'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report: Lim

[makapaaa]

'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report: Lim

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http://www.channelnewsasia.com/mobil...s/2054958.html

SINGAPORE: Mr Lim Swee Say, deputy chairman of the People's Association, in Parliament on Monday (Aug 17) detailed the steps the association has taken in response to lapses flagged by the Auditor-General.

"We have taken swift and decisive action to put things right immediately. When things go wrong, we do not shy away from taking responsibility and tough action to put things in order," he said in response to a Parliamentary question filed by Workers' Party MP Png Eng Huat.

"This Auditor-General's Office audit is over and above our annual audits. By having multiple layers of checks and transparency, we ensure a high level of vigilance over the integrity of our financial management. While we cannot completely eradicate human error, being vigilant means these are the exceptions rather than the norm."

In Auditor-General Willie Tan's report submitted to President Tony Tan Keng Yam on Jul 1, the PA was cited for various lapses, including in the management of tenancy contracts in Community Club/Centre Management Committees (CCMCs) and procurement lapses.

Following the publication of the AGO report on Jul 15, the PA said it had taken immediate action to address the issues raised.

This included strengthening of supervision of grassroots organisations on the compliance with financial rules, the establishment of a Grassroots Finance Review Committee, the reprimanding of staff involved in non-declaration of conflict - even though no evidence of dishonesty was found - and the voluntary stepping down of a grassroots leader.

"As a statutory board managing public funds, PA takes our financial governance seriously. Our accounts are subjected to annual statutory audits. The last time our accounts received an adverse opinion was for FY2012. The adverse opinion was issued not for financial irregularity, but because the grassroots organisations’ accounts were not included in PA’s financial statements," Mr Lim said on Monday.

"PA has since consolidated all the GROs’ accounts into our financial statements. We have received clean opinions for our FY2013 and FY2014 financial statements."

LAPSES IN MANAGEMENT OF TENANCY CONTRACTS

In its report, the AGO had noted 10 of the 35 CCMCs did not obtain the relevant approvals for the direct award of 13 tenancy contracts without competition, worth a total of S$3.67 million.

Mr Lim gave further details of the 13 contracts, which consisted of:

Five contracts by two CCs with poor locations to provide children enrichment, food and entertainment services. One CC is in a housing estate under redevelopment and the other is in a new housing estate in its early stage of development

One contract for the installation of an ATM machine by a particular local bank to complement ATMs of two other local banks in the neighbourhood

One contract for the renewal and continuation of childcare services for the convenience of the parents and their children

Three contracts for the introduction of new community lifestyle concepts to encourage family bonding and to inject vibrancy in the neighbourhood

Two contracts for food outlets that are popular with heartlanders, including youths and families with young children

One contract for a non-profit community organisation that promotes healthy lifestyles, in particular for senior residents.

While noting the "good intentions of the CCMCs in bringing in these services for the benefit of residents" and the fact that they had benchmarked the rental rates offered against similar rental rates in the area, Mr Lim acknowledged that they contravened the financial rules of PA in not seeking prior approval for the waiver of tender.

"PA acknowledges our shortcomings in this area and has taken immediate steps to enhance compliance," he added.

LAPSES IN MANAGEMENT OF RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

According to the AGO report, test-checks revealed seven instances where a Citizens' Consultative Committee chairman was involved in approving his own claims, totalling S$114,767 - a "clear conflict of roles", the AGO said.

Mr Lim on Monday said the seven claims made by the chairman were for a case of immediate financial assistance for a needy family at a funeral wake; a working dinner; an appreciation dinner for volunteers and community partners; as well as four claims for workplan retreats.

"Although there was no evidence of dishonesty, the CCC Chairman concerned has taken personal responsibility for these lapses and resigned from his position," Mr Lim said.
- CNA/es

 

[sirus]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Kangaroo court and parliament house that's what we've got!

 

[winnipegjets]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Ministars have lied in Parliament and nothing was done to them. Why should we believe this thief?

 

[jw5]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Not interested in the after-the-event rhetoric. More interested in where, how and when People's Association get their mangoes. :p

 

[JohnTan]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Ministars have lied in Parliament and nothing was done to them. Why should we believe this thief?

WP people also telling stories in Parliament. Nothing was done to them either. Parliament is really too lax. I miss the good old days in imperial court, when courtiers can be hauled off to jail straight from court/palace when they talk out of line during political discussions with their betters.

 

[Dark Knight]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

As usual, always double standard and quick in drawing their own conclusion.
They will claimed that "everything is under control and in good hands" for themselves while others are not.
Until today, MIW still think that most local sinkies are daft with that sort of explanation.

 

[virus]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Fully agree, why cad n cid not drawn in and give the offending person a pair of mangoes oops I mean suspenders with no pay leafs until the Acting Garang Chambermaid have misconduct their investigation

 

[wendychan]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/swift-decisive-steps/2054958.html

"According to the AGO report, test-checks revealed seven instances where a Citizens' Consultative Committee chairman was involved in approving his own claims, totalling S$114,767 - a "clear conflict of roles", the AGO said.

Mr Lim on Monday said the seven claims made by the chairman were for a case of immediate financial assistance for a needy family at a funeral wake; a working dinner; an appreciation dinner for volunteers and community partners; as well as four claims for workplan retreats."


the word claim implies one paid first then claim,
so why the FOOking urgency to approve and sign oneself?

don't make FOOking sense at all
but this bunch of FOOkers are so lost that they think they can expalin away everything and we are stupid enough to accept it


i can rob a bank for charity as well then

 

[kopiOuncle]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

the end is near
the world is coming to an end
the evil of men
the greed of men
the wrong they committed
the suffering
repent repent repent
the end is near...

 

[koala88]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/swift-decisive-steps/2054958.html

"According to the AGO report, test-checks revealed seven instances where a Citizens' Consultative Committee chairman was involved in approving his own claims, totalling S$114,767 - a "clear conflict of roles", the AGO said.

Mr Lim on Monday said the seven claims made by the chairman were for a case of immediate financial assistance for a needy family at a funeral wake; a working dinner; an appreciation dinner for volunteers and community partners; as well as four claims for workplan retreats."


the word claim implies one paid first then claim,
so why the FOOking urgency to approve and sign oneself?

don't make FOOking sense at all
but this bunch of FOOkers are so lost that they think they can expalin away everything and we are stupid enough to accept it


i can rob a bank for charity as well then

Haha, you are dealing with a bunch of crooks.

Like your last statement..."i can rob a bank for charity as well then". But that only apply when they were caught. Guess you know what will happen if they were not caught. Mango, mango and more mango...

 

[Confuseous]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Haha, you are dealing with a bunch of crooks.

Like your last statement..."i can rob a bank for charity as well then". But that only apply when they were caught. Guess you know what will happen if they were not caught. Mango, mango and more mango...

NO corruption found because they classify the cases as lapses.
Case closed.

 

[Cerebral]

Lim Sia Suay did not touch on the part of the CCC Chairman awarding contracts to his own company.... did he forget too?

 

[jw5]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

He also did not touch on the mangoes. :(

Lim Sia Suay did not touch on the part of the CCC Chairman awarding contracts to his own company.... did he forget too?

 

[laksaboy]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

So why wasn't Tonic Oh charged and put on trial?

 

[sirus]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

$56,000 for 3 “work plans” retreats for grassroots organisations?

AUGUST 18, 2015 BY THEONLINECITIZEN

In his response to questions on the Auditor General’s Office (AGO) report on the People’s Association (PA), Mr Lim Swee Say gave a detailed breakdown of the nature of the reimbursements involving the former chairman of the Admiralty ward’s Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC).

Mr Tonic Oh, the chairman in question, had written and signed off on cheques totalling some $114,000, which were from seven reimbursement claims, to himself.

According to Mr Lim, two out of the seven claims were not substantiated with proper receipts or supporting documents.

One of these was the money for a funeral wake which a needy family required immediately.

Mr Lim said there was no supporting document for the claim but the amount given was “witnessed by a few volunteers.”

Is this enough substantiation for the PA to pay out reimbursements to Mr Oh – that the claim was “witnessed by a few volunteers”? Who were these “few volunteers”? Were they or are they closely related to Mr Oh? What are their positions in the PA or the CCC?

And how much was this claim?

Mr Lim did not say.

The other incident which was not substantiated with documentary proof were three claims for “workplans” retreats by the grassroots organisation (GRO).

While Mr Lim did not specify which GRO it actually was, it is presumed that it was Mr Oh’s own CCC.

The Straits Times reported:

“Four claims were for retreats to discuss workplans. Only one had supporting documents. The receipts for the other three, totalling $56,050, were misplaced but the CCC later verified the sums with proof of payment from the vendor.”

One would first question how much was the claim for the one which had supporting documents – Mr Lim did not say.

As for the other three,while the CCC later verified the sums with proof of payment from the vendor – which Mr Lim, incidentally, did not name – the obvious question one would ask is:

Why does it cost $56,050 to hold three workplans retreats?

That works out to an average of $18,680 for each retreat.

Where were these retreats held? Were they overseas trip? If they were, are these necessary?

GROs have indeed held such retreats overseas through the years, and questions about them have been raised in the past.

For example, in 2014, members of the public queried the Member of Parliament and grassroots adviser for Sengkang West, Lam Pin Min, on whether it was necessary for his GROs to hold its “retreat” in Taipei, Taiwan.

Dr Lam, who is also Minister of State for Health, had uploaded some photos of the trip on his Facebook page. (See here: “Grassroots leaders like to go overseas to do planning“.)

Lam Pin Min Facebook
TR Emeritus also reported at the time:

“If everyone in the photo is paying from their own pockets, then I have nothing to say. But if even 1 cent has been used to sponsor this retreat, I would like Dr Lam to tell us more about it,” [a] reader said.

Apparently, according to the website of People’s Association [Link], grassroots leaders and their MPs do regularly go for overseas retreat to “work”. They will also bring along their family members too.

For example, from 12 to 14 Dec, Mountbatten MP Lim Biow Chuan went with his grassroots leaders and family members to Batam.

The purpose was for them to meet and create the work plan for next year – “to plan the direction for 2015.″

Such “retreats” by the GROs have also taken place in other overseas locations, such as in Indonesia and Thailand, and has been going on for quite a while now.

For example, in a letter to the Straits Times Forum page in 2006, Mr Ang Hak Heng asked why “100 grassroots leaders from Cheng San”, in the then PAP-run Aljunied GRC, needed to conduct their retreat in Pattaya, Thailand.

“Assuming the cost at $100 per grassroots leader and 10 cents per card, it would be $10,000 and $8,000 respectively,” Mr Ang wrote. “The actual costs may be higher. Is it really necessary to conduct the discussion at a foreign resort in the first place? There are resorts in Singapore and there’s Sentosa. It could save them travel time and also support local businesses and stimulate our economy if the session was held in Singapore.”

He added: “The money saved could be used to help needy residents, students, the elderly and unemployed. It will certainly increase the sense of well-being and happiness for some, if not all Aljunied residents.”

The PA’s response to Mr Ang’s letter was that the grassroots leaders “co-pay” for such overseas trips.

Still, it raises the question of why the need to go overseas at all for such “workplans” meetings.

And how much indeed has been spent by all the 1,800 GROs on such things.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2015/08/56000-for-3-work-plans-retreats-for-grassroots-organisations/

 

[GoldenDragon]

Re: 'Swift, decisive steps' taken by People's Association in response to AGO Report:

Lim Sia Suay did not touch on the part of the CCC Chairman awarding contracts to his own company.... did he forget too?

How to? Don't forget a toothpick thief cannot comment on a con man. They are criminals.