Chitchat Zainuddin and his 7 years in FAS

[CoffeeAhSoh]

TB rental of Bonnie's property appears as conflict of interest ,but we do not know if the "interested persons" has openly declared a related party transactions and has it duly approved by stakeholders on legal advice.-
The saga makes for good reading but makes me wonder why none of the S Chips that cheated millions of dollars from local investors were ever prosecuted.
All these rich PRC's and Indonesian investors here staying in their high end properties are clean as a whistle?
I hope Today can write more interesting stories eg on Lo Hsing Han or Asia World Company after this is over.

Just in 20:12 pm 22 apr sat

 

[50000]

TB rental of Bonnie's property appears as conflict of interest ,but we do not know if the "interested persons" has openly declared a related party transactions and has it duly approved by stakeholders on legal advice.-.

the stakeholders are phantom members...the more members you have the more jackpot machines you have....

 

[halsey02]

A smart cookie you are bonerman. Freehold is yours forever until we say it isn't. That the way it works here.

It is all in their hands, "endorsed" by the 70%...anything can be 'changed'....it is good to be "member" like Conn Hee Fart! Choy!....

 

[CABcommander]

FAS scandal: Four, including Bill Ng and Zainudin, arrested and out on police bail

SINGAPORE — Former Football Association of Singapore (FAS) president Zainudin Nordin, FAS general secretary Winston Lee, Hougang United chairman Bill Ng and his wife Bonnie Wong, were arrested and are currently out on police bail, TODAY understands.

The four individuals are assisting the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) with the probe into the suspected misuse of funds at Tiong Bahru Football Club (TBFC), which Mr Ng owns, and an attempt by a senior club official — believed to be Mr Ng — to obstruct the completion of audits of the S.League’s sit-out clubs.






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The Big Read: Dark days for Singapore football, but high-stakes election could offer fresh start

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Mr Ng’s lawyer, Mr Shashi Nathan of Withers KhattarWong, confirmed last Friday that the 57-year-old businessman is assisting police with their inquiries. The Straits Times also reported on Tuesday (April 25) that the bail for Mr Ng had been set at S$100,000.

Lawyers and legal experts TODAY spoke to confirmed on Tuesday that arrests have to be made in order for bail to be offered to any individual. Police bail in any case is security or a guarantee to ensure that the individual returns for further investigations.

Criminal lawyer Sunil Sudheesan of Quahe Woo & Palmer LLC said on Tuesday: “When any person is arrested or detained without warrant by a police officer or is brought before court, and he is prepared to give bail, and if it’s a bailable offence, bail must be offered.

“This is not a case where they are brought before court … my understanding is they weren’t detained without warrant, so by process of elimination, bail is only offered if they are arrested.” The State Courts of Singapore also says on its website: “An accused may be offered police bail after his arrest and before he is charged in court.”

Lawyers TODAY consulted also said that a high amount of bail — in Mr Ng’s case of a reported S$100,000 — typically reflects the nature of the potential offence. The drama that has rocked the local sports fraternity began almost two weeks ago, when Mr Ng revealed at a press conference for Team Game Changers — the team led by him for the inaugural FAS elections — that he had donated S$500,000 to the FAS.

The money went to the Asean Football Federation’s Football Management System via the FAS.

That then escalated into a public spat between Mr Ng and Mr Lee, with the former insisting that it was Mr Lee and not Mr Zainudin who had requested for the donation. Mr Lee then produced documents proving that it was Mr Ng and Mr Zainudin who had corresponded over the donation.

A police report lodged by Sport Singapore (SportSG) subsequently saw a raid at the FAS headquarters at Jalan Besar Stadium, and three football clubs linked to Mr Ng: Hougang United, TBFC, and Woodlands Wellington.

Mr Ng, Mr Wong, Mr Lee and Mr Zainudin were subsequently questioned by the CAD, and all four are currently out on bail.

Even as the saga continues to develop, the FAS remains on course for a landmark election this Saturday, which will see 44 affiliates coming together to vote for the sport’s leaders.

Led by Mr Ng, Team Game Changers are up against Team LKT helmed by former FAS vice-president Lim Kia Tong, in the fight for the mandate to lead the sport for the next four years.

When asked by TODAY whether Mr Ng’s arrest would affect his ability to take part in the elections, Mr K Bala Chandran, chairman of the FAS Ad Hoc Electoral Committee said: “There is no change in the position of the Electoral Committee at this stage on the eligibility of Mr Ng.”

Mr Albert Ng, chairman of Kembangan United FC, believes that the election should proceed. “If it’s postponed, it will leave Singapore football in limbo, and all the clubs and affiliates will suffer for a period of time,” he said.

“Government funding might be affected, and the ecosystem — from clubs, coaches and players — will suffer. Especially now, when there’s so much uncertainty about the FAS, we need a stable council to come in and solve the issues plaguing Singapore football as soon as possible.”

Others called for a postponement of the polls, as an S.League official who declined to be named said: “For all the affiliates to vote properly and make a sound decision, we should first have to know all the facts. This (incident) may cast a certain impression on the voters even before anything is proven, and this may not be fair to Bill, because nobody knows yet whether he’s guilty or innocent.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY NOAH TAN

 

[Debonerman]

So many arrested over $500,000. Why Sun Ho gets off scots free over $50 million?

 

[50000]

FAS scandal: Four, including Bill Ng and Zainudin, arrested and out on police bail....

there goes his chance at the reserved elections....

 

[RandomNexus]

Here is a summary for those not familar with what is going on.

There are 4 football bodies int his saga.
FIFA, AFC and FAS which most of us know than there the little known body called the AFF - Asean Football Federation. Its primary role is to block vote its members into AFC and FIFA though it does run competition for show. Regional sports bodies operate typically by block voting and thus constant need to buy votes or secure goodwill by donations to programmes that are not done or do not exist. ....

Bro,

What you said makes sense now in connecting the dots.

FIFA is one of the most corrupted organisations around. All these sports bodies revolve around money and the dispensing of money for kickbacks. Even with scandals around, the top still get voted in.

Look at how AFF came in to amend their statements to support this donation which is previously is "non existing".

We can safely said both Zai and Winston Lee do not get along. Zai is working with Bill to go after Winston?

I wondered why Bill chose to kick in an own goal. Blunder of all blunders?

Looks like the authorities are well aware of the fishy dealings when they put SportsSG as the funder to FAS, and got Zai to step down as MP.

All these have been happening for years and it takes an election to bring these cobwebs to view. It will be right to say these parties are fighting to gain control over the funds to ultimately enrich themselves.

 

[Narong Wongwan]

So many arrested over $500,000. Why Sun Ho gets off scots free over $50 million?

Tiong Bahru only got 19k questionable ah Pek ah Soh gambler members.
CHC got 33k gongcheebye white collar English educated members.
Who the pap scare more?

 

[tanakow]

The question is why football fans are so stupid as to pay inflated values for telecast, tee-shirt, shoes and souvenirs.?

2016 Ranking of Football Clubs

 

[scroobal]

Its truly a sorry saga. We have a whole bunch of poor soccer players mostly Malay boys who for little money have allowed people make money that has nothing to do with football in mind. Imagine collecting $900k a month in the name of football.

I am however glad that a former FAS staff member took the courage and possibly to fix his sleepless night to tell SportsSG what had transpired. Credit to Lim Teck Yim, Philip Ong and Richard Seow to act with speed.

The Malaysians however are playing hardball where AFF are concerned in view of the personalitiies involved on their side. Hopefully they will do their part.

Zai has tweeted about betrayal months ago and its presumably in reference to being made a fool at AFC. But I understand it was not him in this instance. He has his own skeletons. Bill's own goal is a real stunner. Second own goal is hiring Subhas Anandan's nephew as his lawyer.

Lets see where this is going.

Bro,

What you said makes sense now in connecting the dots.

FIFA is one of the most corrupted organisations around. All these sports bodies revolve around money and the dispensing of money for kickbacks. Even with scandals around, the top still get voted in.

Look at how AFF came in to amend their statements to support this donation which is previously is "non existing".

We can safely said both Zai and Winston Lee do not get along. Zai is working with Bill to go after Winston?

I wondered why Bill chose to kick in an own goal. Blunder of all blunders?

Looks like the authorities are well aware of the fishy dealings when they put SportsSG as the funder to FAS, and got Zai to step down as MP.

All these have been happening for years and it takes an election to bring these cobwebs to view. It will be right to say these parties are fighting to gain control over the funds to ultimately enrich themselves.

 

[red amoeba]

It is getting exciting. First we have Cecilia, then we have Serina now we have Zainal. Too bad we don't have a chio bu figured.

 

[gatehousethetinkertailor]

No shocking revelations in this piece but it is crafted from the perspective of twisting the knife in on how truly sad the FAS had become (and boldly addressing how things are not really what they seem in Singapore's squeeky clean image - that Titanic analogy is very apt):

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/feat...ts-and-raids-wont-halt-farcical-fas-elections

Singapore’s ‘close one eye’ culture and an unquestioning deference to men of power and wealth left the game in a perilous state and will make it hard to clean up, argues Neil Humphreys

Consider this plot outline for an espionage thriller.

Established political leaders are accused of wielding too much influence, having been appointed internally by government figures.

They are, in effect, promising to overthrow themselves and replace themselves … with themselves

An independent body demands change to appease the masses so elections are slowly and grudgingly organised.

Most of the incumbents promise to revolutionise an organisation that has failed its objectives, choosing to ignore the comical irony that they were all part of the failed organisation.

They are, in effect, promising to overthrow themselves and replace themselves … with themselves.

Meanwhile, an independent candidate arrives on the scene, ringing a jackpot bell and promising to clean out the cronies and sycophants. He’s made his money and reputation independently. He’s not part of the Establishment.

Only he is.

He has secretly ‘donated’ to various causes to remain in favour with the same political heavyweights he now seeks to topple.


But he quickly gains popularity, until undercover officers raid his premises, acting on the instructions of even higher political powers after receiving a tip-off alleging wrongdoing.

The timing is impeccable, coming just days before the election.

Almost immediately, political leaders, both past and present, disassociate themselves from the independent candidate, claiming no relationship with the guy, despite documented evidence to the contrary.

Every candidate now stands beneath a cloud of uncertainty and mistrust and yet, inexplicably, the elections go ahead because that’s how political intrigue works. That’s the making of an espionage thriller.

Only it isn’t.

It’s actually happening right now, here in Singapore, making a mockery of its global reputation for business trust and transparency by allowing a farcical election to go ahead.

Forty-four affiliates will come together at the end of the week to vote on the next council for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which is arguably the most pointless exercise since the chief steward rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic for a better view of the iceberg.

Whether it’s Lim Kia Tong’s Status Quo, playing those familiar three chords over and over again in the hope that no one realises they’re essentially singing the same tune, or Bill Ng’s team of Jackpot Game Changers, little will change.

As the old song goes, no matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in.

A revolution doomed before it begins

In this instance, no matter who wins the FAS elections, it is those men of wealth and power that will prevail.

The feigned shock over Tiong Bahru’s total revenue of $36,736,775 from its jackpot machines is tough to swallow

Add those ingredients to a nationwide indifference to the local game and it’s hard to see how the kind of revolution required to rejuvenate the sport can even take place.

That ‘close one eye’ culture has persisted for as long as the game itself, allowing match fixers, loan sharks and jackpot machine operators to thrive for decades.

Authorities have made great strides in tackling match fixing, but the influence of jackpot machines remains an uncomfortable grey area.

As a rookie reporter almost 20 years ago, an early visit to an S.League club culminated with a trip to a jackpot room filled with retirees feeding the machines money they clearly couldn’t afford.

The official smiled and pointed out that the musty room propped up the club. Gambling addiction, particularly among retirees and the society’s most vulnerable, was keeping the S.League alive. It was common knowledge then, just as it is now.

So the feigned shock over Tiong Bahru’s total revenue of $36,736,775 from its jackpot machines in the last financial year is tough to swallow.

Tampines Rovers aside, most clubs rely on jackpot money, both in the S.League and the National Football League. Ng just happens to be exceptionally adept at maximising his jackpot revenues.

This is nothing new. An uneasy relationship between Singapore football and the country’s penchant for gambling has always existed and an FAS election will not change that, irrespective of who wins.

Similarly, the deference paid to men in authority allowed too many to remain in power for too long, despite a long list of failings and embarrassments.

The alleged row between FAS general secretary Winston Lee and former president Zainudin Nordin; the SEA Games spat between under-23 coach Aide Iskandar and national head coach Bernd Stange; the Suzuki Cup debacle; the S.League’s demise; the paucity of funds for NFL clubs and donations being made to foreign entities – it’s a tawdry tale of failure, dissension and decline.

But where was the accountability? Where was the national outrage and demands for revolution?

If the elections do proceed, it’ll be a preposterous episode beyond the pages of an espionage thriller

Apart from the usual social media angst, those in charge of the national sport were granted the kind of autonomy and latitude that would be unthinkable in most football nations.

That's why it's no surprise the whistleblower ended up coming from within.

Ng made an allegation against Lee concerning his $500,000 donation that quickly backfired. Ng intended to open a can of worms. He just didn’t anticipate opening enough cans to fill a supermarket shelf.

Even now, it’s still proving difficult to get answers to the most obvious questions. Why didn’t the FAS Council know about the $500,000 donation? Why did Lim and Ng contradict themselves and each other? Why did Zainudin take so long to respond to the allegations? Why did anyone sign off on local football money leaving the country? And can the industry really feign such ignorance over the integral role of jackpot machines?

When one considers all of the above, how is it possible that the FAS elections are still going ahead?

Ng’s clubhouses were raided. The FAS office was also raided. Lim and some of his candidates are previous FAS members.

No charges have been laid and there’s every chance that the facts and figures add up in favour of both Ng and Lim.

But Ng is still involved in an ongoing investigation with the Commercial Affairs Department and Lim’s team surely need to wait for the outcome, as several were at the FAS when the $500,000 donation was made.

And yet, the interminable elections will rumble on nonetheless, a shameful indictment of an indifferent culture that continues to close one eye to those with a better bank balance or a more impressive name card.

If the elections do proceed, it’ll be a preposterous episode beyond the pages of an espionage thriller.

But this isn’t a work of fiction. This is Singapore football, what’s left of it.

 

[iluvgst]

jackpot machine can collect 30 over million?! sounds like money laundering to me.

 

[50000]

jackpot machine can collect 30 over million?! sounds like money laundering to me.

left over change from his IR in Cambodia. CAD needs to look into the machine supplier also, its the same guy that was main sponsor for Hougang FC for a while and they always help to "tweak" the machines...

 

[Porfirio Rubirosa]

Bill's own goal is a real stunner. Second own goal is hiring Subhas Anandan's nephew as his lawyer.

Sashi Nathan is Chandra Das' nephew and not Subhas' nephew. Think Subhas' nephew, Sunil, now with 'mango' Palmer's law firm.

Back to the Game Changers camp, interesting to see Annabel P and Lau Kok Keng 'disappear' all of a sudden. As for Krishna, think he is still wet behind the ears.

Whatever happens next, must thank Bill Ng for opening this can of worms.

 

[Kuailan]

Police and CaD acted swiftly yesterday 20 Apr 2017.

Curious to know who was that person who report the matter to the police.

How come that Stupid papaya trumpet blower John Tan so quiet regarding this

matter??..

He's very good in putting down oppie just to bring up papaya for promoting Siow

Joe & Deadmon!!!

 

[scroobal]

Thanks, I struggle with this guy, Sunil and the wife's nephew.

I find that they going ahead with the elections as terrible.

Sashi Nathan is Chandra Das' nephew and not Subhas' nephew. Think Subhas' nephew, Sunil, now with 'mango' Palmer's law firm.

Back to the Game Changers camp, interesting to see Annabel P and Lau Kok Keng 'disappear' all of a sudden. As for Krishna, think he is still wet behind the ears.

Whatever happens next, must thank Bill Ng for opening this can of worms.

 

[scroobal]

Thanks, great article. I am sure many like the author are resigned to the fact that nothing will improve and it will be business as usual.

Also found Thavaneson's comment about FAS not having a Donation policy has led to this to be disingenuous. Maybe he should develop a policy for stealing funds, sexual assault, etc etc just to be on the safe side.

No shocking revelations in this piece but it is crafted from the perspective of twisting the knife in on how truly sad the FAS had become (and boldly addressing how things are not really what they seem in Singapore's squeeky clean image - that Titanic analogy is very apt):

https://www.fourfourtwo.com/sg/feat...ts-and-raids-wont-halt-farcical-fas-elections

Singapore’s ‘close one eye’ culture and an unquestioning deference to men of power and wealth left the game in a perilous state and will make it hard to clean up, argues Neil Humphreys

Consider this plot outline for an espionage thriller.

Established political leaders are accused of wielding too much influence, having been appointed internally by government figures.

They are, in effect, promising to overthrow themselves and replace themselves … with themselves

An independent body demands change to appease the masses so elections are slowly and grudgingly organised.

Most of the incumbents promise to revolutionise an organisation that has failed its objectives, choosing to ignore the comical irony that they were all part of the failed organisation.

They are, in effect, promising to overthrow themselves and replace themselves … with themselves.

Meanwhile, an independent candidate arrives on the scene, ringing a jackpot bell and promising to clean out the cronies and sycophants. He’s made his money and reputation independently. He’s not part of the Establishment.

Only he is.

He has secretly ‘donated’ to various causes to remain in favour with the same political heavyweights he now seeks to topple.


But he quickly gains popularity, until undercover officers raid his premises, acting on the instructions of even higher political powers after receiving a tip-off alleging wrongdoing.

The timing is impeccable, coming just days before the election.

Almost immediately, political leaders, both past and present, disassociate themselves from the independent candidate, claiming no relationship with the guy, despite documented evidence to the contrary.

Every candidate now stands beneath a cloud of uncertainty and mistrust and yet, inexplicably, the elections go ahead because that’s how political intrigue works. That’s the making of an espionage thriller.

Only it isn’t.

It’s actually happening right now, here in Singapore, making a mockery of its global reputation for business trust and transparency by allowing a farcical election to go ahead.

Forty-four affiliates will come together at the end of the week to vote on the next council for the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), which is arguably the most pointless exercise since the chief steward rearranged the deck chairs on the Titanic for a better view of the iceberg.

Whether it’s Lim Kia Tong’s Status Quo, playing those familiar three chords over and over again in the hope that no one realises they’re essentially singing the same tune, or Bill Ng’s team of Jackpot Game Changers, little will change.

As the old song goes, no matter who you vote for, the Government always gets in.

A revolution doomed before it begins

In this instance, no matter who wins the FAS elections, it is those men of wealth and power that will prevail.

The feigned shock over Tiong Bahru’s total revenue of $36,736,775 from its jackpot machines is tough to swallow

Add those ingredients to a nationwide indifference to the local game and it’s hard to see how the kind of revolution required to rejuvenate the sport can even take place.

That ‘close one eye’ culture has persisted for as long as the game itself, allowing match fixers, loan sharks and jackpot machine operators to thrive for decades.

Authorities have made great strides in tackling match fixing, but the influence of jackpot machines remains an uncomfortable grey area.

As a rookie reporter almost 20 years ago, an early visit to an S.League club culminated with a trip to a jackpot room filled with retirees feeding the machines money they clearly couldn’t afford.

The official smiled and pointed out that the musty room propped up the club. Gambling addiction, particularly among retirees and the society’s most vulnerable, was keeping the S.League alive. It was common knowledge then, just as it is now.

So the feigned shock over Tiong Bahru’s total revenue of $36,736,775 from its jackpot machines in the last financial year is tough to swallow.

Tampines Rovers aside, most clubs rely on jackpot money, both in the S.League and the National Football League. Ng just happens to be exceptionally adept at maximising his jackpot revenues.

This is nothing new. An uneasy relationship between Singapore football and the country’s penchant for gambling has always existed and an FAS election will not change that, irrespective of who wins.

Similarly, the deference paid to men in authority allowed too many to remain in power for too long, despite a long list of failings and embarrassments.

The alleged row between FAS general secretary Winston Lee and former president Zainudin Nordin; the SEA Games spat between under-23 coach Aide Iskandar and national head coach Bernd Stange; the Suzuki Cup debacle; the S.League’s demise; the paucity of funds for NFL clubs and donations being made to foreign entities – it’s a tawdry tale of failure, dissension and decline.

But where was the accountability? Where was the national outrage and demands for revolution?

If the elections do proceed, it’ll be a preposterous episode beyond the pages of an espionage thriller

Apart from the usual social media angst, those in charge of the national sport were granted the kind of autonomy and latitude that would be unthinkable in most football nations.

That's why it's no surprise the whistleblower ended up coming from within.

Ng made an allegation against Lee concerning his $500,000 donation that quickly backfired. Ng intended to open a can of worms. He just didn’t anticipate opening enough cans to fill a supermarket shelf.

Even now, it’s still proving difficult to get answers to the most obvious questions. Why didn’t the FAS Council know about the $500,000 donation? Why did Lim and Ng contradict themselves and each other? Why did Zainudin take so long to respond to the allegations? Why did anyone sign off on local football money leaving the country? And can the industry really feign such ignorance over the integral role of jackpot machines?

When one considers all of the above, how is it possible that the FAS elections are still going ahead?

Ng’s clubhouses were raided. The FAS office was also raided. Lim and some of his candidates are previous FAS members.

No charges have been laid and there’s every chance that the facts and figures add up in favour of both Ng and Lim.

But Ng is still involved in an ongoing investigation with the Commercial Affairs Department and Lim’s team surely need to wait for the outcome, as several were at the FAS when the $500,000 donation was made.

And yet, the interminable elections will rumble on nonetheless, a shameful indictment of an indifferent culture that continues to close one eye to those with a better bank balance or a more impressive name card.

If the elections do proceed, it’ll be a preposterous episode beyond the pages of an espionage thriller.

But this isn’t a work of fiction. This is Singapore football, what’s left of it.

 

[myfoot123]

Thanks, great article. I am sure many like the author are resigned to the fact that nothing will improve and it will be business as usual.

Also found Thavaneson's comment about FAS not having a Donation policy has led to this to be disingenuous. Maybe he should develop a policy for stealing funds, sexual assault, etc etc just to be on the safe side.

Why is the auditor not mentioned?

All these cultprits have ex-PAP MP's law firm defending them. Don't forget Quahe Woo & Palmer is under Michael Palmer law firm too. Own kind defending own kind, the result is quite predictable.

 

[scroobal]

No idea. The fact that they were arrested despite who 2 of them are suggest that more than just tardy accounting is involved.

Why is the auditor not mentioned?

All these cultprits have ex-PAP MP's law firm defending them. Don't forget Quahe Woo & Palmer is under Michael Palmer law firm too. Own kind defending own kind, the result is quite predictable.