Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Putting The House In Order

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.

10 comments:

  1. You mean that the house that Lee built is made of straw? All that huffing and puffing by Tharman, of all people will bring it down Shows that even that acceptable face of the PAP is not immune to the disease that afflicts them. With each passing day the citizens will see the true colours of these men in white.

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  2. // Those resorting to straw - and inclined to invoking straw man arguments - will be witnessing their own collapse pretty soon.//

    江水滚滚波涛汹,
    河水滔滔流不尽,
    阴险恶毒非丈夫,
    自道自吠稻草论。

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  3. If the structure of Govt house is safe, why then did PM Lee says Singapore will be in trouble when PAP is gone? Where exactly is the vulnerability of its pillars, unless indeed is made of straws.

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  4. The genius styles of LSS and Tharman that it's self aware, integrity and confessional character forestalls the charge of hypocrisy before it can be made. How, they seem to be saying, can I be hypocrite if I know how hypocritical /incompetent I must equally appear? The self knowledge provides the bona fides of their own good intentions.

    In other words, their self correction course of politics is part of the problems, not solutions. After all, self detection is not made until AGOs report, and the hidden iceberg remains that -- hidden.

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  5. Looks like the last round of the game of musical chairs in Parliament by the PAP goes to Tharman. But there's little much he could do to defend the indefensible lapses in the govt agencies, except by resorting again to the diversionary tactic of attacking the WP with hyperbole and questionable data. A good rejoinder by Tattler that those who live in straw houses shouldn't blow too hard; or the back blast will bring the house down.

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  6. $€£¥₩$€£¥₩$€£¥₩ 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". $€£¥₩$€£¥₩$€£¥₩



    What is the basis to hold sinkies and others to high, stringent standards when those upholding such rules cannot practise what they preached?

    Coming "appraisals" should be about several KPIs, one of which is accountability.

    If the "( once in a blue moon ) servants ( actually for only 9 days in every 5 years )" cannot explain satisfactorily the repeated ( and thus unforgivable ) lapses to the ( once in a blue moon slaves turned ) employers ( for only 1 day in every 5 years after which for the rest of the almost 2,000 days, temporary servants become permanent masters, and temporary employers become permanent slaves once again ), is it not by the principle of natural justice that the temporary servants ( for only 9 days out of every 5 years ) be given the marching order ( sacking and make them permanent servants )?

    Should they not be subjected to ( and have a taste of ) their own prescriptions ( and medicine )?

    High pay, low or no standards ( and double standards)?

    Time to prepare many pink slips ( and sack some dead wood) )?

    No?

    But remember to bring along some clothes peg as well to hold your noses ...... some stench can be quite unbearable. ...... in case your breakfast, lunch or dinner may go to waste like the Merlion at the river mouth .......

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  7. @ Anonymous 8/19/2015 12:01 PM
    " A good rejoinder by Tattler that those who live in straw houses shouldn't blow too hard; or the back blast will bring the house down. "


    世间恶人真够怪,
    玻璃屋里的无赖,
    戴着面具搞破坏,
    拼命屋里叠石块,
    玻璃屋主超奇怪,
    敢敢向外丟石块!


    Google translate:

    " Wicked world really strange,
    Glass house rogue,
    Wearing masks and sabotage,
    Desperately stacked stone house,
    Glasshouse main super strange,
    Dare to dare to throw stones out!"


    Bing translator:

    " Wicked was strange enough in the world,
    Rogue in a glass house,
    Masked mischief,
    Desperately stacked stones in the House,
    Glass owner extra strange,
    Dare dare outwardly 丟 rocks!"

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  8. It is exactly these type of double standards that really make a lot of Singaporeans pissed off and want to f**k PAP. Something which the horrible old man's son fail to understand.

    How is it that a husband and wife team can accumulate millions legally without any questions asked while another husband and wife team is subject to all sorts of questionable accusations although not having committed any criminal offence?

    No wonder the white Pappy soap powder is so offensive to those culprits until they have to use the laws to curb it.

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  9. Unless he paid $56k in cash to all 3 vendors or trips, there will be billings or a paper trail from the bank/credit card company. So, please tell us which trip or hotel did you stay and whose funeral did you pay, we can find out for you. No need a highly paid civil servant to tell us.

    If you indeed carried $56k of petty cash in a suitcase on your rounds to pay for all these items, that would be really odd and raise eyebrows. Also, why did the leader in question just drop out of the limelight? This government is big on leadership and freedom with responsibility, yadayada. As a leader, no doubt will all the inherent qualities of nobility and responsibility, shouldn't he emerge from the shadows to give his own account, clear the air? Or maybe he also needs to go to Thailand.

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  10. The PAP loves dirty politics because its founder LKY was a scum himself. The political party (and his son the current PM) inevitably inherit his scummy traits. These traits reflect upon the folks who support it e.g. Calvin Cheng and Jason Chua.

    This scumminess cannot be good for the evolution of this country politically. And even if you put aside the politics, economically and socially this country isn't doing that well now. The direction this country is going, if things are allowed to remain as they are, is dire.

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