Don’t play a game of smoke and mirrors, says Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam about the Aljunied-Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) saga.
The Aljunied-Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) saga is back in the spotlight after the Court of Appeal ordered the town council to appoint an accountant to manage its funds.
In an exclusive interview with SIX-SIX.COM, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam weighs in on the matter, not sparing sharp words.
“What I would say is this, in February — in the debates in Parliament — I said the conduct was terrible and unlawful. Money was going out through the front door. They were giving money to their friends without proper checks and balances — millions of dollars.
“These are public funds.
“It should never have happened, and they were refusing to be transparent about it or honest about it, refusing to account to the public for their actions and that is why MND (Ministry of National Development) and HDB (Housing Development Board) had to take out the application.”
The MND had first requested the High Court to appoint an accountant to manage AHPETC’s funds. This was rejected, but the Court of Appeal has now granted it.
On this reversal, Mr Shanmugam says, “The High Court found the conduct atrocious, but thought that it didn't have the power to appoint accountants. The Court of Appeal has disagreed with that...and has directed that an accountant goes in, writes a report every month (and the) copy is given to HDB, which can make it public.
“The Court of Appeal said ‘you top up the sinking funds, and if you don't have the money, increase the S&CC (service and conservancy charges).’ This comes directly from the pockets of the residents.”
PUBLISHED 01 DECEMBER 2015 6:00PM SGT
The Aljunied-Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) saga is back in the spotlight after the Court of Appeal ordered the town council to appoint an accountant to manage its funds.
"... the conduct was terrible and unlawful. Money was going out through the front door. They were giving money to their friends without proper checks and balances — millions of dollars. "
In an exclusive interview with SIX-SIX.COM, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam weighs in on the matter, not sparing sharp words.
“What I would say is this, in February — in the debates in Parliament — I said the conduct was terrible and unlawful. Money was going out through the front door. They were giving money to their friends without proper checks and balances — millions of dollars.
“These are public funds.
“It should never have happened, and they were refusing to be transparent about it or honest about it, refusing to account to the public for their actions and that is why MND (Ministry of National Development) and HDB (Housing Development Board) had to take out the application.”
The MND had first requested the High Court to appoint an accountant to manage AHPETC’s funds. This was rejected, but the Court of Appeal has now granted it.
On this reversal, Mr Shanmugam says, “The High Court found the conduct atrocious, but thought that it didn't have the power to appoint accountants. The Court of Appeal has disagreed with that...and has directed that an accountant goes in, writes a report every month (and the) copy is given to HDB, which can make it public.
“The Court of Appeal said ‘you top up the sinking funds, and if you don't have the money, increase the S&CC (service and conservancy charges).’ This comes directly from the pockets of the residents.”
Will residents pay dearly for WP's mismanagement of Town Council Funds?
Pritam Singh, the chairman of AHPETC, said the town council " will comply with all the orders made by the Court". However, Mr Shanmugam questions the honesty of Singh and WP Chairperson Sylvia Lim.
“Ms Sylvia Lim gave a series of answers which the High Court said were highly misleading, in fact, false. So Parliament was misled.
“Mr Pritam Singh did his own act by saying he won’t answer to Parliament. He’s the champion of transparency, he’s the champion of democracy, but when it comes to his own conduct, he said, ‘I won’t answer to you, not in Parliament. If you are my resident I will answer to you.’ Then Sam Tan (Minister of State) stood up and said, ‘I am your resident, answer to me,’ and he (Singh) said nothing.
“As the Court of Appeal pointed out,” says Mr Shanmugam, “they have no system of identifying the S&CC — who has paid and who hasn’t paid — as basic as that. It’s shambolic and it’s a serious state of affairs.”
When asked what he would like the outcome of the whole AHPETC saga to be, he says, “Tell the truth. Where did the money go? How much? What was the money spent on? Don’t play a game of smoke and mirrors. Just come clean and apologise for what has happened.
“Don’t pretend that nothing has happened. And make good the losses. People's money has been lost through poor conduct. Yes, it is politically damaging to admit it, but better to admit it, put the money back, take the necessary action, disclose all of the data, face the consequences … that is the way to do things.”
The AHPETC is now the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) after the WP lost its Punggol East ward in GE2015. The ward will now merge with the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Pasir Ris-Punggol ward.
The Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) will start operations from 22 December, after renovation works are completed.
“Ms Sylvia Lim gave a series of answers which the High Court said were highly misleading, in fact, false. So Parliament was misled.
“... they have no system of identifying the S&CC — who has paid and who hasn’t paid — as basic as that. It’s shambolic and it’s a serious state of affairs.”
“Mr Pritam Singh did his own act by saying he won’t answer to Parliament. He’s the champion of transparency, he’s the champion of democracy, but when it comes to his own conduct, he said, ‘I won’t answer to you, not in Parliament. If you are my resident I will answer to you.’ Then Sam Tan (Minister of State) stood up and said, ‘I am your resident, answer to me,’ and he (Singh) said nothing.
“As the Court of Appeal pointed out,” says Mr Shanmugam, “they have no system of identifying the S&CC — who has paid and who hasn’t paid — as basic as that. It’s shambolic and it’s a serious state of affairs.”
Is AHPETC finally going to crash down due to WP's incompetence and mismanagement?
When asked what he would like the outcome of the whole AHPETC saga to be, he says, “Tell the truth. Where did the money go? How much? What was the money spent on? Don’t play a game of smoke and mirrors. Just come clean and apologise for what has happened.
“Don’t pretend that nothing has happened. And make good the losses. People's money has been lost through poor conduct. Yes, it is politically damaging to admit it, but better to admit it, put the money back, take the necessary action, disclose all of the data, face the consequences … that is the way to do things.”
The AHPETC is now the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) after the WP lost its Punggol East ward in GE2015. The ward will now merge with the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) Pasir Ris-Punggol ward.
The Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council (PRPTC) will start operations from 22 December, after renovation works are completed.
Source:
Six-Six.com - AHPETC Shortfall Could Affect Residents’ Pockets: Shanmugam
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