Answers from MP Zainul Abidin Rasheed and People's Association on Sear Hock Rong

[scroobal]

How does someone rated badly in appraisal in the Civil Service by 2 different bosses and having failed to pass his 6 mths probation is given a contract to conduct leadership courses for Eunos Grassroots Organisations within months of leaving the service. The guy has no track record, worse still a dismal service record with no confirmation of appointment. This guy also asked successfully for transfer when he found his first boss difficult.

The Sear Hock Rong matter is escalating beyond belief.

Too many questions and no good answers from those manning the YPAP discussion threads. Maybe its time for MP Zainul and PAP CEO Tan Boon Huat to step in and explain.

If a mistake has been made, an oversight has occurred, lets be mature and responsible and correct it.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

Scroobal, seems that you have done some research on that guy. If what you say is true, this is truly an interesting twisted case of "meritocracy" here.

Goh Meng Seng

 

[scroobal]

Its now the talk of the town. I was flabbergasted to find out that he did not get thru probation and of all places the civil service. And within months his company is running leadership programs paid for by a Stat Board. I am beginning to wonder how many Sear Hock Rongs are tax payers looking after.

I understand that YPAP is engaging in Taichi by pointing that it PA's procedure but no sound from PA. I certainly don't hold YPAP responsible but PA and the MPs have a duty of case to Singaporeans.

Professor Maureen Tsakok of NUH, then head of Obstetrics and Gynaechology was suspended and eventually terminated in 1997 after an investigation over the issue of conflict of interest involving a company where she had ties with. She was well respected and considered and expert in her field. This guy has work ethics issue. So what gives.

ps. I made sure the facts are accurate, because this is serious.

Scroobal, seems that you have done some research on that guy. If what you say is true, this is truly an interesting twisted case of "meritocracy" here.

Goh Meng Seng

 

[kingrant]

ps. I made sure the facts are accurate, because this is serious.

Scro, why not take it to the PMO or the CPIB if it is iron clad.

 

[kingrant]

Or better still, GMS takes it up. Just make damn sure it doesnt backfire. Scro can help? In those halcyon days, Old man loved to wait until the ripe time and drop his ton of bricks on his victim if Old man thought he had an ironclad case. He has gotten rid of many rivals that way in the past.

 

[kingrant]

Sure the Minister or MOS in charge directly or indirectly is gonna get collateral damage. Better still, ask that magic question of Scro as a parting shot:

"I am beginning to wonder how many Sear Hock Rongs are tax payers looking after. "

And if i may add, is the PAP still that clean?

 

[scroobal]

MPs of the GRC and one Minister of State are aware of it. I suspect it will dealth with by the usual quite manner or it might take the long route where the 3 GIC traders who got caught by the Japanese authorities for insider trading were first treated lighly but after industry disquiet and few slow months, Goh Chok Tong acted decisively.

Not sure if LHL is prepared to act.

Bear in mind that giving of contracts and works to grassroots "volunteers" is not considered corruption but part of pork barrel politics similar to old man's repeated argument that singapore has to apply a different version of democracy.

In this case however, I suspect the awarding process went into auto mode and because they were members of the same committee and being a "volunteer" the same rigorous questions expected were not put across when determing the contract.

Scro, why not take it to the PMO or the CPIB if it is iron clad.

 

[Ramseth]

There's nothing wrong with awarding contracts to grassroot volunteers as long as it's fair and open transaction with no overcharging, no under-delivery and no under-table commission involved. I don't see how a person's track record (or lack thereof) in the past can come into question if this person can do the job at hand now.

If volunteering precludes one from getting a business contract fairly, then no businesspeople would volunteer. The part about conflict of interest should be addressed by fair business practice. If being son of Lee Kuan Yew precludes Lee Hsien Loong from politics and premiership, I shudder to think who's PM now.

 

[scroobal]

I suspect that you talking about corruption and not conflict of interest. 2 different things, as different as chalk and cheese.

In a private company, a society, political party, its fine to give contracts to members of your family, lover, friends and associates if the stakeholders/members are ok with it. Though many are professional enough to keep things at arms length and some actually have procedures to avoid such things. In fact, such organisations can even engage someone without legal training or legal qualification to be Head of Legal, or even engage a road sweeper with no prior experience to be a Head of Business Development or Chief Financial Officer.

In a public listed company (listed on the stock exchange), the civil service and any govt agencies where public funds (taxes) are used, this is not acceptable and it will be flagged as an audit issue at a minimum. In these organisations, you appoint a road sweeper to be CFO or provide a tender contract to a staff or his family members or the directors and you will find the indepedent board directors, the stock exchange, the internal and external auditors will be raising red flags.

There is no conflict of interest involved when LHL became PM. He was also elected as an MP and therefore has every right to the post as any other MP and allowed by the constitution. What has LHL being PM got do with conflict of interest issue.

There's nothing wrong with awarding contracts to grassroot volunteers as long as it's fair and open transaction with no overcharging, no under-delivery and no under-table commission involved. I don't see how a person's track record (or lack thereof) in the past can come into question if this person can do the job at hand now.

If volunteering precludes one from getting a business contract fairly, then no businesspeople would volunteer. The part about conflict of interest should be addressed by fair business practice. If being son of Lee Kuan Yew precludes Lee Hsien Loong from politics and premiership, I shudder to think who's PM now.

 

[kingrant]

Old Man retracted Lee & Lee from HDB conveyancing business when public disquiet became higher. The real trouble is when these things become so rampant and it goes into SOP mode and nobody asks questions, one never knows when we go down the slippery road. I am sure the Auditor-gen will not find this an amusing practice. Still, Opp MPs shld raise a stink.

 

[travelbug]

How does someone rated badly in appraisal in the Civil Service by 2 different bosses and having failed to pass his 6 mths probation is given a contract to conduct leadership courses for Eunos Grassroots Organisations within months of leaving the service. The guy has no track record, worse still a dismal service record with no confirmation of appointment. This guy also asked successfully for transfer when he found his first boss difficult.

Scroobal, is that true, where is the screenshot for what you described above. His blog or a birdie told you?

BTW, was Temasek Review blocked by ISPs here due to their coverage on Sear as it was not accessible today 22 Dec. Did PA & Eunos forsee posters commenting on what you said above. If Temasek Review has been taken down, then its another win for PAP becos they know netizens are getting close.

 

[IR123]

I suspect that you talking about corruption and not conflict of interest. 2 different things, as different as chalk and cheese.

In a private company, a society, political party, its fine to give contracts to members of your family, lover, friends and associates if the stakeholders/members are ok with it. Though many are professional enough to keep things at arms length and some actually have procedures to avoid such things. In fact, such organisations can even engage someone without legal training or legal qualification to be Head of Legal, or even engage a road sweeper with no prior experience to be a Head of Business Development or Chief Financial Officer.

In a public listed company (listed on the stock exchange), the civil service and any govt agencies where public funds (taxes) are used, this is not acceptable and it will be flagged as an audit issue at a minimum. In these organisations, you appoint a road sweeper to be CFO or provide a tender contract to a staff or his family members or the directors and you will find the indepedent board directors, the stock exchange, the internal and external auditors will be raising red flags.

A private limited company or a society, unlike a political party, has no control over public goods.

Therefore it is highly suspect to say that it is fine for a political party to give contracts to their own people.

In particular if these contracts involve the use of their power over public resources.

 

[longbow]

I am surprised at what is happening. Arms length should be both in fact and in appearance. They might be able to show reams of tender results and satisfy the fact but appearance part fails the muster.

To me it looks bad. These committee members should be made to declare if they have any business dealings with these public organization that they are serving. There should also be a rule on how they use their political activities to promote their business. It cheapens the political organization that they are serving.

 

[scroobal]

If you know politics 101, you know that it is built on bloodlines, patronage, pork barrels and political stipends. Political parties are built on families, clans and close associates. The Hakka Clans provided the transport for voters in the 1959 elections and old man's father ran the transport arrangements. Low and the Hougang Teochews are not there by coincidence. Najib, the Malaysian PM just did not happen to be the son of the Malaysia's 2nd minister and the cousin of Malaysia's next PM. Bush Sr was followed by Bush Jr and there are 2 other bush jrs holding governorship. Bobby Kennedy was nominated by Democrats when his brother was killed and his term was completed by Johnson.

Politics is after all about charismatic personalities.

Most people have little respect for political parties but have a lot of respect for good government. There is a huge difference between the two.

Your error is equating a political party with a government. They are 2 distinct entities.

A private limited company or a society, unlike a political party, has no control over public goods.

Therefore it is highly suspect to say that it is fine for a political party to give contracts to their own people.

In particular if these contracts involve the use of their power over public resources.

 

[Goh Meng Seng]

The main problem we are facing today is that we are lacking charismatic Politicians.

Goh Meng Seng

If you know politics 101, you know that it is built on bloodlines, patronage, pork barrels and political stipends. Political parties are built on families, clans and close associates. The Hakka Clans provided the transport for voters in the 1959 elections and old man's father ran the transport arrangements. Low and the Hougang Teochews are not there by coincidence. Najib, the Malaysian PM just did not happen to be the son of the Malaysia's 2nd minister and the cousin of Malaysia's next PM. Bush Sr was followed by Bush Jr and there are 2 other bush jrs holding governorship. Bobby Kennedy was nominated by Democrats when his brother was killed and his term was completed by Johnson.

Politics is after all about charismatic personalities.

Most people have little respect for political parties but have a lot of respect for good government. There is a huge difference between the two.

Your error is equating a political party with a government. They are 2 distinct entities.

 

[kingrant]

The main problem we are facing today is that we are lacking charismatic Politicians.

Goh Meng Seng

Politics is after all about charismatic personalities.

Charisma is a necessary but not sufficient condition.
E.g. David marshall, Lim Chin Siong, Ong eng Guan, Francis Seow, Lee Siew Choh, even JBJ, and Tang Liang Hong, had charisma. They did well in public oratory and in rabble-rousing and rallying, esp. Lim Chin Siong, who could talk the birds down from the trees. But they all did not endure. Why?

Because they all were too humane and lacked that Machiavellian streak of ruthlessness, cunning and craft. Submerge like a sub and attack only when very sure and make sure the kill is total. Like Old Man. In fact, from historical hindsight, he was rather cowardly, preferring not to move until he had marshalled his forces behind him - the Colonial govt, the Tengku; and even then, panicking and always double checking with the British and KL, then once bird was in hand, sought to demolish all traces of challengers. Look at the Japs and Nazis. They shot the dead over and over if as much as a muscle twitched. Then you get the picture. Politicians must be like that. Swallow people without regurgitating the bones.

 

[Perspective]

Charisma is a necessary but not sufficient condition.
E.g. David marshall, Lim Chin Siong, Ong eng Guan, Francis Seow, Lee Siew Choh, even JBJ, and Tang Liang Hong, had charisma. They did well in public oratory and in rabble-rousing and rallying, esp. Lim Chin Siong, who could talk the birds down from the trees. But they all did not endure. Why?

Because they all were too humane and lacked that Machiavellian streak of ruthlessness, cunning and craft.

The key is forming the government, not Machiavellian streak. I can't say for all the 8 you have listed, but if Ong Eng Guan were to be PM you can be sure you won't miss any Machiavellian streak.

 

[jw5]

The main problem we are facing today is that we are lacking charismatic Politicians.

Goh Meng Seng

We still have one. :(

 

[kingrant]

The key is forming the government, not Machiavellian streak. I can't say for all the 8 you have listed, but if Ong Eng Guan were to be PM you can be sure you won't miss any Machiavellian streak.

Not untrue, but the value of a charismatic persona is to be able to capture the electorate's eyes, and heart and mind, like an evangelical messiah casting a spell on his followers so that they will follow him and do all that he says. Isn't that the point of talking abt charisma? Once the Pied Piper succeeds in getting the rats to form a line, forming the govt becomes secondary. To wit, the charismatic Obama vs the colorless McCain.

 

[Perspective]

Not untrue, but the value of a charismatic persona is to be able to capture the electorate's eyes, and heart and mind, like an evangelical messiah casting a spell on his followers so that they will follow him and do all that he says. Isn't that the point of talking abt charisma? Once the Pied Piper succeeds in getting the rats to form a line, forming the govt becomes secondary. To wit, the charismatic Obama vs the colorless McCain.

You might not believe it, but I found Obama likable the moment I saw his smaller photo next to the larger photos of Hillary and Edwards in TODAY. That was long before the Democrat primaries. Just a photo and I had not heard him speak or saw any moving videos of him. A friend sitting next to me had exactly the same feel. I think it was no coincidence.

Guess such magic is rare and that's why I think the rest (party strategy, internet strategy, whatever etc.) were just marginal boosters.