Use of public funds by Boon Lay CC for grassroots event at condominium to promote “community bonding”
November 24th, 2009 | 
Author: I am a resident of Lakeholmz condominim and I am writing to express my disappointment at Boon Lay Community Club for disbursing a fund of $3,410 for a Children’s Day cum Hari Raya celebration held inside my condominium on 3rd October 2009:
I felt it is not right for public funds to be used for a function held at a condominium especially during the current economic downturn which has affected many Singaporeans.
Attached below is a statement of account declared by the condominium’s Management Committee for the event. MP Madam Ho Geok Choo was the guest-of-honor for the evening:
Many of us, the residents of Lakeholmz , are not even aware of such a big ‘open house’ had occurred on this day , 3rd Oct. No notice was ever put up.
A fellow resident, Margaret Tan (not her real name) wrote to the People’s Association (PA) to seek clarification on 5th November.
She got a reply from Mr Dennis Seah who claimed that Boon Lay CC was allowed to use its funds to host the event as it was meant to promote “community bonding” for all residents of Boon Lay followed by another reply from Boon Lay CC’s Senior Manager Miss Diana Tan who revealed that more residents from the condominium attended the event (17o) than those living in HDB flats (50).
During a difficult period like this, the CC should be more discreet in spending public funds on non-essential events as such. Furthermore, it was held in a condominium outside the purview of the CC and PA.
The condominium management committee should pay at least part of the expenses incurred since the event was attended by more condominium than HDB residents.
The condominium management committee members who organised this event, without getting consensus from all subsidary proprietors of Lakeholmz, in allowing Boon Lay residents into Lakeholmz, should pay for all the extra expenses incurred since the event was an ‘open house’.
The disbursement of $3,410 public funds should be refunded, since the event was more by condominium members than attended by HDB residents.
THNG KIM SENG
Addendum: Official replies from PA and Boon Lay CC
Dear Ms Margaret Tan,
Thank you for your feedback.
This Hari Raya Celebration mentioned by you was jointly organised by the
Boon Lay Citizens’ Consultative Committee (CCC) and Lakehomlz Condominium to promote community bonding and interaction among residents. It was open to all residents in Boon Lay, not just from the condominium.
The People’s Association (PA) encourages our Grassroots Organisations to
organise activities cater to all and aim to bring residents of different
backgrounds together. This is to allow residents to get to know one
another and build friendship. The CCC also has many projects which cater
to helping needy residents.
Once again, we thank you for your feedback. We wish to assure you that the
CCC is careful with the use of its fund for the benefit of residents.
If you have any other query, please do call Mr Pow Choon Ghee, Deputy
Director, South West Community Development Division at 63405148.
Dennis Seah
Director (Quality Management Division)
for Quality Service Manager
People’s Association
1-800-422 5572
XXX
XXX
XXX
Dear Margaret,
Thank you for your feedback.
Posters for this event were placed at the Boon Lay Community Centre (CC) ’s counter. In addition, the Residents’ Committees also sold tickets through their volunteers.
For this event, out of the 170 participants, 50 were from the HDB estates. The rest were residents of the condominium. We are happy that this event has created an opportunity for residents of different background to get to know one another.
We welcome you to join us in our future events. You can enquire at the CC or look out for the notices at the RC Centres. Please feel free to call me if you need further clarifications
Regards,
Miss Diana TAN Li-Lin 陈俐霖 | Senior Constituency Manager | Boon Lay Constituency Office |
Boon Lay Community Centre | 10 Boon Lay Place, Singapore 649882 | TEL: 6261 9947 | FAX: 6265 0075 |
Posted in 
What’s wrong with that at all ??
it’s just another location for CC events..
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that’s the way that the MPs use public funds to grace community events and to get into private spaces. likely that the management committee had implicit consent from residents to organise all these events; good for the MC that public funds could be tapped. for the Boon Lay CC, this would be common, and seen as part of their mission in community building. somewhere lost in all this is the moral incongruence of political parties / politicians using public funds for their personal interests. i’ve seen MCs reject such events in the past simply because of the politicised timing (pre-election). i observed a particular CC to be extremely pushy in the interest of its MP (Mr Khaw). hypothetically, if an MP can be invited, why not any other non-PAP grassroots activist / leader? can PA be held accountable to building community that is inclusive of ALL political parties, or is it solely the arms/legs of the PAP?
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The point is that the event was publicised to the condominium residents as a private event by the management, and nothing was mentioned to them that it was open to all residents from Boon Lay. The residents were unaware about this “public event” and came to know about it only after it was held. The management has no respect for the residents by not informing them about all these. The condominium has its own fund to organise private functions, so why should they approach the CC for government funding. If the CC wants to organise a community event, it can hold it at its own premises where all residents can attend, instead of in a private condominium. Government funding should be utilised for community events rather than private events.
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the bottomline impression is: these damned cc are sure flushed with cash when it comes to merry-making.
when it’s assistance to the poorest of the poor, they count their pennies.
VOTE OUT PAP!
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Worse than that, the Nee Soon South CC previously organised a grand funfare at Springleaf Garden playground for GRC with shuttled bus services at various pick-up points thru out the day. This is also taxpayers money.
Do you think they paid for it? My foot.
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Oh! there are plentyful of this misuse exercise. I’m residing in Tampinese St 32, There was a nicely fence up Garden with tape for watering plant, being build for planting Bonsai Plant, by the Town Council for individual use. I think the Official incharge have some affair with this Lady. Using tax-payer money to entertain her.
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Do you know what’s the anomaly with the People’s Association in their dispense of public monies ? The PA is under the wing of the PM. But funds and budget of the PA is apportioned from the Ministry of Finance, i.e. from the public, from taxes paid by you and me. And PA manages all the ccs. The MP of each cc is a “patron” and “adviser” of the cc.
What happens when the constituency has an opposition member as its representative in Parliament (such as, e.g. Mr Low Thia Khiang of Hougang). Are the facilities of the cc (managed using public funds) accorded to opposition MP as an avenue of reach to his constituents? The answer is no. The unelected and unsuccessful PAP candidate remains in his ex-officio capacity there. The PAP is thus treating public funds of the PA as belonging to the PAP. This constitutes abuse at the highest level of authority in Singapore.
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@And Justice For All
i agree with you.
all MPs,regardless of affilation,are an integral part of the
gahmen.Those non-elected party members remain as such,that is,party members.
i fail to understand why when the PAP claim non-corruption,of which i also upheld,they merely let a non-MP use the facilties that rightly belong to the government and he elected MP like
LTK is part of the government…something is amiss in the area
of governance…Mr LOW,pls bring this up in PARLIAMEMT.
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假公济私
everytime,it is the same ppl who are participating in these events
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As the roots of all roots we have seen it all.
It is common knowledge that grassroots use public money in the most questionable and fanciful ways.
When we are being invited to attend a RC’s durian party at appointed time 5.00pm based on a notice at the lift of the HDB flat.
We showed up at 4.50pm. They tell us to go home and come back at 6.30pm because they are postponing the party due to blah blah reason. We stay up to 5.10pm, still no durian party, so they must have told us the truth. Return at 6.15pm, they tell us durian party is over, they have eaten everything at 5.30pm. It is too embarrassing having to face the entourage that follows me. LOL. Once bitten twice shy.
As the roots is at the bottom and cannot hold its head up high, what to do, we just stayed buried under the soil for good.
In order to live longer in this world it is better to have both eyes closed.
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Hi Good Folks, please refer to the below quote..
Quote from Thomas Jefferson
“We must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.
We must make our election between economy and liberty
or profusion and servitude.
If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and
in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and
our amusements, for our calling and our creeds…
[we will] have no time to think,
no means of calling our miss-managers to account
but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves
to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers…
And this is the tendency of all human governments.
A departure from principle in one instance
becomes a precedent for [another ]…
till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery…
And the fore-horse of this frightful team is public debt.
Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression.”
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Time to wake up and exercise your rights a citizens during election day! (Provided if you have a chance to vote!)
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“citizenofSG on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 5:23 pm
As the roots of all roots we have seen it all.
It is common knowledge that grassroots use public money in the most questionable and fanciful ways.
When we are being invited to attend a RC’s durian party at appointed time 5.00pm based on a notice at the lift of the HDB flat.
We showed up at 4.50pm. They tell us to go home and come back at 6.30pm because they are postponing the party due to blah blah reason. We stay up to 5.10pm, still no durian party, so they must have told us the truth. Return at 6.15pm, they tell us durian party is over, they have eaten everything at 5.30pm. It is too embarrassing having to face the entourage that follows me. LOL. Once bitten twice shy.
As the roots is at the bottom and cannot hold its head up high, what to do, we just stayed buried under the soil for good.
In order to live longer in this world it is better to have both eyes closed.”
You should tell us who were the RC which did such disgraceful act! Durians very expensive ?? They cannot afford it?
There was a Chinese saying or some saying: “Stolen food tastes sweeter”! How true is this saying!
Another Chinese saying “Upper beam not straight, lower beams follows”
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My friend lives in Boon Lay and recently they painted Blocks 185, 186,187 and 221.
The MP , Town Councila and HDB never consult the residents. They painted very disgusting colours expecially for Blocks 185 and Blocks 221.
May of the rsidents in Boon Lay are old and poor and these unsuitable colors can depress teh old and elederly even more
Worse stil, the Town Council never maintains the place well.The lift landing area is always littred, newlp painted walls are so dirty already etc etc
Must change the Town council and MP asap
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Can you ask the boon Lay MP and residents committee where the posters were set up for residents .We never see any posters in Block 185, 186, 187 , 188, 190 etc.We may be wrong but I am pretty sure my friends who stay at Boon Lay never see such posters .
People in tis constituency are not happy with the residents committee.There are senior committe members who are very unpopular with residents but have been sitting in the senior positions for DONKEY years
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some of the organising members maybe are also themselves, the suppliers being paid to provide all required necessity. So, the more functions or parties they organised, the more they made from it.
Maybe some even signed the approval forms for themselves. Who the hell knows?
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somewhere someone must have benefitted from all these functions and laughing all the way to the bank.
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To – Chnage Boon Lay MP: Your friends should join the RC to help make Boon Lay a better place to live in rather than just complain. NATO…
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These parties are nothing. You should seen their brainstorming parties. If they really wanna brainstorming for the year RC activities, any place will do but instead they had to go to Phuket, Langkawi and other resorts in order for their brains to work or the RC gonna use up all their excess budget for the year? Why I mentioned such matter is that I’d seen some pics of their brain-storming at such resorts. More of holiday pics than anything else. These are public money too.
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In the Hillview areas, there is a Hillview Connection run by Bukit Batok CC to organise various events for the residents in the condos in Hillview areas.In all these events the GOH is the local MP. It is the Govt way to ensure the residents are not neglected by the grass root organisation. In the same way, the RCs take care of the social needs of the heartlanders. Some of the grass root leaders also get involved in the management of the condos. In one condo near Mindef,the management committee used the condo fund for a grass root event and were promptly thrown out in a heated AGM
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Is there anything we can do?
They control the funds.
And where does the funds come from?
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Here is one more of fanciful management of grassroot’s funds.
RC organized groovy Malaysia tour at unbeatable peanut price. Notified through notice board and on the same day, all vacancies filled.
On the day the tour bus arrives, three quarter of the bus loads are grassroot workers’ friends and relatives, including the chairman whole entire family. LOL.
The bulk of the funds of course come from PA, who else. The more you organize, the more money you get. Excluding opposition of course don’t need transparency.
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well like they called them ” grass” roots “!
the ministers ands their cronies eat the green green “grass” of home(singapore).
the grassroots,well..eat the “roots”.
and we,common citizens…”eat sand”lah!..just like some old poor folks sadly tel us.
..by the way,”sand” (cost of living) is getting expensive too…
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You and me put in money into Singapore with our taxes, and the government manages this money, our money. They give some to Peoples Association to run the CCs. And the CCs are advised by the constituency’s MP (that’s ok if he is elected by the people). But when the MP is an opposition MP who is also voted by the people, why can’t he access the CC ? The money and funds of the CC belong to the people of Singapore and not the PAP and if the unsuccessful and unelected PAP candidate has got no right of access to the CC and spend the people’s money because they had not voted him in to repesent them. The PAP treats the money managed by the government as their money. This is a straight case of abuse and embezzlement of funds by the PAP. And they got the cheek to say we got an independent judiciary.
If our judiciary were independent the PAP would have been brought to court for misappropriating public funds from consituencies represented by opposition MPs long ago. Still a clean PAP government ?
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I must say, the CC/RC is dark….
the committee member is elected by they themselve but however,i believe the MP(advisor) got nothing to do with it..
and because the fact that there are many ill people that get into RC/CC they infested it….many of the glassroot leader ( not all, goods one are still around but hard to find) join in RC/ CC to get PBM titles which made them feel proud and when they access to the CC funds, they tried not to use up the fund as to maintain a healthy fund, so instead of using the fund to help the poor and needy people in the area, they plan retreat to overseas, some maybe subsidise, some might be fully paid for… and the money would be wasted by those people…
MP should try to step up and stop the problem so that this things would less likely be happening…
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Although I too disapprove using CC’s money to open an event in a condominum rather than at the CC itself or somewhere more central and public rather than a private estate, I disagree with the merry making part.
I’ve seen how the volunteers help the residents of each costituency and spend time every week without complains to help their neighbours and residents. A little thank you retreat to these people once or twice a year for serving the 100s of needies for year should not be critised like that dont you think? Some of them dont ask for anything in return and they might even not be pro-pap as a matter of fact, just people like you and me whom while happily watching channel 8 they r helping people. I’m sure if your friends or family had been helped by them, you cant thank them enough rather than picking and smearing them. Keep politics away when we look at this please. guys, be reasonable.
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G-Force
The CCs are the territories of the PAP. Only the PAP MPs can have access to the CCs didn’t you know that? All the committee members are either PAP members or PAP bootlickers. Opposition MP cannot use the public reach of the CC in their constituency. Since when has the CC of Potong Pasir or Hougang invited Chiam See Tong or Low Thia Khiang as guest of honour to their functions which is being paid for by public money ?
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EXTRACTED FROM -
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/09/30/town-council-took-unemployed-man-to-court-for-sc-arrears/
35) Jane on October 3rd, 2009 11.23 am http://happyangelclub.wordpress.com/
By Jane Lim- 3-10-2009
…………………When I walked around at Boon Lay, many residents feedback:
*Our MP Ms Ho Gek Choo is very busy. It is very difficult to meet her. There was one time many residents wanted to meet her to discuss on the HDB big matters, all of them waited so long and finally everyone was very angry
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Town council took man to court over 432bucks SnC errears
http://www.temasekreview.com/2009/09/30/town-council-took-unemployed-man-to-court-for-sc-arrears/
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Adrian,
You will not join RC out of volunteerism and even you intention is purely out to improve and serve the residents, the old bird RC members will not put u in their good book if you did not curry favor them and carry their balls.
You join RC because u want all sort of freebies associated from their volunteerism such PBM lah, free National day parade tickets lah (I was wondering why I every year cannot get. U fight your way up to RC Chairman, sure get every year one!) free durians lah etc.
There are 2 of my frens whom had joined RCs out of the spirit to serve, but they cannot stand the balls carrying habits from these RC members and the chairman and they left.
NATO, Adrian, u are wrong, even action also no use.
The best option is to show them during the election.
BTW, u know why these MPs treat the constituents this way, because these are WALK OVER MPs!
Wake up Singaporeans! Be aware of your rights and exercise it during election and WALK OVER THESE PAP MPs!
“adrian on Tue, 24th Nov 2009 11:36 pm
To – Chnage Boon Lay MP: Your friends should join the RC to help make Boon Lay a better place to live in rather than just complain. NATO…”
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not all grassroots leaders are pro pap.however,those who are not in line,would most probably be just ordinary leaders and nothing more,while those who are pap members or supporters,could be seens to rise very fast in the ranking.
we could see most of the time that the chairmen of the various grassroots committees,such as RC,and their right hand men are pap members.
i could say that the chairman of the APEX grassroots organisation in each constituency,the Citizen consultative Committeee (CCC),is also the Constituency PAP Branch Secretary.
each CC’s Senior Manager also works closely with the CCC chairmen.sometime you can see the Senior Manager of each CC going in and out of the local PAP Branch often,in plain cloth of course
anyway,I hope that we should not label all grassroots leaders as pro pap or pap agents.they are many grassroots leaders out there who genuinely serve for the sake of the community and nothing less or more.
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Come on guys, lets face it. Community bonding is crucial so as our multi culture. Every year there will be funds allocated for the CCC / RC to organised such activities including festival celebration. Obviously it is public fund…what else cannot be the money drop from heaven right.
Residents or perhaps citizens who enjoy going for such activities will always be there and for those who show no interest will not be bothered to attend such event. Having 3 celebration at one go with a deficit of $3,410 including buffet, performance, goodie bag…etc, although it looks a little high in cost but if it can bond 170 people witha better understanding of each other’s culture, I think its quite ok.
Glad to read that most of the comments are not arrowed at Madam Ho as she was just the GOH and not involve in the planning of the event. I agree that for the security of the condominium, the management committee should have seek consent from the condominium residents even if they are not interested to join in the celebration. I guess its just a lesson to take note and to improve in future planning.
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Was reading our AGM report for Lakeholmz as it will be held on this Saturday.
Dear All
Do be informed that the writer is the ex-Treasurer who resigned
enmassed when they accumulated a deficit of $102,929 in our
Management funds even with an increase of $5 per share during
the EOGM held some time in June last year.
The said event I was present, Notices around the estate was
put in all Notice Boards and lift lobbies weeks ahead. All 168 tickets were bought by Residents at $5 per head sold in the MA office.
During the event, I seen no outsiders went up to the stage
for the K’ok nor participated in any of the activities such as the Bouncy Castle for kids, Malay Heritage corners or the Drawing contest. No unfamilar faces except the MP and her
entourage of not more than 12 people sitting quietly at the
side.
Btw, the writer was not present therefore think he rely more
on heresay to nitpick.
The only HDB dwellers were the cleaners, security and
MA staff as well as the performers who were invited
to share the buffet.
Extracted form the audited account :
The current Council inherited a deficit of $34,601 from the previous ex-Treasurer (Thng Kim Seng) council working year.
Managing to the account to black and narrow the deficit to
$21,221 with only 8 months for the current Council FY to work
on.
Note, the previous Council only passion was wheel clamping
leaving the estate pretty much in a forsaken state both in
condition and in residents in disharmony.
Now he is trying to tarnish good people with good intention.
Who would you vote ?
I know who I would vote and definitely would not be him.
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Hello Thng,
After thinking through carefully once again, I now believe this is done with a good cause to promote neighbourliness. BLCC is afterall doing what is needed and right.
We have no cause to discredit the good work of BLCC grassroot organisation.
Wilfred
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Are u sure that no notice was put up? From your attached picture, the minutes was dated 26 August 2009 to inform residents about the event and the event was held on 3rd October 2009.
Dear Mr. Thng, is that not a notice?
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Hi Grunt:
Yes, indeed I was the former Treasurer. However, if the former Council did not make all efforts to solicit increase the Maintenance Fund last year, the present Council would have incurred a huge deficit in the present financial year and would not have the benefit of a lower deficit. The financial report has shown. Likewise, comparing to apples to apples, by using the same rate of maintenace fund (assuming that the fund was already increased at the beginning of the last financial year), there is not much of a difference in the final position between the close of last financial year and this present financial year end. Hence, your observations are not accurate. Moreover, please read the emails from the CC again. The CC had confirmed that they had put up the posters and Circulars at the CC inviting Boon Lay residents to join the joint event in the Condo. This invitation of opening up the event to all Boon Lay residents (as confirmed by the CC) was not made known to the Condo residents. Therefore, again your observations are not accurate.
Finally, I have no intention of putting up my name for nomination as a Council member so I see no reason for your concern that you do not wish to vote for me or not. Also, I want to highlight to you that your note is becoming very personal.”
Our main concern is the current economic situation still facing by many of our folks in the community. Let’s us be together and channel the funds to the many needy instead.
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thng kim seng…how did you know margaret tan did not use her real name? are u related to her? u must have known her?
thegreatsaint
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We have all benefited from the good work of our leaders..lets do not forget about the hardtimes they have gone through to bring our nation to where it is today.
I encourage everyone to read “Men in White”
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thng kim seng, how do you know margaret tan is not using her real name? are you related to her?
skyblue
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Quote : “increase of $5 per share during
the EOGM held some time in June last year
The current Council inherited a deficit of $34,601 from the previous ex-Treasurer (Thng Kim Seng) council working year.
Managing to the account to black and narrow the deficit to
$21,221 with only 8 months for the current Council FY to work
on.”
4mths old council Deficit – $34,601.00
8mths new council Deficit – $21,221.00
Means the new council manage to have a surplus of + $13,380.00
from the audited year account is it not ?
So, it’s safe to say that in 4 months the old council despite
the increase in the $5 fee, whereas, the new council in their
8 months managed to a surplus to close the gap.
Believe that is Apple to Apple to me.
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I agree 200% with Grunt. How could the ex-treasurer Thng Kim Seng did such a bad job. Despite, the management fund raised in June 08, the results for Aug to Dec ‘08 speaks for itself.
That aside being a civil servant, you must stand on the right side of the fence. I am sure Bruce Poh and Tan Seng Hua will very soon get to know your deeds. By the way how did the deficit of $102K as mentioned by Grunt happened?
To be frank I am actually one of the many residents you spoke with a few days ago. Thank you for directing me to this site.
Denopry
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Hi, my name is George. I am an audit Senior with one of the big 5s auditing firm. I am also a resident of LakeHOLMZ.
I am a neutral party as I do not care who is right or wrong or for that matter who is running estate…however tet me share my professional view on the recent financial report on the AGM document.
The financial report for 1st Aug 08 to 31st Aug 09 did indeed show an outstanding management of cash flow by the MA/MC especially from Jan 2009 onwards.
If one knows how to interprete the cash flow statement, you will see that cash flow generation (wealth creation) for the said year is better than the rate it is expensed and disbured. Also the estate is paying for services renedered more promptly.
The previous year report was less than palatable and left much to be desired when there were over expenditure for most months in the FY. Collections were not as rapid and rate of expenditure eclipsed it altogether signalling poor budgeting of expenditure.
I hope this helps.
Gatekeeper
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Dear Sir,
Your fruitless efforts spent here would be better spent at the CC as a part of the committee to ensure that the disbursement of funds are appropriate and necessary.
In other words, go fuck yourself.
You’re like a ignorant toddler crying for candy.
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Hi Skyblue,
Don’t be naive. That Margaret Tan could well be that ex treasurer himself in disguise or something he knows very well. I am a regular blogger and such tricks are common.
Good luck all in LakeHOLMZ…have fun
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Jesus is spot on.
What’s worst is that as a civil servant, he is speaking ill of the grassroots organisations. We should track down which ministry is he working for so that he can be counselled to do what is right for our country and not here to incite trouble.
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Going by Mr. Thng’s logic, the present council should show a
deficit of $69,202.00 ($34,601 X 2 i.e. 4mths vs 8 mths)
instead of a surplus if the fugures are correct.
Unless, Mr. Thng’s term of the 4 months of the overlapping
financial year did not gained the advantage of the $5 fund
increased.
Doubt so, as the earlier writer had highlighted that the
$5 was passed in Jun ‘08 and reading from the AGM in end
Nov ‘09, most liekly the financial year should be from
either Sep/Oct to Aug/Sep giving an AGM need to be held
not more than 3 months after the audited financial year.
From Jul to Dec ‘08 definitely there will be some months
Mr. Thng’s term would had the $5 increment also. Otherwise,
maybe a high deficit derived from a single month wiping out
all surpluses of the other 3 months.
Perphaps Mr. Thng would like to elaborate.
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Gatekeeper
You sure you are an audit senior ? What are you talking about with your equating cash flow generation with wealth creation ? They are seperate management operations totally. One deals with the physical management of funds (maintaining and collection of quick assets such as cash vis-a-vis disbursements in meeting financial obligations that are due – inflow & outflow) while the other is strictly investment (capital based) expenditure (outflow).
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Dear Mr. Thng,
I’m still waiting for your good self to answer me. What do you mean by no notice was given? Please explain.
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Community bonding is crucial in a country like Singapore but my dear friends let not personal feelings and dissatisfaction spill over a completely harmless affair.
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I hope Mr Bruce Poh reads about this soon as the author of the article works in one of his campuses.
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Dear Grunt, if you said no outsiders were present, why then did the CC say the event was open to all residents from Boon Lay. All the more, the CC should not have used the government funds to subsidise the event if no outsiders were present. The CC already replied that 50 residents of Boon Lay purchased the tickets.
Dear Atoz, you said that the notices were put up, but it was not mentioned that the event was open to the public. The notice above clearly stated that only “all residents are invited”.
Can you two stop making unrelated comments about this issue in this public forum, if anything, you both should bring it up to YOUR condo management. It is very irresponsible of you to talk about your condo personal issues here. The writer was expressing his disappointment on how government funds are used. The main issue now is still on the use of government funds for a private event in a condominium, since Grunt insisted only condo residents attended.
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Hey guys, why are you all discussing a condominium’s private issues here on a public forum? Since Grunt said that the AGM is held this Saturday, maybe that should be the place for you all to argue about the condominium funds. This forum is inappropriate don’t you all think.
Here we are discussing about the use of public funds, and you guys start making personal attacks at the letter writer. How would you feel if others did the same to you. Denopry, why bring in outsiders to threaten the writer. This intimidation is against the law.
Come on, air your dirty linen to the right channels (condo management) and not as spam on this forum. Thanks.
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I agree with Obama, the management committee should have seeked the consent of the condominium residents even if they are not interested. This is basic courtesy, especially when security is concerned with the event being open to public.
Then again, why is there a need for such a high cost to conduct such a celebration, especially during the economic downturn. The CC should have exercised more diligence in approving such funding.
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If the spending is “ultra vires”, is there personal liability involved?
Maybe a lawyer could advise all the relevant parties on the relevance or irrelevance of misfesance law, if any.
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Hey Denopry and Educator, why go to the extend to threaten the letter writer. The writer is just expressing his opinion, just like what you usually read in the The Straits Times Forums. Even worse, you both are insulting the outsiders by dragging their names into something they are not involved. What are your objectives? If you both have nothing concrete to say, just stop writing junk.
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I was more sympathetic to him than anything else cos such as will not do him good if he chooses to continue to have a career in civil service.
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The damage is done. A scar is now visible. The watchdogs are zooming in. Tsunami is impending. Better seek a career elsewhere.
Buddy, my 2 cents worth.
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Personally, I believe all of us should take a look at this from a macro perspective.
There is no point wasting time here debating on a very trivial matter. There are always people who are either for or against a body or motion. This is the basis of our everyday life which makes it interesting and embraces what is known as diversity.
Agree that the writer concerned may seem to bear grieviances and unhappiness against the voice of authority, or for that matter over stepped into out of bounds areas, he has afterall entire rights to speak his mind and act the way he had.
My suggestion is to leave him alone and admire him for his bravely for posting the letter, whether be it he has gotten the approval to do so since it occurs that the image was snapped off from somewhere as the consequences can be dire.
If the people in your estate still believe that this matter is worth pursuing, just go knock on his door. I am sure, given his courage, the writer will likely welcome you.
Does anyone care to share his unit number?
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Does anyone know if the current council ever know of existence of such site?
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@ Grunt on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 3:19 am
“Was reading our AGM report for Lakeholmz as it will be held on this Saturday.
Dear All
Do be informed that the writer is the ex-Treasurer who resigned
enmassed when they accumulated a deficit of $102,929 in our
Management funds even with an increase of $5 per share during
the EOGM held some time in June last year.”
……….
I find your attempt to character assassinate despicable.
THE Issue is about this writer’s perception that the PA through the Boon Lay CC is misusing PUBLIC funds to engage in an activity which benefits PRIVATE home owners, who, by their ownership of PRIVATE property, do NOT deserve to enjoy PUBLIC funding.
What has this ex-Treasurer’s being in the condo’s MC before got to do with the validity of his complaints?
In any case, I’m sure that the condo’s MC has MORE than One Council member (Mr Thng) – there’s a Chairman, Secretary who are normally the ones who are most influential and more directly involved in the running of the MC & condo. Unless you can show that the ex-Treasurer was dishonest or irresponsible in any way.
Getting back into the ISSUE, the condo is a PRIVATE property to be used for the SOLE benefit of the owners of the condos, and not for outsiders.
It would seem that the MC had exceeded its remit in allowing the Boon Lay CC to make use of the condo’s facilities, thus depriving the condo owners the right to use the common facilities at that time the Boon Lay CC event took place.
@ Obama on Thu, 26th Nov 2009 1:52 am
“Come on guys, lets face it. Community bonding is crucial so as our multi culture.”
If so, why doesn’t the PA have funding for similar activities in Hougang & Potong Pasir?
The reality on the ground in the HDB heartlands is that the overwhelming majority DON’T care about such “bonds”………..they don’t even know about their neighbours living on the SAME floor.
My experience with so called grass roots is that they are just opportunistic supporters of the ruling party.
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self-pwned
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Hey guys, have it not occur to anybody that there could be more to it than meets the eyes ?!
It is disgusting to see people jumping on the wagon base on superficial value. Be more mature for Christ sake!
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A small lunch box can mean so much to the needy
Posted by: happyangelclub on: November 30, 2009
http://happyangelclub.wordpress.com/
By Jane
Some people maybe rich enough to have a meal cost one thousand dollar.
But, in some of the one room rental flat, there are some needy elderly who can’t even afford to pay 50 cents to buy for a meal.
*Mdm Wong 91 yrs old. She is single and stays alone. She collects newspaper and cardboard to pay for her rental and PUB. She said :” now I can only sell the cardboard at three cents per kg, so cheap. I can only collect few of the old newspaper and cardboard nearby the shop. Don’t know why now not so many cardboard for me to collect?”
I asked :” Do you go to the nearby SAC to eat lunch? I know you only need to pay 50 cents. Is there anyone help you to apply for Public Assistant (PA)?”
She replied :” One day 50 cents, 6 days $6. I have no money to pay. I can not apply for PA because last time I have join name with my brother to own a house.”
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Mr.Ho 79 yrs old was neglected by children. He stays alone. His power supply always cut off. He use to eat the free lunch at the nearby temple. But now no more free lunch. According to him, there were many foreigners brought along their family to eat the free meals at the temple everyday.Thus now the temple don’t provide free meals for the public.
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For these two elderly who not eligible to apply for the govt. funds but yet their basic needs are lunch and dinner. What is our policy can help these type of special cases?
对于正在生活边缘求存的长者，对于无法申请政府援助而却又断水电断粮的需要者，我们的社会安全网，是否需要探讨还可以做得更到位？
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@Jane on Mon, 30th Nov 2009 10:48 pm
I don’t get it why Mdm Wong said “One day 50 cents, 6 days $6. I have no money to pay.” …is she not paying more than 50cents now? ..but maybe she’s just angry with her brother for not helping her at all.
It’s a pity that there’re many people like Mr Ho in our society. Some children has lost their sense of responsibility. He should sue his children for parents maintenance. Personally, I believe that gahmen must toughen the law; let those who abandon parents to be jailed!! ..maybe caned!!
There should be some help available, u can first try to approach ur RC.
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@deoxin
you said:’..let those who abandon parents to be jailed…maybe caned!!”
Wow!What how righteous!
may i know what is your take on those in Gahmen who abandon their citizens?
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Thng Kim Seng – shame on you for starting this senseless debate! You claim to be a civil servant and you’re a resident of Lakeholmz, yet you’re behaving like a very unhappy sore loser! You started “slamming” the new MC after you were not elected as the 7th (final) member at the last AGM and have been bringing up silly/petty issues/complaints. Why and what is your ultimate agenda? I know some people called you ‘brave’ and begged to leave you alone, but I’m sure you do not wish to be left alone and I’m pretty sure you’re enjoying this ‘live circus’ you started. Are you sure you’re only concerned about economic downturn and funds wastage? To be honest, I feel embarrassed for you; non-Lakeholmz residents may stand by you, but as a resident and am aware of what’s going on in our property, I don’t!! Maybe it’s time for you to stop stirring up issues just for the sake of getting back at the new MC, and channel your energy to your job as a civil servant, live cordially with all your neighbours and support the new MC team whom I am confident would continue to provide another year of good work, and finally spend more time with your loved ones!
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