Tharman Shamugaratnam referred to the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) accounts as "a house in danger of collapsing" even though the town council has tightened financial and accounting procedures in the aftermath of the Auditor-General's Office (AGO)'s observations. He took particular delight in reiterating the AGO observations on administration of grants, tendering and management of revenue contracts and related party transactions.
Over at another construction site, People's Association (PA) deputy chairman Lim Swee Say said his house is not at risk of collapse, "We've learnt from findings of the AGO and will improve to do better." Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Lina Chiam reminded him that the AGO had discovered only in 2012 that Lim's PA had excluded grassroots organisations' accounts from their financial statements for umpteen years. Exclusions that, no doubt, allowed profligates like the Admiralty Citizen's Consultative Committee (CCC) chairman to approve his personal expense claims of $114,767 without much hassle. That figure includes 3 missing receipts totalling $56,050 for "workplan retreats". With Lim not enlightening us further with details, one can only guess the partying that can be hosted for that kind of money. No champion of transparency himself, Lim did not name Tonic Oh as the toxic philanderer. The distinguish holder of the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) was outed by social media.
Abusing monetary grants received by PA was just what Chiam called the "tip of the iceberg". The other lapses include related party transcations and mismanagement of revenue contracts, abhorrent transgressions itemised by Tharman in glee. Even if there is no evidence of fraud or corrupt intent, an errant officer may face serious disciplined action, including being barred from promotion for a few years, Tharman said. The quick and dirty alternative is to resign, and sweep everything under the carpet.
The big bad wolf huffed and puffed at the piggies' houses, but we know only the one made of bricks withstood the blasts. Those resorting to straw - and inclined to invoking straw man arguments - will be witnessing their own collapse pretty soon.
Over at another construction site, People's Association (PA) deputy chairman Lim Swee Say said his house is not at risk of collapse, "We've learnt from findings of the AGO and will improve to do better." Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Lina Chiam reminded him that the AGO had discovered only in 2012 that Lim's PA had excluded grassroots organisations' accounts from their financial statements for umpteen years. Exclusions that, no doubt, allowed profligates like the Admiralty Citizen's Consultative Committee (CCC) chairman to approve his personal expense claims of $114,767 without much hassle. That figure includes 3 missing receipts totalling $56,050 for "workplan retreats". With Lim not enlightening us further with details, one can only guess the partying that can be hosted for that kind of money. No champion of transparency himself, Lim did not name Tonic Oh as the toxic philanderer. The distinguish holder of the Pingat Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Medal) was outed by social media.
Abusing monetary grants received by PA was just what Chiam called the "tip of the iceberg". The other lapses include related party transcations and mismanagement of revenue contracts, abhorrent transgressions itemised by Tharman in glee. Even if there is no evidence of fraud or corrupt intent, an errant officer may face serious disciplined action, including being barred from promotion for a few years, Tharman said. The quick and dirty alternative is to resign, and sweep everything under the carpet.
The big bad wolf huffed and puffed at the piggies' houses, but we know only the one made of bricks withstood the blasts. Those resorting to straw - and inclined to invoking straw man arguments - will be witnessing their own collapse pretty soon.