everything but a managing agent in this Classifieds ad.

It has so little time that the tender period from announcement to closing date is just 2 weeks - a quickie compared to PAP-held town council project tenders, which are normally 3 weeks to 1 month.

To town council service providers and managers, this should set off alarm bells. Players in the town council services industry need at least 3 weeks to compete competently for a tender because of the time frames involved to get the necessary documentation, certificates, and licenses from the Building and Construction Authority.

In a more bizarre note, the AHTC tender insists on a "pay first" scheme. Ordinarily (i.e. how PAP town councils do things), interested contractors attend the tender briefing to get an idea of the scope of work, the coverage and condition of the town council's area. Then if they feel they are up for it and are still interested, they'll pay the money for the tender documents.

In contrast, AHTC demands that interested contractors pay first to attend the tender briefing. Under what circumstances would any contractor take part in this ridiculous process? Your guess is as good as mine, dear readers.

If we assume procurement corruption, AHTC's shortened and backwards tender process will certainly benefit players who are certain they'll get the awards, i.e. players who have links to the town council. It would be interesting to note which companies won the tenders and who heads them. It would fit in with the same shortened and illogical awarding of the management agent contract to FMSS too.

 

[winnipegjets]

Mr Khaw also turned the tables on the WP, pointing out that its town council appointed — and handed large contracts to — FM Solutions and Services (FMSS), a company run by a husband-and-wife team who are long-time WP supporters and were, in fact, the assentor and proposer for former Hougang Member of Parliament (MP) Yaw Shin Leong in the 2006 General Election. The company was set up just four days after the WP won Aljunied GRC and it was given a S$5.2 million-a-year managing agent contract without the town council calling a tender, Mr Khaw said.

The government uses public resources to gather information to attack the Opposition. Isn't that an abuse of public resources? Would the minister repeated this statement outside Parliament so that an opportunity is given to the WP to take legal actions?

In response, Ms Lim said the couple were not WP members and a special audit called by the opposition party had concluded that the contract was “value for money” for the residents.

I am surprised that the minister didn't pursue his accusation further after the reply from the WP.

Mr Khaw was wrapping up the debate on the Ministry of National Development review report on the controversial sale of a town council management computer software by the PAP town councils to a PAP-owned company. Towards the end of his speech, he zoomed in on Ms Lim’s claim: “This is self-righteous and — pardon me for saying so — arrogant. Many of us in this House have been serving Singaporeans for decades, long before she entered this House. Please, don’t behave as if you’re the only patriot in this House.”

It is an accepted fact that PAP MPs are NOT patriots. They are self-serving politicians living of the public trough. It is the PAP that has shown utter disrespect for public finances - rewarding themselves with the world's highest salaries in government for average results at best and at a lost on how to move sinkapore forward.

“If there is anything suspicious about timing, it is really the timing of Ms Sylvia Lim raising the AIM issue. Why didn’t she raise the termination of (the software) back in 2011 when they took over, instead of thanking AIM for agreeing to the extensions that they had requested? Why, after thanking AIM, then wait 18 months till December 2012 when the MND revealed that the town council’s audit report had been delayed to raise this complaint against AIM?” Mr Khaw questioned.

For a person who is paid more than a million buckaroos, Khaw isn't very smart; everyone knows the reason. The WP didn't bring up AIM UNTIL the PAP made an issue with the delay of the issuance of the TC's audit report! The PAP thought they could score some points by attacking the WP TC, instead it landed a big black eye.
That the WP thanked aim for the extension demonstrated that the WP TC was professional and didn't try to politicize the issue. It accepted the cards dealt - that the PAP was trying to do the WP TC in by disallowing the latter from using the software.

During the debate, Aljunied GRC MP Pritam Singh suggested that town councils should be blocked from transacting with companies that are owned by political parties in the wake of this saga. In response, Mr Khaw, who revealed that AIM was the only company owned by the PAP, said the prohibition should instead extend to firms owned by those affiliated in any way to political parties, should such a rule change come about.

Here's the question - Why did the PAP start this $2 company?

He also noted that managing agent rates in Aljunied were 20-per-cent higher under FMSS than it was when the PAP ran the town council. Mr Khaw said: “To be precise, when it was under (former Foreign Minister) George Yeo, the rate was S$6.51 per unit per month. Now, it is S$7.87 in FY2011 — the first contract — and then it went up to S$8.04 per unit per month in FY2012. In fact, the FMSS rate is more than 50-per-cent higher than the rate for Tampines Town Council which is of similar size.”

I would like to know the WP's response to this insinuation.
Despite the higher fees in the contract, residents did not face an increase in fees. And the WP did not spend money serving legal letters to residents who were in arrears. Instead the WP TC worked with the poor residents to find a solution to the arrears. If the WP could do that, why can't the PAP TCs? Spending money on legal fees to collect peanuts from residents is not an efficient use of public funds.

 

[winnipegjets]

It is interesting that the PAP decides to use the press to attack the WP. It is harder to sue the press than an individual. Maybe the minister should make more of his insinuation outside parliament to prove that he believes he is right. If the WP doesn't sue, then the PAP will have a field day on this insinuation.
Let the show begin. Now, politics in sinkapore is getting interesting.

There is more behind the story put out by the PAP and its crony press. Let's hear it.

Oh, when the minister misses his target, he will likely repeat the LHL's excuse - dealing with the opposition took up so much of my time that he didn't have time to do his work.

 

[@rmadill0]

Getting exciting. So I guess WP and PAP has the same idea on how a TC should be ran. Get own people whom they can trust to run the TC, award them huge contract and pay them huge sum of money. Then start to charge higher fees from the residents. Holy shit! End of the day, still the residents who suffers.

 

[winnipegjets]

Getting exciting. So I guess WP and PAP has the same idea on how a TC should be ran. Get own people whom they can trust to run the TC, award them huge contract and pay them huge sum of money. Then start to charge higher fees from the residents. Holy shit! End of the day, still the residents who suffers.

The WP didn't charge residents higher fees! That's the BIG difference.
Khaw's insinuation is working. The WP had better respond fast or soon all sinkees will think the WP and the PAP are sama sama.

Why wouldn't Khaw dare to repeat his insinuation outside parliament?

 

[BuiKia]

All the same one.

Getting exciting. So I guess WP and PAP has the same idea on how a TC should be ran. Get own people whom they can trust to run the TC, award them huge contract and pay them huge sum of money. Then start to charge higher fees from the residents. Holy shit! End of the day, still the residents who suffers.

 

[Sinkie]

Mr Khaw was wrapping up the debate on the Ministry of National Development review report on the controversial sale of a town council management computer software by the PAP town councils to a PAP-owned company. Towards the end of his speech, he zoomed in on Ms Lim’s claim: “This is self-righteous and — pardon me for saying so — arrogant. Many of us in this House have been serving Singaporeans for decades, long before she entered this House. Please, don’t behave as if you’re the only patriot in this House.”

Patriot kee lan. Go fuck spider.

 

[Sinkie]

All politicans are crooked, regardless which side they're on.

True democracy means no government. The moment there is a government, there will be legalized cronism and curruption. FACT.

 

[escher]

Gang rape of WP by PAP maggots in white
That is about the only thing that PAP will do well.

PAP had enough experience in gang raping us Sinkies for last few decades
Taught by no less a fucking sifu like smear of shit on sole of shoe Lee Kuan Yew

AFTER LKY EAT JOSS STICKS AND CANDLE WAX, MAY THE DEMONS THAT WILL GREET LKY GIVE HIM THE SAME KIND OF MERCY THAT HE GAVE US

 

[cass888]

There are none so blind as those who do not see.

FMSS is run by Low Thia Khiang's cronies. Charging AHTC more than what was originally charged to ATC. Once the reserves accumulated by George Yeo runs out, who suffers? The residents. How Weng Fun and hubby will run their way to the bank.

The WP didn't charge residents higher fees! That's the BIG difference.
Khaw's insinuation is working. The WP had better respond fast or soon all sinkees will think the WP and the PAP are sama sama.

Why wouldn't Khaw dare to repeat his insinuation outside parliament?

 

[cass888]

Why wouldn't Khaw dare to repeat his insinuation outside parliament?

When Sylvia Lim insinuates corruption about AIM outside Parliament, Khaw Boon Wan definitely will.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

There are none so blind as those who do not see.

FMSS is run by Low Thia Khiang's cronies. Charging AHTC more than what was originally charged to ATC. Once the reserves accumulated by George Yeo runs out, who suffers? The residents. How Weng Fun and hubby will run their way to the bank.

You're a dumbfuck if you think pap TCs managing agents and contractors are not pap cronies.

 

[jw5]

You're a dumbfuck if you think pap TCs managing agents and contractors are not pap cronies.

fuckhead, not dumbfuck......................

she could be the wife of a former pappy mp.

 

[jw5]

Many of us in this House have been serving Singaporeans for decades,

hehehehehe.........................hahahahaha........................................ my toes are laughing......................

basket, how come the emoticon didn't reduce in size too?

 

[Satyr]

On the managing agent charge, did fees charged to Aljunied households go up ? If no, then residents did not suffer. The PAP TCS in combination have more households they have greater economies of scale. In fact I think flats in WP constituencies pay less in conservancy. So why does the PAP pay lower per household agent fees and charge higher conservancy fees.

 

[3_M]

I read somewhere that the existing PAP TC contractors were pressured not to tender for opposition TC projects. Perhaps it the fear that they won't get any PAP TC contracts that all the industry players choose to opt out of AHTC tender leaving only FMSS as he sole bidder.

 

[palden]

Actually look at Punggol East, situation is worse than when PAP is still around. Now nobody sweep the corridors.