Hawkers' Centre Cleaning Saga : FAILURE TO FULFILL THEIR STATUTORY DUTIES

Stallholders at Blks 511, 538 and 630 were informed they had to pay for scaffolding to be erected for the washing of high areas. They never had to in the past.

Stalls at Blk 538 were closed for 5 days only to return and find the high areas not cleaned and that actual cleaning took only 1 day. 

WP MP Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap had to write an appeal letter to his own town council concerning the extra charges for cleaning. 

All three food centres are maintained by FMSS, AHPETC's managing agent. 

FAILURE TO FULFILL THEIR STATUTORY DUTIES

"pursuant to section 18(1) of the Town Councils Act, all town councils are responsible for maintaining and cleaning of all common areas, including hawker centres, in Housing Board towns".

Of lapses and weakness in governance: keeping the system clean

The AGO's Audit of Ministries and Statutory Boards

 

The audit observations in this year's report relate to six ministries, including the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Defence, and six statutory boards such as the Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Nanyang Polytechnic.

The AGO, as the independent organ of state, carries out their audits without fear or favour, benchmarking their work to recognised international and professional auditing standards, and with the highest standard of fairness and objectivity.

THIS is how the integrity of our public institutions has been maintained and upheld.

All lapses must be addressed, whether significant or not. If criminality is involved, then the weight of the law will be brought to bear. This is how the system is kept clean.

In a speech on ethical leadership and tackling corruption in 2005, Mr Lee Kuan Yew said:

"IT IS A CONSTANT FIGHT TO KEEP THE HOUSE CLEAN. AS LONG AS THE CORE LEADERSHIP IS CLEAN, any backsliding can be brought under control and the house cleaned up."

But what if the failures are not just the sum of individual lapses, but pervasive and systemic, cutting across every areas like that seen in AHTC, where the CORE LEADERSHIP ITSELF fails in the enforcement of integrity and ethical values?

Can that house be cleaned up when the core leadership neither uphold nor enforce integrity and ethical values?

The answer is clear, isn't it?
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Reports on the lapses in the AGO Audit of ministries and stat boards can be read here:
http://bit.ly/2anitTa
http://bit.ly/2aHoj0u
http://bit.ly/2aecfGa
http://bit.ly/2aqDJc6

Breaking their silence finally: TI-SG

 

FINALLY, The Independent-Singapore (TI-SG) finally broke their silence on the KPMG's report on AHTC.

And they gave the only defence they could think of for AHTC: PAP has not taken up the CPIB challenge. LOL

They hope that with that charge, they can continue to fool people who read only the alternative. But how long can they continue to fool the people?

Currently WP is taking protection from the Town Council Act which renders MND powerless to compel any information from them. But all that will soon change by the end of this year. (http://bit.ly/2apPsGa)

TI-SG isn't the only one employing this line of defence. Sylvia Lim used it.

So did Low Thia Khiang at a rally during last year's general election. He had maintained that if there were any wrongdoing at AHPETC, the CPIB would have been involved.

His comments drew a swift response from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

[ Singapore must have higher standards for its politics than those of some opposition politicians who seem to believe that if they are not in jail, they must be doing okay, Mr Lee said.

His comment came shortly after Workers' Party chief Low Thia Khiang argued at a rally over in Hougang that the lapses at the Aljunied- Hougang-Punggol East Town Council were not investigated by the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) and that was a sign that there was no wrongdoing.

PM Lee objected to the way that "when people do something wrong, they don't fix it, they don't admit it, they pretend it doesn't exist".

"And then sometimes they say, 'Well, I haven't been sent to jail. If I've done something wrong, I should have gone to jail. I'm not in jail, so everything is okay'.

"I think, if your standard for politics is that the people who are in politics should not be in jail, then I think Singapore is in very serious trouble," he said, adding: "We must have high standards for politics."

The questions politicians should ask themselves are whether they are doing the right thing and serving Singapore well, he said.] ST 3 Sep 2015

The Damning Report from KPMG: 4th Progress Report

For as long as anyone can remember, the accounts at Workers' Party-run town council has been in a mess. But now we discover that it is in fact in a much bigger mess that we thought based on the latest KPMG report.

AND YET, Pritam Singh is still NOW telling people that his town council will award the contract for a new Town Council Accounting System "shortly".

Can you imagine that?! They still have not put in place a credible accounting system!! They didn't get down to work after the special audit by AGO?

Where is their accountability and sense of responsibility? And honesty?

"PERVASIVE" was the word KPMG used to describe the lapses.

In addition to the 115 control failures identified by the special audit carried out by AGO, KPMG has identified another 70 control failures!

And KPMG concluded that unless its town councillors and senior management “set the right tone at the top”, and clearly define the standard of competence and accountability it expects from employees, the lapses could not be fully remedied.

It starts with the leadership at the top.

 “Highly irregular” methods were used to process over $60 million worth of payments.

That's not a small amount. 

AHTC also extensively used manual journal entries to record payments to third parties. There were over 48,500 such manual entries involving more than $60 million from 2011 to last year. This avoids records being entered into accounts payable, thus circumventing financial controls.

Temporary clearing accounts  

There are 18 temporary clearing accounts used for more than one million transactions were not cleared swiftly. Why do they need so many temporary clearing accounts?

Dummy Vendor Code 

 

Look, we are not dummies.

After the special audit by AGO that identified over 100 control failures, instead of introducing measures that eliminate those failures, AHTC introduced a dummy vendor code in 2015 that resulted in another control failure.

Should we say, "Well done, Workers' Party"?

The use of this dummy code meant duplicate or fictitious payments could be made without being detected.

In its conclusions, KPMG noted that that the town council’s lapses could not be fully remedied unless its town councillors and senior management “set the right tone at the top”, and clearly define the standard of competence and accountability it expects from employees.

“The Control Failures are pervasive, cutting across the key areas of governance, financial control, financial reporting, procurement and records management over the course of five years,” the audit firm said in its report.

 “We are of the view that there is an issue larger than the sum of individual lapses and that these Control Failures point to a failure in AHTC’s control environment.”

Can the leaders at the top set the right tone? That is a big question.

How much do you trust Sylvia Lim, the Chairman of Workers' Party and co-chairman of their town council?

Sylvia Lim has been caught lying - without batting an eyelid - more than once. She lied to voters. She lied to reporters. She lied in Parliament. She has been described as a liar by Justice Quentin Loh.

Did it bother her? No. 

What about the current chairman of the town council, Pritam Singh? Can he set the right tone at the top? 

There's one thing we can learn from Pritam Singh and that is the art of making himself look good. 

After mounting great resistance to MND's quest to appoint independent accountants to look into ALL past payments made by AHPETC, and after haggling much over the choice of accountants and having lost every argument and having to choose one of the Big Four as independent accountants - and the choice fell on KPMG - Pritam Singh said in a media release that AHTC had instructed KPMG to identify all transactions made to FMSS and FMSI … and to flag out any payment(s) deemed improper.

Really? AHTC instructed KPMG? KPMG would be doing that anyway, with or without that instruction. That's KPMG's mission.

Oh, but didn't Sylvia Lim argue in Parliament last year (February) that payments made according to contracts are not over-payment? Nothing improper according to Sylvia Lim. Looks like Sylvia Lim was wrong after all. Tsk tsk!

But if Pritam Singh is serious about straightening the mess at AHTC, why did he refuse to share documents with PwC, the independent accountant for Punggol East? 

He even sought to use the Court to avoid this sharing of documents by claiming duplication of work. He probably hoped the Court would agree with him so that he needn't share any documents with the accountants of Punggol East.

 "AHTC is of the position that two accounting firms – appointed by two different town councils – are effectively duplicating each other’s work and funded by public purse in reviewing the accounts of Punggol East ward," Pritam Singh said in Court.

How interesting!

Pritam Singh is complaining of a situation created by AHTC.

They created this situation where work is duplicated and unnecessary costs incurred because they rejected HDB's advice to jointly appoint accountant.

They created this situation when they rejected PRPTC's proposal to jointly appoint KPMG.

AHTC also refused to attend meetings the HDB had called to coordinate the work of the two accountants. 


After hearing arguments, CJ Menon said KPMG and PwC (accountants for Punggol East) should communicate directly with each other and "afford each other such access as may be reasonably required to safeguard each party’s interests".

In short, they will by-pass AHTC in their communication. AHTC is a hindrance to their work.



How about Png Eng Huat then? He is a co-chairman of the town council. 

The story of the very bad durians tells us that this man cannot rise above petty politics and lies. Can he set the right tone at the top? Obviously not!

You can read the story here: http://wpinreview.blogspot.sg/2016/07/the-story-of-very-bad-durians-look-whos.html

Like Minister Shanmugam said in his response to the latest KPMG's report, the rot is at the top and we are not surprised!

Doing what they do best: Crowing

Doing what they do best but in the natural course of things, the sun will still rise even if the cock does not crow.

Before there was Workers' Party Manifestos 2011 and 2015, there was the New Rail Financing Framework in 2010.

The Downtown Line is already on this framework but no opposition politicians seemed to notice this.

There was no media release by WP to comment on the rail financing framework back in 2010. Was it because they had not conceived any idea at that time? Haha

The story of the very bad durians: look who's lying and stirring!!

So Png Eng Huat claimed they waited for HOURS to clear immigration. But ICA records showed that he was there for 30 MINUTES!

Tsk tsk!

#LiesHaveAShortLifespan

https://www.facebook.com/Immigration.Checkpoints.Authority/posts/293786104304644

But uppermost in Png Eng Huat's mind was how to post a one-sided rant on facebook that will make Singaporeans angry and discredit Tan Chuan Jin and the PAP.

So much so that he completely lost the initiative to approach immigration officers to inquire if the 89-year-old resident and the injured elderly resident who stood in line could be allowed to clear immigration first.

But perhaps he did not have the initiative to begin with?

So what's the lesson for us here? The lesson for us is that it matters who leads the group. It matters who your leaders are. 

So much stirring by Png Eng Huat in one post. Should we say 'Kudos' to him?

So the 'HOURS' of waiting everyone had to endure turned out to be 30 minutes for Png Eng Huat. Not even one hour.

With 400,000 travellers that pass through our checkpoints on a normal day, and considering the more careful checks being done in view of tightened security, that 30 minutes' wait to clear immigration is considered fast and efficient.

But according to Png Eng Huat, there was CHAOS, ANGER and CONFUSION at the checkpoint. You believe him?

To believe him is to insult Singaporeans.

#overheard
In any case a delay of half an hour is hardly an intolerable imposition. Unless of course one has a political interest in pretending that it is so.
- Bilahari Kausikan

And then when Png Eng Huat is caught lost for words by the response from Minister Tan Chuan Jin, he tries to wriggle out of a very bad situation he created.

Can Png Eng Huat of Workers' Party try not to entangle himself in his own words? At least make up his mind what the issue is?

But alas, the flip flopping has begun, as swiftly as Mr Png moved to respond to ICA's status.

The post was not about himself, he said. It was also not about the Minister, he said.

The issue was not about the Minister, he said.

He thinks it is reasonable for the Minister to be given special clearance.

And yet, and yet, he said to media (ST reports), " ICA sees it fit to state that I waited about 30 minutes to clear customs. I am sure the Minister would not mind waiting 30 minutes for the rest of his travelling companions to clear customs as well.“

Clearly, it pissed him off that the Minister was given special clearance instead of having to queue for 30 minutes like he did.

Oh, it's an issue of inequality, he said. 

 "I have an issue with inequality," Mr Png clarified.

In the earlier first rant, he wrote, "... we are supposed to enjoy a day of fun TOGETHER. No one should be accorded more 'fun'."

Is that why it did not occur to him to seek help from immigration officers to allow his elderly 89-year-old resident and the elderly injured resident to clear immigration faster?

Because like anyone else, these two elderly residents must have 'equal fun'.

Hey, that's equality of treatment for you. Everyone queues, regardless!

Finally, he cried: I'm also at the receiving end of hate!

 

20 busloads of people travelled with Minister Tan.

19 buses joined the normal queue. There were volunteers and grassroots people on the 19 buses too. They took care of the residents, saw to their comfort and needs and ensured every resident reached their destinations safely.

ICA facilitated the clearance for Minister Tan and his security officers who were carrying their firearms, as well as the residents and volunteers who were with him on his bus.

If everyone is like Png Eng Huat who likes to split hairs, then the volunteers, grasssroots members and residents on the 19 buses that joined the normal queue should be complaining about 'inequality' too.

Fortunately not everyone is a Png Eng Huat.

Having stirred hate and anger, Png Eng Huat acts like a victim and lamented that he was also on the receiving end of hate and anger.

The Law of the Harvest is always true. We reap what we sow.

Mr Png sowed anger and hatred. What did he expect to reap? Love and warmth?

The art of looking good by Pritam Singh

AHTC is of the position that two accounting firms – appointed by two different town councils – are effectively duplicating each other’s work and funded by public purse in reviewing the accounts of Punggol East ward.

How interesting!

Pritam Singh is describing a situation created by AHTC.

They created this situation where work is duplicated and unnecessary costs incurred because they rejected HDB's advice to jointly appoint accountant.

They created this situation when they rejected PRPTC's proposal to jointly appoint KPMG.

AHTC also refused to attend meetings the HDB had called to coordinate the work of the two accountants.

How did this outing at the Appeal Court arise?

HDB said that AHTC had refused to give PRPTC access to documents for it to carry out its review of Punggol East's accounts.

For more than 7 months AHTC had dragged their feet and given excuse s for not giving PwC access to the necessary information.

It added that AHTC also requested that HDB first apply to the Court of Appeal to clarify whether PRPTC was bound by the court order to audit Punggol East's books.

HDB said that it had applied for Friday's hearing, given AHTC’s position and the impending Aug 31 deadline for the report on AHPETC’s past payments.

After hearing arguments, CJ Menon said KPMG and PwC should communicate directly with each other and "afford each other such access as may be reasonably required to safeguard each party’s interests".

In short, they can by-pass AHTC in their communication.

Following the direction given by CJ Menon at the hearing, HDB said it expects AHTC and PRPTC to do "all that is necessary to facilitate the work of the accountants, KPMG and PwC," in carrying out the orders of the court.

References:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/duplication-of-work-on/2941594.html

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/cooperate-over-punggol-easts-accounts-apex-court

http://www.straitstimes.com/politics/accountants-should-work-together-to-look-into-punggol-east-accounts-prptc

Half-truths and Pritam Singh: duplication of work by independent accountants

Let's set out the truth clearly.

HDB had suggested that both the PAP and WP-run town councils jointly appoint the independent accountant to AVOID DUPLICATION OF EFFORT, COMPETING ACCESS TO DOCUMENTS AND INCURRING UNNECESSARY COSTS.

AHTC's response to that suggestion?

They rejected the proposal.

So PRPTC had to appoint their own independent accountant because they are also bound by the same judgement to review PE's accounts and they are accountable to their residents. They appointed PwC.

Having rejected the proposal for joint accountants, Pritam Singh is now complaining of duplication of work?

Why didn't he agree to jointly appoint KPMG in the first place?

The Court of Appeal ruled that Pasir Ris Punggol TC has an interest in the outcome of the work done by KPMG.

Whatever that Pritam Singh was hoping for, he did not get it in the Court of Appeal.

The Court directed that PwC and KPMG will now communicate directly with each other, bypassing AHTC.

So after more than 7 months of denying PwC the requested documents, PwC will finally be given access to those documents.

And.....for Pritam to use the excuse that there is duplication of work in order not to share documents when Pritam was the one who rejected the proposal for joint accountant to avoid duplication of work ....that is 'suppresio veri suggestio falsi'.

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Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/FabricationsAboutThePAP/photos/a.245735922149090.70599.213440582045291/1056739517715389/?type=3&theater

Reference: http://bit.ly/29vibbF

The art of making yourself look good

After mounting great resistance to MND's quest to appoint independent accountants to look into ALL past payments made by AHPETC, and after haggling much over the choice of accountants and having lost every argument and having to choose one of the Big Four as independent accountants - and the choice fell on KPMG - Pritam Singh said in a media release that AHTC had instructed KPMG to identify all transactions made to FMSS and FMSI … and to flag out any payment(s) deemed improper.

Really? KPMG would be doing that anyway, with or without that instruction.

So why didn't AHTC do that right in the beginning before MND resorted to court action to require the appointment of independent accountants to do that?

Oh, and didn't Sylvia Lim say that payments made according to contracts are not over-payment? Looks like Sylvia Lim was wrong after all. Tsk tsk!

Duplication of work by independent accountants

The Court of Appeal has instructed PwC, the independent accountant appointed by the PAP TC to straighten Punggol East SMC's accounts, to COMMUNICATE DIRECTLY with KPMG, the independent accountant appointed to look into AHTC's accounts.

This ends months of AHTC denying PwC requested documents necessary to sort the accounts.

What it means is that PwC does not have to talk to AHTC to request for information. The independent accountants from the two accounting firms now talk to each other, by-passing AHTC.

Not necessary to duplicate work, Pritam says? Pritam Singh should let Singaporeans know how such a situation arose.

PRPTC had in the beginning asked AHTC to JOINTLY APPOINT KPMG as independent accountant, but AHTC had rejected that request.

As the party elected to take care of Punggol East, the town council has a duty to its residents to make sure that their interests are well taken care of, including how monies that they had contributed through S&CC are spent.

PRPTC appointed its own independent accountant when AHTC rejected PRPTC's request to jointly appoint KPMG as independent accountant.

PRPTC: Pasir Ris Punggol Town Council
AHTC : Aljunied Hougang Town Council