Consolidated NKF Thread

[Wai]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/158246/1/.html

Mrs Goh regrets remarks about TT Durai's pay

Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong said his wife, who is the former patron of NKF, regretted saying that the charity's ex-CEO Mr TT Durai's annual pay package of some S$600,000 was "peanuts".

Senior Minister Goh said his wife now regretted making that comment.

He added: "When she told me what she said at home, I told her immediately, you're in trouble. There'll be negative reaction and sure enough the next day, Singaporeans reacted generally quite critically to her remarks and it's understandable because NKF is a charity and Singaporeans contribute to the NKF and they don't earn much."

Mr Goh added that he shared the public's sentiments and showed Mrs Goh several emails and letters he had received about her remarks.

Mr Goh said: "To educate her I showed her the letters and emails and now I think she understands better what she said was not quite in order but she explains why she said it. She told me that she was thinking of the organisation, she said that if you look at the organisation, the right person must be paid the right wage, but of course she put it across that way, the rest is history."

I think she should face the public to explain the matter herself, and not ask her husband to pass the message :dunno:


who's next to apologise? Cao Ci Tai? :sticktong

 

[knoxknocks]

When you pay peanuts, you get me* ok? :bsmilie:




*Although taken at the Singapore Zoo, the management cannot be held liaible for the actions of its animals :bsmilie: !

 

[BBTM]

After some thinking, I don't pity the CS who pay the donator $12 back from her own pocket. It is becos I heard that the staffs also got BIG FAT BONUS! If I remember right, it is 6 months! After so many years of makan public $, $12 to her = super peanut :angry:

 

[jopel]

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/158246/1/.html

Mrs Goh regrets remarks about TT Durai's pay



I think she should face the public to explain the matter herself, and not ask her husband to pass the message :dunno:


who's next to apologise? Cao Ci Tai? :sticktong

well she knows many people like SM Goh and will give face to him ma

 

[Spectrum]

When you pay peanuts, you get me* ok? :bsmilie:




*Although taken at the Singapore Zoo, the management cannot be held liaible for the actions of its animals :bsmilie: !

Buah.....hah.....hah......ha......ha.....ha....... :bsmilie: :bsmilie: I laugh until I cry dude!

 

[zaren]

"transparency" should not be confused with "misleading the public". if an organisation is not transparent, it does not disclose details to the public. if the organisation issues untrue public statements, it misleads the public.

so, taking this case as an example. NKF not disclosing tt durai's pay to the public was not transparent.

NKF's public written statements claiming that
a) no senior executives fly first class at all
b) they have 3000 patients instead of 2000
c) reserves only last for 3 years
are at best misleading, and at worst deceptive.

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has exhorted all singaporeans not to overreact and to rush into judgement about this case. however, it would appear that until some form of monetary restitution is made to the donors for being misled by NKF in the past, the public may not be prepared to "move on" so readily.

 

[eikin]

"transparency" should not be confused with "misleading the public". if an organisation is not transparent, it does not disclose details to the public. if the organisation issues untrue public statements, it misleads the public.

so, taking this case as an example. NKF not disclosing tt durai's pay to the public was not transparent.

NKF's public written statements claiming that
a) no senior executives fly first class at all
b) they have 3000 patients instead of 2000
c) reserves only last for 3 years
are at best misleading, and at worst deceptive.

why do many singaporeans still feel cheated and shortchanged by NKF? Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has exhorted all singaporeans not to overreact and to rush into judgement about this case. however, it would appear that until some form of monetary restitution is made to the donors for being misled by NKF in the past, the public may not be prepared to "move on" so readily.

unfortunately, i feel more people will just like to 'move on' and leave everything to the authorities. as usual, since representatives of the authorities have spoken, it is not uncommon for Singaporeans to become complacent.

i feel that it is also very unfortunate that most of the people seems to be just taking this incident as an opportunity to release all the frustrations suppressed within the tables of our corner coffeeshops.

 

[Gymrat76]

if a criminal offence has been committed, the committee of inquiry or CPIB will discover it in due course, i presume.

You really think they'll start an investigation? Most ppl don't think so, too many ppl in high places have their hands in the honeypot liao :nono:

 

[Gymrat76]

"transparency" should not be confused with "misleading the public". if an organisation is not transparent, it does not disclose details to the public. if the organisation issues untrue public statements, it misleads the public.

so, taking this case as an example. NKF not disclosing tt durai's pay to the public was not transparent.

NKF's public written statements claiming that
a) no senior executives fly first class at all
b) they have 3000 patients instead of 2000
c) reserves only last for 3 years
are at best misleading, and at worst deceptive.

Minister Vivian Balakrishnan has exhorted all singaporeans not to overreact and to rush into judgement about this case. however, it would appear that until some form of monetary restitution is made to the donors for being misled by NKF in the past, the public may not be prepared to "move on" so readily.

The monetary restitution you speak of is not to get the cash back for themselves. Remember, the donations were made in good faith, that it would be channeled for the welfare of the patients, and not to make the rich richer. Citing Davinder Singh's example of the man earning $1000 who gives $50, I know of many such people that though they earn little, are willing to donate what little they have because they were moved by the images of patients that NKF portrays. To suddenly learn that their money went instead to a fat pay packet for the CEO of NKF and in support of his extravagant lifestyle, well, anyone would be furious.

I think the general public would have no qualms to getting that money donated back and to rechannel it into a charity that really does help kidney patients, and not just to go into a 1/3 subsidy for really destitute patients while the rest go into 'operational costs'

 

[goering]

unfortunately, i feel more people will just like to 'move on' and leave everything to the authorities. as usual, since representatives of the authorities have spoken, it is not uncommon for Singaporeans to become complacent.

I wouldnt.

In the past I have been very trusting - especially when articulated by Ministers. However, there have been a number of high profile "mistakes" - the most famous of which was the "honest mistake" case

In this case, the figures on the reserves were not only quoted by the NKF but defended in parliament by a Minister which I shall quote below for reference. Furthermore the Minister says more than 80% of funds used for benficiaries which doesn't seem to be true in the light of what has been revealed in court. The Minister pointed out it was necessary to raise "tens of millions" a year - when in fact only 7+ million has been used for dialysis treatments. He claims $60 million was needed - that's a highly inflated claim from the truth of 7+ million

So can we even trust official sources now? My advice: use your own instincts and do not be too trusting (as i was previously) - even if it was from a Minister.

Minister backs NKF's 'sound record' in using funds

The Straits Times, 20 April 2004
By Wong Sher Maine


THE National Kidney Foundation (NKF) spends more than 80 per cent of its funds on its beneficiaries, which is within the guidelines set for charities, said Minister Lim Hng Kiang (Prime Minister's Office).

Mr Lim, in giving his support to the NKF yesterday, noted that it spent 56 per cent of its money on beneficiaries and put 26 per cent aside into its reserves.

This 'puts the NKF on quite a sound record', said Mr Lim, who is also the Second Finance Minister.

NKF's reserves of $189 million, enough to fund its programmes for two to three years, had sparked controversy recently as many people asked the charity body to explain how it spends the millions it raises.

Some people also urged NKF to hold back its fund-raising efforts in order not to crowd out the smaller charities.

But Mr Lim pointed out that it had to raise tens of millions of dollars a year because it was 'very, very expensive' to treat a kidney patient with dialysis.

The procedure of cleaning the impurities from the blood of a patient with failing kidneys costs $25,000 to $30,000 a year, which works out to around $60 million annually for its more than 2,500 patients.

Also, when the NKF takes on a patient, it is committed to him for life, he said as he applauded its medical record, adding that it is 'better than world standards, so patients... live much longer'.

This commitment also means it made sense to put some of its money in reserves, Mr Lim said in reply to a call by Nominated MP Braema Mathi for more accountability and transparency in how charities spend money.

However, he sympathised with its 'dilemma' in whether to disclose the salary of its chief executive.

'If they don't, then I think there will be critics who say they are not transparent. If they disclose, I think there will also be critics who will say that whatever they pay will be too high.

'So, I think they are caught between a rock and a hard place.'

Mr Lim also defended the 30 per cent cap on expenses used for fund-raising, saying it helped the smaller charities.

They run up higher overheads in fund-raising and would be hit if the cap was lowered, he said.

On the controversial issue of sharing its database of donors with its partners, Mr Lim saw 'nothing objectionable' as NKF had declared that the data would be given only if the donor agreed.

On aquariums and plasma TV sets at its dialysis centres, he said they helped keep patients occupied during their treatment and added: 'We do have aquariums and TV sets also in our blood donation centres.'

Mr Lim does not see fund-raising as 'a zero sum game', maintaining that there is room for big and small charities.

Singaporeans have big hearts, and 'if you convince them of the worthiness of your causes, Singaporeans will open up their wallets'. He also urged the smaller charities to pool their efforts in fund-raising to 'get a bigger share of the pie'.

 

[hongsien]

ADD again: seems like you don't get the hint. i do not wish to start any flame war whatsoever. you can disagree with what i say, but flashing my full name this way is getting very personal and rude.

What you regard as rude is subjective, I use my full name, and I regard people not using their full name in fora abit 'cowardly' as it seems they don't want to fully stand behind what they say............but again it is subjective.......

Hong Sien

 

[eikin]

What you regard as rude is subjective, I use my full name, and I regard people not using their full name in fora abit 'cowardly' as it seems they don't want to fully stand behind what they say............but again it is subjective.......

Hong Sien

well, like i said, i prefer to put my name on my works, not flashing it all over the forum. thank you.

ADD: in any case, the way my name was used is very rude.

 

[denniskee]

really respect our SM Goh coming forward to explain the peanuts. My salute to SM Goh :thumbsup:

Pls, anyone, I missed that piece of news. Can help putting up here or is it in newspaper, if so, when & which paper is it.

Thanks.

 

[jopel]

Pls, anyone, I missed that piece of news. Can help putting up here or is it in newspaper, if so, when & which paper is it.

Thanks.

Last night news on tv

it can also be found herelink

 

[eikin]

you referring to this news?

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporelocalnews/view/158246/1/.html

Mrs Goh regrets remarks about TT Durai's pay



I think she should face the public to explain the matter herself, and not ask her husband to pass the message :dunno:


who's next to apologise? Cao Ci Tai? :sticktong

 

[Spectrum]

On aquariums and plasma TV sets at its dialysis centres, he said they helped keep patients occupied during their treatment and added: 'We do have aquariums and TV sets also in our blood donation centres.'

Especially, what are those aquariums for if you can't even look at the tiny fishes. Imagine that the layout/placement of it is almost beyond the vision of those kidney patients. :thumbsd: If you been there before, you know what I mean dude. ;p

 

[zubat]

well, like i said, i prefer to put my name on my works, not flashing it all over the forum. thank you.

ADD: in any case, the way my name was used is very rude.

Eikin,
Given the circumstances, I mentioned your name out of respect for your excellent works. However I was wrong as you treat this as rude.. I will refrain from repeating this act.
I hope you can accept my apologies.

 

[eikin]

Eikin,
Given the circumstances, I mentioned your name out of respect for your excellent works. However I was wrong as you treat this as rude.. I will refrain from repeating this act.
I hope you can accept my apologies.

frankly i find it rude because i don't even know who you are and why is there the need to use my full name. it's very gracious of you to apologise and i appreciate it. thank you.

 

[reachme2003]

i quote from st of pm lee's remarks made in las vegas.


(question) "this has been happening for many years, it took so long and and a court case for the issues to rise. do you think there is something lacking in the system?

(PM Lee). i do not know what has happened in the past. it has come out now. obviously, the checks and balances didn't work. the ceo is responsible, he reports to the board, the board has a fiduciary responsibility to answer for this. so somehow it didn't function, they resigned and let's start from scratch, let's look ahead."

is he saying that we should forget the past?

 

[dawgbyte77]

forget what?