The Workers Party Manifesto

The Workers' Party (WP) manifesto constantly espouses the need for the ruling government to be transparent and accountable to Singaporeans. Unfortunately, to the WP, the concept of transparency and accountability only applies to the Government and not themselves. 

One only needs to look at the way the WP and its members behave to know the values that they hold. For example, on the WP Facebook page, the WP openly states that they will delete any posts that violates their principles of being rational, responsible and respectful. However, when a WP supporter violates their stated principles, Daniel Goh does not follow his own rules. These double standards extend beyond this Facebook example to the now infamous statement by Pritam Singh where he says he will not answer to Parliament.

Singaporeans need to assess for themselves the character of opposition members like Pritam Singh and Daniel Goh. They say that if I can't even trust you with the small things, how can I trust you with the big things. A Manifesto should not only be words on a piece of paper. It should be a document whose principles and values you live by.

Hep-C Outbreak: WP Flip Flops on the Call for COI

Wow! It is amazing how a few weeks and perceived changes in public perception influence the Workers’ Party’s (WP) position on matters.

When the Hep-C Outbreak was made public, the WP was adamant that the Government convene a Committee of Inquiry (COI). To the WP (then), nothing short of a COI was good enough to get to the truth. Not even the formation of an Independent Committee of Inquiry (IRC) which included international experts from the US and the World Health Organization. This resulted in a very public to and fro between the WP, the Ministry of Health and the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP).

Fast forward to this week and the release of the Independent Review Committee’s (IRC) report where procedural failures by nurses was cited as the cause of the outbreak. Suddenly, when no Government conspiracy or cover-up was found and sympathy fell on the nurses working at the hospital, the WP switches tack and accepts the IRC’s report as adequate. To the WP, a COI is no longer necessary.  To add insult to injury, WP’s Daniel Goh smeared the ruling party by saying that the WP’s flip-flop was a pragmatic approach used by the governing party. And this, in Daniel Goh’s opinion, is the key success factor in Singapore politics.

As we reflect on WP’s actions over the Hep-C outbreak, we are reminded of the adage that if you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything. It is very clear to us that the WP is a party that has no clear values or positions on matters regarding Singapore or Singaporeans. Their value, as they see it, is to simply attack the Government for the sake of being an Opposition.

For Singapore to reach SG100, what the country needs is constructive politics by reputable opposition who care for Singapore and Singaporeans. Unfortunately, the WP is not that party.

AHPETC - Punggol East Accounts

The WP's AHPETC has, as we expected, has been unable to hand over an audited (and unqualified) account of the Punggol East Town Council. The following is the statement by PAP's MP Charles Chong to his residents.

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Dear Punggol East residents,

The team from Pasir Ris-Punggol Town Council has taken over the functions of the Town Council for Punggol East Constituency with effect from 1 December 2015, which is in line with MND’s guideline for the handover to be completed.

We have received the first set of documents from AHTC and are examining them. We are awaiting a second set of documents from AHTC which would be the audited financial statements on the PE accounts. We will only be in a position to comment further on the handover after all documents are submitted and examined.

Even though the audited accounts are not ready, we have taken over the official management of estate matters in Punggol East. While this may cause us some difficulties, it  does not serve the residents' interests to prolong the handover period and we would like to get down to work as soon as possible.

The Town Council office at Blk 156A Rivervale Cresent is undergoing minor renovation works and will be in operation from 22 Dec onwards. From now till 21 Dec, residents can go to any of the PRPTC offices at these locations below. The Town Council website address is http://www.prpg-tc.org.sg/index.php

For Town Council related issues you can also reach me at my email : Charles_Chong@prpg-grc.sg

Sengkang Office
Blk 266 Compassvale Bow #01-06
Singapore 540266
Tel: 6489 0520
Fax: 6385 0930
Email: sengkang@prpg-tc.org.sg

Punggol Office
Blk 603 Punggol Road #01-01
Singapore 820603
Tel: 6590 9500
Fax: 6659 8263
Email: punggol@prpg-tc.org.sg

Pasir Ris Office:
Blk 577 Pasir Ris
St 53 #01-88
Singapore 510577
Tel: 6585 4938
Fax: 6585 4937
Email: pasirris@prpg-tc.org.sg

Workers Party of Singapore - Bernard Chen Misleads Singaporeans

Since suffering a crushing defeat at the 11 September 2015 General Elections, the Workers' Party of Singapore (WP) has re-looked their strategy. One weakness that they could not overcome during GE2015 was their lack of presence in the area they contested. Voters saw them as opportunists who only showed up a few months before the GE while, in contrast, the PAP was working the ground since day 1.

In an apparent effort to portray that he was "working the ground", WP candidate for MacPherson Bernard Chen took to social media. Bernard Chen was however less than truthful and posted an old photo of himself visiting the Geylang East Home for the Aged on his Facebook. To a casual observer, one would have assumed that he had visited the home recently. 

Unfortunately for Bernard Chen, his ruse was called out by the home themselves. They posted a comment stating that it was an old photo taken before the GE and that the home has not seen his since that brief visit my him.

One might call this a simple mistake on the part of Bernard Chen. However, the way the post was crafted and the timing of it hints at a more deceitful intent. We wonder whether a WP candidate who can be so deceitful over something so simple, can be entrusted to be honest with the lives of Singaporeans.

AHPETC Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of the Government

In the latest chapter of the long-running Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol-East Town Council (AHPETC) saga, the Court of Appeals on Friday (27 November 2015) made the following findings:

1.  AHPETC did not disclose related party transactions in its financial statement.  It could not produce any evidence to show that the Town Councillors had considered the full extent of the related party interests.

2.   There were lapses in the procurement of services from FMSS.

3.   Key officers of AHPETC were acting in clear conflict of interest when they approved payment to FMSS - a company in which they themselves were Directors and Shareholders.

4.    AHPETC had not taken any steps to recover amounts due as a result of wrong payments made.

5.   AHPETC did not have a system to monitor its S&CC charges accurately.  As a result, there was no assurance that it was able to monitor and manage arrears properly.  It did not have a proper system to ensure that documents were properly accounted for and safeguarded.

6.   AHPETC had various lapses in internal controls.

7.   AHPETC continues to be in non-compliance by failing to pay into sinking fund.  There is no basis at all for AHPETC to fail to make the transfers.  AHPETC should do so within 3 months, if necessary by increasing FMCC charges or by liquidating its investments.

8.    The Court also held that they ought to appoint Independent Accountants (IAs) to assist in identifying the outstanding non-compliance by AHPETC.  These Accountants will also look at whether payments were made wrongfully and should be recovered.

In a surprising move, Chairman of the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) Pritam Singh said AHTC "fully accepts and respects" the Court of Appeal’s judgment, and will comply with "all the orders made by the court". He said AHTC will also work with MND to facilitate the prompt transfer of the outstanding grants to AHTC. Pritam added, "The Town Council acknowledges its role as a guardian of public funds. We assure the Ministry of National Development (MND) that government grants or grants-in-aid are used solely for the upkeep of the town and in the interests of all residents."

Hopefully, with the IAs appointed and a proper forensic audit performed, we can finally get to the truth of the matter.

Post GE2015 The AHPETC Saga Continues

Post Singapore General Election 2015, the issue at AHPETC continues. Zaobao yesterday published a forum letter in which the writer complained about poor estate management by the Worker's Party led Town Council.

Apparently, all is not well in Aljunied ...

ZB carried a letter (“Unsatisfactory management by WP town council”) by Hougang resident Chen Fuming, who said that the Aljunied-Hougang Town Council’s management of the estate was not up to standard. He cited several examples: a fallen tree was covered up with clutter turning it into a potential mosquitoe-breeding ground; choked drainage pipes on the ground floors of HDB flats were realigned instead of being cleared; rubbish chutes in HDB flats were not properly cleaned; and only three HDB blocks had been repainted under a maintenance and repainting project launched in October 2013. Chen also highlighted a particular multi-storey carpark which he claimed was poorly maintained, and said that residents should be refunded a year’s worth of S&CC if it was proven so.