Sylvia Lim’s 2nd open letter to AHPE residents

[makapaaa]

http://www.tremeritus.com/2015/09/01/sylvia-lims-2nd-open-letter-to-ahpe-residents/

[h=2]Sylvia Lim’s 2nd open letter to AHPE residents[/h]

September 1st, 2015 |

Author: Contributions

WP MP Sylvia Lim


Dear Residents,

In my First Open Letter to you in June 2015, I explained three main points
concerning various allegations made against Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town
Council (AHPETC). These were:

• 1. AHPETC does not and cannot reserve contracts for “friends” due to the
  public tender process;

2. The alleged “overpayment” by AHPETC to its former Managing Agent (MA),
when compared to rates paid by PAP TCs in 2014, was an
exaggeration, looking at the rates paid by PAP TCs in 2011, 2012 and
2013 according to data provided by the Ministry of National Development
(MND);

3. The MA rates that AHPETC agreed to pay its MA in 2012 were arrived at
taking into account the MA rate paid by the PAP management of Aljunied TC to its
former MA.

If you missed the first open letter, you can read it online at http://www.ahpetc.sg/sylvia-lims-open-letter-to-residents

In this Second Open Letter, I would like to clarify and reassure all
residents that AHPETC places your interests at the heart of its work and
continues to make improvements to its financial management.

This letter will cover the issue of Conflicts of Interest and AHPETC’s
financial position.

1. Conflict of Interest and Related Party Transactions

There have been allegations concerning related party transactions between
AHPETC and its former MA, FM Solutions & Services Pte Ltd (FMSS).

First, there is no longer any issue, as AHPETC is now
directly managed and does not outsource its work to an MA. The previous MA
contract expired on 14 July 2015, and there were no bidders to take over the MA
services after 14 July 2015.

Since 15 July 2015, AHPETC has been self-managed. This means that AHPETC is
now directly hiring staff to handle estate, finance, administration and other
tasks, instead of outsourcing the work to an MA.

Under direct management, AHPETC’s contractors continue to deliver services
under the existing contracts, now supervised by TC’s directly hired staff.

Second, there was never any conflict of interest whatsoever between
the Workers’ Party (WP) or any of its Members of Parliament (MPs) and
FMSS. Neither WP nor any of its MPs or members has any interest in the
business of FMSS. None of the directors and shareholders of FMSS is a member of
WP.

Third, there have been accusations that when the MA was working at AHPETC,
the husband and wife team who owned FMSS could freely sign payments to
themselves. This is not true. When WP took over in 2011, one of
the first decisions made by the new Aljunied-Hougang Town Council was to require
any cheques to the MA, no matter how small the amount, to require the
counter-signature of AHPETC Chairman and Vice-Chairmen who have no interest in
the MA’s business.

2. Financial Position of AHPETC

Some people have accused AHPETC of bankruptcy and running huge deficits that
are not sustainable, and also warned residents of other towns not to vote for WP
so as not to subsidise AHPETC. These allegations are misguided.

AHPETC filed its audited accounts for FY 14/15, on time, by 31 August 2015.
Though these accounts show AHPETC in annual deficit, this is because AHPETC has
still NOT received its annual S&CC operating grant of $7.2 million
from the government, which would normally have been paid to all
Town Councils in April 2014. Taking into account the $7.2 million in
grant which AHPETC expects to receive, AHPETC’s annual income and expenditure
statement would show an annual surplus of $1.7 million.

The past operating deficit was largely the outcome of higher tender price for
various service contracts and start-up costs.

The current positive position came about through a combination of steps taken
by AHPETC. These included lowering its utilities costs by using contestable
energy, reducing its general and administrative expenditure, and increasing its
revenue.

Throughout the difficult initial years, AHPETC management believed that it
could improve the TC’s financial position, and the latest audit shows that it
has. We expect to further consolidate and improve AHPETC’s financial position
going forward.

We have done our best to serve residents, and I would like to express
appreciation to our staff for their contribution to the progress we have made
and to our residents for their support and
understanding.

SYLVIA
LIM
CHAIRMAN
ALJUNIED-HOUGANG-PUNGGOL EAST TOWN
COUNCIL

 

[winnipegjets]

Shame on the PAP TCs ....they have been outshone by the WP TC. WP TC shows how efficient they are. Meanwhile, the PAP TCs are just good at sucking residents and send threatening letters to those in arrears.

PAP TCs should explain why are they spending so much more to lease town management software from a $2 company?

 

[mojito]

Shame on the PAP TCs ....they have been outshone by the WP TC. WP TC shows how efficient they are. Meanwhile, the PAP TCs are just good at sucking residents and send threatening letters to those in arrears.

PAP TCs should explain why are they spending so much more to lease town management software from a $2 company?

Additional pension for retired PAP MPs. To cope with the higher costs of living, as you know everything very expensive these days.

 

[makapaaa]

For 50 years, the FAP has been using a concoction of secret police, compliant media and diversionary tactics during the GE. Unfortunately, 60% + New Citizens choose to be blind to them and continue to vote for the FAP out of fear of their property value being impacted by not doing so. How likely has this changed even today, when the milking by the FAP has reached intolerable level? The answer is likely that it has not. For the 60% + New Citizens, their future lies in their property value.

 

[Kentang]

I'm a resident of Serangoon North and I will vote out this WP team for good!
Don't ask me why, just have kopi in s'goon north wet market and you can feel the disdain of the resident of WP, even s'goon garden resident are aghast at WP.
we are the silent majority of Aljunied

 

[Kentang]

just to add my point this letter from Sylvia Lim shows WP are desperate to hold on to Aljunied...