Andrew Loh
Reading about the Venerable Shi Ming Yi being charged for 10 counts of impropriety in handling funds collected through the Ren Ci charity organisation makes me very sad indeed. (Yahoo News)(CNA)
Venerable Ming Yi’s case follows that of Catholic priest Joachim Kang and the National Kidney Foundation’s (NKF) Chief Executive TT Durai. All three were trusted by members of the public and had collected millions in donations. Ren Ci and the NKF are two of the biggest and well-known charity organisations in Singapore.
While the monk’s guilt is yet to be ascertained, Durai and Kang were found guilty and were given prison sentences.
What is happening to our society, when even such men fail?
On 7 July 2008, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called for more Singaporeans to “donate according to their means and from their heart”. He revealed that charitable donations to non-profit organisations (Institutions of Public Character) increased by more than 50 per cent to S$820 million last year. (PMO)
PM Lee said this tradition of philanthropy and volunteerism is needed to “keep our social fabric strong and vibrant”. However, with these recent cases of impropriety by the heads of charity organisations, one wonders if the ‘social fabric’ is being torn apart. Will Singaporeans’ generosity now be curtailed voluntarily? Will Singaporeans be more stingy in giving? Can we blame them if they are?
Part of that ‘social fabric’ is the trust and faith which the public places on the people who are responsible for handling public donations – donations which are meant for the needy.
Perhaps what is more significant, and which we should pay attention to, is whether these cases indicate something more deep-seated – that we have become a society where money is cherished above all else, even above the trust and faith which is freely and readily given.
But looking at things in perspective, there are many charity organisations in Singapore who are doing selfless work in helping the needy, the sick and the poor. Thus, it would be sad and inappropriate to tar all these organisations with the failings of the few.
Singaporeans should continue to give and support these organisations.
At the same time, the government and the relevant authorities should be ever vigilant in keeping an eye on these Institutions of Public Character. Here, I would like to commend the Health Ministry for its timely intervention and investigations into the affairs at Ren Ci last November, leading to the present charges against Venerable Ming Yi. The Health Minister, Khaw Boon Wan, should also be commended for his impartial handling of the case in its earliest stages. He had called for patience and fairness for Ren Ci and the individuals involved until the investigations were completed.
“It is important to let the investigators do their job. Let’s not speculate or jump to conclusions because that would not be fair to Ren Ci and the individuals involved”, he said. (Straits Times)
“I wanted to get to the bottom of it because if you leave it hanging and leave questions marks, it’s not fair to Ren Ci. Then people would jump to their own conclusions.” (Today)
Ren Ci’s two medical facilities – one at Buangkok View and the other at Jalan Tan Tock Seng – have a total of over 400 beds. A third hospital, being built near Tan Tock Seng Hospital, is due to be completed in September. The hospital is reported to be $4 million short of its target for the funds needed for this third hospital. The Straits Times said that “MOH is funding $21.04 million of the hospital’s construction costs, which come up to $30.8 million, according to previous reports.” (Straits Times)
While we may feel betrayed or angry over these cases, let us not forget the very good work which the other volunteers and staff at these organisations are doing, and there are many of them.
Yes, the heads of these institutions may have failed and abused the trust of the public but let us not forget that when we give or donate to these organisations, it is the needy, the sick and the poor that we are thinking of.
The onus is on the government to correct the shortcomings in the system which allows such abuse. For us, the public, we should question those who ask for our donations when we are approached.
But we should not stop giving.
For even if these few men fail, we ourselves must not fail those who need our help still.
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Philosophically, it says that humans are that – humans. Even religious figures can fail, because we are human. It is a reminder of our humanity and our failings.
Politically, though, the culture of money shines through. Why are these leaders, those which garner public faith, all charged of misappropraition? And, when even religious leaders get charged, people who supposedly represent a being which transcends humanity, one should start looking at the authorities representing something which is purely human – the politicians.
In the words of Cicero: quo usque tandem abutere, Catilina, patientia nostra?
i read with the news with some dismay in Today…although somehow i wasn’t too taken aback about the charges. as you have noted, perhaps our society has become materialistic. but on a lighter note, at least this case has been brought to light by government intervention…. unlike the last time (NKF saga).
While i do agree that the government’s handling of the case thus far has been even-handed…..let’s not go overboard with our praises.
i dont think it was government’s intervention that did Venerable Ming Yi in….rather as with most of such abuses, by whistle blowers, internal audits, etc.
anyways, it is still a work in progress….
re above article, my 2 cents is that good ole saying still is as always applicable here….”power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”
where were the checks and balances????
Dear people,
What this shows is that checks and balances are needed. That NO ONE is above the trappings of power.
Can anyone guarantee that the PAP will remain clean post-LKY – if even religious people fall for such things ?
It makes us wonder what is in store for Singapore over the next 20 years…….Scary isn’t it ?
These incidences of misappropriation, fraud, betrayal of trust, deception and psuedo corruption are largely the by-products in the absence of transparency and accountability. The public’s trust is largely deceived through pretentious integrity and patronage.
Do we need more earth shattering cases before we demand for the paramount requirements of management of public/private companies/institutions/charities, religious organisations and government?
To the ruling party, especially LKY, can you understand (OF COURSE YOU DO!)why we, Singaporeans, are pressing for transparency and accountability? TRUST AND SUPPORT can only be given through full transparency and accountability.
Anything less than that is as good as a SUSPECT!
it seems the whole thing started when MOH auditors started questioning certain mil-dollar transactions in a general review exercise….so is it fair to say this particular case is largely due to government intervention? if someone has read something to the contrary, i’ll be interested to hear about it.
i just read from Yahoo that MOH will still continue to support Ren Ci. After all, it’s just the head + 1 (or 2) middle-management staff who are suspected of being rotten, not the whole board. unless of course, something else shows up. Right now, what people need is change and hope for the better, not to see bad history repeat itself.
but on a personal side, being Buddhist, i feel so ashamed suddenly. i started thinking of the various well-endowed temples and associations, and wondering where my family’s donations actually go to.
6 – I have known him although not very firmilar. Everything begins with passion and compassion to help the under privilige. However, things get out of hand when greed, hatred and delusion sets in.
when absolute power sets in, things just get out of hand. It sadden me as a buddhist that the figure representing buddhism failed on what his teacher had forewarned all his follwers.
There is seriously something wrong with our society when greed, money and materialism invades and underpins many aspect of our life. Money is always not enough for those who find it easy to exploit easy money through faith and religion.
I do applaud the government for exposing such deed even though it affect the social fabric of society and make Singapore look bad. Yes, for government to admit such problems rather than doing coverup (it will be naive to deny that NKF, RenCi did not receive moral support from gov officicals) is a first step in building better society because it allows one to study the root of the problems of why such thing occurs in country that is said to have minimal corruption, and hence able to learn from mistake.
Will majority of people ever donate again ? Not before the society become gracious and not worship money for the greed of money is the root of all evil.
It is unbecoming of society when even moral organization no longer can be trusted without accountability and transparency.
my comment wil lbe a bit OOT here, but would just like to say this: No wonder people immerse themselves in another world sometimes…like fantasy sci-fi, anime, online gaming etc..because there are no Heroes in this reality. At least, not the ones we think exist. the song american pie suddenly comes to mind too.
just want to ask if anybody here has harboured a slight suspicion about the way Buddhist insitutions operate here? i read from Yahoo comments that the “Buddhist clergy” have a good life vs their counterparts in e.g. Thailand….
Faith and trust are the prime ingredients when systems fail. They always start their journey with good intentions and somehow got misdirected halfway. This is the so called “complacency” which exists within all of us. Yes, I agree with Harrison that the government will need to understand our curiosity over our State funds too. It can happen to the best laid intentions. I only suggests faith when dealing with our religions.
Hi Andrew,
I find it very interesting the way the press reports about the case :
“Like the NKF, Ren Ci ran big annual fund-raising shows which reaped millions of dollars in donations, ..”
How does “reaped millions” sound?
It also is interesting to note that although unrelated to the case, the press reported yesterday and today a 27 year old student’s possession of adult films in his private home. Can anyone be a follower of the religion if he chooses to? Yes. Can the Reverend accept help from a student who wants to help out in Monastery? Is it weird for a 27 year old man to watch adult movies ? Which 27 year old does not? majority or minority do that? Can an adult watch such things when married couples use that to make babies or improve lovelife?
My point is, why the constant bringing up of an unrelated incident?
And I like to respond to Andrew that, your article seems to be in full support of the press and you sound like you already have sentenced the Reverend even when he is only accused of somethings that are under investigation.
Today, I am kind of disappointed with TOC.
Hope this response of mine is not deleted.
regards
Lydiam Lim Moi Moi
slohand2,
for all we know, it already happen. It doesn’t take a rocket science and intelligent people to recognize that. When ministers give moronic reasons for price hike without concrete evidence but based on their absurb claim, you know it already happen.
So why does these people feels unguilty ? Because of human nature that if left unchecked will succumb to the ways of society. Read about how little boy is degraded in the adverse environment in Lord of the Files (http://www.amazon.com/Lord-Flies-William-Golding/dp/0399501487)
No one can escape the temptation of the world without check, prevention and correction from others.
From http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/BuddhismAnimalsVegetarian/Buddhist%20Diet.htm :
“The Buddha further warns that in the Dharma-ending Age (the age in which we are now) there will be an abundance of false prophets, or ghosts and demons who will appear as Bodhissatvas.”
Guess it’s the same for the other religions.
Dear Lydiam,
I am surprised that you find my article in ‘full support of the press’. I am not sure how you arrived at that conclusion from what I wrote.
As for me “already have sentenced the Reverend even when he is only accused of somethings that are under investigation”, I have not. Please read my article again. I said, at the beginning, that : “While the monk’s guilt is yet to be ascertained, Durai and Kang were found guilty and were given prison sentences.”
The part about the 27 year old man watching adult movies is what the press reported, not me. So, I am not sure where the relevance is to my article.
I do commend the Health Minister for his handling of this case. I am not ashamed to say that as that is my personal view. However, that does not mean I support his handling of other health issues – including the NKF fiasco, which I feel he failed to address adequately.
Regards,
Andrew Loh
No one is whiter than snow. Equality means the need for checks and balances, plus a healthy degree of transparency. Otherwise, it is hypocrisy.
By the way, Lydiam, your comments will not be deleted or disallowed if they adhere to the issue, and do not contain personal attacks, vulgarity and outright disparaging of other fellow commenters.
So, no worries there.
I welcome your disagreement with the views in my article. :)
Regards,
Andrew Loh
Since the NKF, i told myself not to donate any $$ to any charity, even the president’s star charity or the china quake charity. I wonder how they put the $$$ in use. Now this. hahaha!!!!
Comments edited by moderator.
Hence what all these show is that the Singapore system has not been doing its job properly. How can it be then when all along we were told that we are world class, when in truth we never had the proper mechanisms and heartware to evolve and growm, hence we ossified. This is the same thing as PN Balji’s editorial in Todayonline a few mornings back.
Same old same old.
Dear Andrew Loh
I suggest that your article title is in error. No offence. No man cannot not fail – it’s like saying even ‘honest mistakes’ are impossible.
Cheers.
Ming Yi ‘s action is for the good of the Ren Ci patients. His pay is not that high as compare to TT Durai’s pay. It is for the sake of the patients that he climbed the high rise tower, ask Durai to climb, he will faint straight away. I feel that as long as money is not pocketed into his personal acc, then it is not misuse of fund. Looks like the govt wants to take over the running of Ren Ci Hospital. It put in a pap MP to be the chief. Pls correct me if I am wrong, Nia seng!!!
Hello,
Oh, what can I say about this case?
erm….
What To Do?
Its Happened.
Lets close Ranks,
and
Move on?
Hi Andrew,
How does “reaped millions” sound?
regards
Lydiam Lim Moi Moi
Andy / Lydiam,
I’m sorry but I don’t get your point.
Even if these man fail….. there will be others
http://simplygab.blogspot.com/2008/07/there-will-be-others-response-to-andrew.html
So ? Move on again? how many time must we keep moving on when issue like this happen again and again.
Let presume that one is not guilty until proven otherwise, still the issue here is always pple get tempted when they see a opportunity to reap gains when big sum are involved.
That y i always advocate that for certains work such as that of a charity organisation, politician etc, the focus should not be on how “qualify” one is ; instead it should be how “good a heart one has”
I would rather have a 2nd best candidate who has a “good heart” to run the post than a most “qualified” one who will start saying that he deserve to be paid “mkt” rate.
I have stop donating more than 15 years ago to charities ; nevertheless I occassionally do give $5 -$10 to those needy and handicap beggers I saw on the street. At least, I don’t need to feel shit when incident such as the NKF Saga surfaced.
If the PAP needs to pay its ministers million to prevent them from commiting fraud, does this payment of million dollar salary itself constitute ‘authorised’ fraud?
I do wonder what MM Lee and SM Goh does on a monthly basis to justify their pay? They do not even hold a portfolio….what is their KPI?
Staying alive?
In the light of all these scandals in charitable organisations, it is important the authorities audit the accounts of town councils vigorously to ensure public funds are not misused. I understand these funds, to the tune of billions of dollars, are managed by a committee, comprising of volunteers from the grassroots who are heavily dependent on contractors (estate managers) in the issuance of payments to service providers. These are done through purchase orders that can be easily manipulated and abused by the issuing authority. Many of these issuing authorities are staff of estate managers whose salaries are below S$2,000.00 per month. With due consideration to those who are from wealthy families, where do they get the money to drive a luxury car, stay in a condominium with a family in tow. Think about it!
The town councils must also form an audit committee to audit the type of workers employed by cleaning contractors in the respective estates if they are serious in supporting the government’s call for the use of locals in cleaning town councils estate. As it is now, 90% of these workers are foreigners and many of them are non-bonafide workers from Bangladesh and PRC.
In recent months, instead of employing more locals into this job, contractors are replacing them with more PRCs and Bangladeshis. in the few estates I frequent often eg. Sin Ming/Shun Fu, Eunos/Ubi many PRCs were spotted cleaning these estates.
It has been many years now when the WDA (workforce development agency) was formed to look into employment for locals, in particular, the cleaning industry. To date, nothing much has happened on the ground . All the efforts initiated by MOM (ministry of manpower) has gone down the drain. Town councils leave the employment of workers to the contractors who are prepared to risk using cheap non-bonafide labours to maximise profits.
Unless town council managers are held responsible for the use of non-bonafide
foreigners in their respective estates, by penalising and charging them in court, together with the contractors, this problem will never go away for the next 30 years likened to when it started 30 years ago. Strange is’nt it! Is there a scam about “kick-backs involving staff of estate managers? I leave this to your imagination.
FCO
I do not share the view that the Ministry or Khaw did a good job. The fact remains that several people started whistle blowing on Durai and lost in a civil suit. Only after the NKF saga did the ministry wake up from its slumber and the accompanying minister, who was defending Durai right before the court case and including the wife of the then PM, ‘peanuts’ remember?
With so many big charities having such probes and dubious activities, how can one possibly say the very people who are supposed to vouch for these organizations did a good job?
I agree that there is a problem in our society. We are just solving every problem with – MONEY. Everything is about money here. Values are being eroded and it is a deep seated problem. We are rotting to the core.
I only donate to beggers and those in need. This way I can see the money channel to the correct person
The SS,
I am not sure if the previous whistle blowers lost the civil suit as much as ‘cannot afford to keep going’.
The SS,
this time the govt hasn’t screwed up about this case…yet.
what they did in the NKF belongs to the recent past.
if i’m not wrong, NKF saga happened in july 2005, Durai arrested in april 2006.
MOH did the general review exercise and found Ren Ci accounts dubious in july 2006 (source: yahoo). the CAD was called in; after investigations, the rev. was arrested this year in 2008. incidentally, he was on long leave b4 arrested; could he be reflecting on what was to come?
all things considered, the govt has tried to do balance and checks after NKF, hence we have this case.
it is what happens from here that matters, because it will affect accountability and transparency issues.
and it is about donations and public trust of charitable organisations that will be at stake.
so i don’t think is fair to pass any absolute verdict on MOH or on the monk in question until everything is over.
Leaders need to be paid top dollars, as it is said.
This shall prevent Kang / NFK kinds of fiascos?
Maybe that is what the people want?
Maybe that is not what the people want?
Who set their own salaries?
Accountability for one case or all cases?
Most people may not be aware that
the Reverend / his family donated at least tens of millions of their private estate to help the needy people.
Most may not be aware that MP Ong is the RenCi director.
Who are those involved in the approval of funds usage?
regards
Wong Cum Singh
Without understanding the actual circumstances of the case, the question to ask ourselves is : should we jump to conclusion to pre-judge that he is guity ?
For all we know, he could be made used by those around him ?
Or maybe he is made a scapegoat because of some political agenda.
Until and unless the actual circumstances are revealed to us, none of us
are really be in a position yet to really comment on the matter. At best, our
comments are nothing better than gossip.
Credibility of any religious leader or any organization for charity is “earned” through their actions. Their lifestyle provide the clues to the discerning public.
It is human folly to be overly trusting, and I absolutely agree with fellow netizens that it is imperative to have check and balance.
Health Minister Khaw made the mistake of defending TT Durai when the NKF scandal was first exposed. And so did Ho Ching and Mrs Goh CT, wife of the incumbent PM and wife of ex-PM respectively. All 3 are very high profile personalities. The main difference between them is that Khaw admitted to his mistake and the 2 women have yet to do so.
The clearest example is right before us, the political system in Singapore.
Where is the check and balance when you have 82 PAP MPs versus 2 opposition MPs. We need to ask ourselves whether there is conflict of interest. The MM is chairman of GIC, wife of PM is CEO of Temasek, PM is son of MM or MM is the father of the PM, whichever way. LOL
Please tell me who is checking who ? Can some smart PAP supporter please enlighten the readers ?
Do you think president Nathan is checking anyone ? Will someone please ask him whether he has any idea about our country’s reserves if you so happen to get the chance to shake his multi million dollar hand ? Thanks in advance.
i think the bigger issue is should the government be ceding its responsibilities and asking non profit organizations to take on a bigger role in health care and social welfare.
if the government were the sole financers of the health care and social welfare system we wouldn’t have to worry how much money was raised on a yearly basis.
moreover the question is not how much money is raised but how much money eventually ends up providing the tangible benefit. you could raise billions of dollars but if out of every dollar only 20 cents ends up benefiting the patient then this should be considered a failure as well.
finally a question i don’t think ren ci should be totally absolved in this situation. a few bad apples maybe but why would a charity start constructing a hospital if they had not raised the necessary cash already. it is hubris for a charity to spend money that doesn’t exist. (i may have missed some details so do correct me if im wrong)
@27) Frusco
I second that. Here’s a a scenario.
High level town council official having mahjong game with contractors A,B and C. Nothing improper in that, don’t draw false conclusions. The following could be the normal bantering.
CONtractor A: ” Aiyah, don’t know why leh! Everytime your luck so good, today I loose $20,000 already.:
CONtractor B: ” Yah loh, me too man. Eh boss, my friend hah, he now very chialuck, need to sell his 60″ LCD TV brand new for $500, interested or not.”
CONtractor C: ” Today I lucky man loose only $19500. Eh boss, did you drop this 4D ticket? Wah low! this ticket won $12,000 man. Why want to test me is it.”
In the two years that I have participated in the Blogoshere, there were many occassions where I called through my comments that donors should avoid donating into the ORGANISZED COMMERCIAL CHARITIES(organizations). In fact I will also call upon the devouts of all religions to do the same with their RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. DO NOT DONATE TO ENHANCE THE OPULENCES OF THE INFRASTRUCTURES AND THE LEADERS(preachers) OF YOUR BELIEF.
I made and am making this call based on a very glaring; anybody can see it for yourself, superficialities and these are the OPULENCES of the PLACES OF WORSHIPS of the various Religions. In the cases of Bhuddhist/Taoist, even the Deities are in themselves opulent and made of costly materials. Bhuddhist Monks, Toaist priests, temple staff and temples themselves are resplendent with MATERIALISM. It is very difficult to detect and feel the slightest sense of spiritualism. Materialism overpowers and overwhelms the spiritual feels to zero.
Spiritual men are to be austere, simple and ascetic, but today we see the opposite ad in the case of Singapore, the Police Records show that some of our top clergies are convicted.
In any case, I personally do not see the needs for the creations of so many ‘commercial charities’, other than the propensities to frauds, the accountabilities of funds themselves are hardly transparent, maybe one leads to the other. ON TOP OF IT ALL, the welfares and wellbeings of citizens in any country are PRIMARY DUTIES OF ANY REGIME. There is no reason for citizens to be responsible for the Duty of the Government, though it is good for the better off citizens to help. THE DUTY OF THE GOVERNMENT should never be replaced by the Citizens, this will lead to the Government neglecting and abdicating its’ Primary Function.
THE LEADERS (collectively theGOVERNMENT) MUST AND SHALL ALWAYS BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WELLBEING AND WHOLESOMENESS OF THE COUNTRY THEY RULED. Otherwise; why are they leaders?
Singapore, I want to say, is one of the most highly materialistic society as it is run by a bunch of highly materialistic, technocratic leaders. We were just told that China and Russia want to learn from our leaders, how to ‘run’ their countries. This must the greatest joke I ever get to hear and do not expect any greater one in the rest of my life. Imagine the two largest nations in the World with their documented histories running into thousands of years, claimed by our tiny dot leader to want to copy our system of governance.
TO THE CONCEITED MATERIALISTIC LEADER IN SINGAPORE; MAY I IMPLORE YOU TO CREATE THE SENSE OF NATIONHOOD IN THE LAND YOU RULE, JUST A LITTLE SENSE, A LITTLE FEELING OF NATIONHOOD WILL CONCLUDE YOUR LEADERSHIP AS A SUCCESS. OTHERWISE, OUR COUNTRY SHALL BE AT BEST JUST A HOTEL, AKIN TO A MARRIED MAN WITH SPOUSE, CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN BUT NO FAMILY.
People talk about check and balance need in Singapore.
I was wondering in the US where there are check and balance, Risk Management etc …. still the Freddie and Fannie case still happen !!!
That why I am always suspicious of committees. I dont like committees not even the IC3 precisely because of this sort of nonsense. It looks good, but when you peel open the lid, its full of worms. I prefer to put my hopes in good checks and balances. Rather than in good people. That is why I always take the trouble to study the fine print for big ticket items like cars, insurance and endowment plans. Once you sign on. You are committed for better or worse.
Cannot comment on Ren Ci directly, but this will not change my view abt them. They are a good and compassionate charity. This incident will not deter me from giving what I have always given. What I cannot understand is how come some churches can go into property development and build a shopping complex in Beuno Vista and they never kena, but here these ppl get it so teruk teruk?
“I was wondering in the US where there are check and balance, Risk Management etc …. still the Freddie and Fannie case still happen !!!”
The main problem in the US sub-prime crisis is caused by GREED. CEOs are paid according to the business volume and profits that the companies made. In order to achieve and earn more for themselves, CEOs will direct their charges to go all out to garner the necessary results.
No surprises here. Anything and everything goes. Loans are extended to people who are not qualified, without jobs, etc. It was a financial nuclear bomb that has been built up and on the verge of mass destruction soon. The current situation in the US is akin to a leaking nuclear facility only.
When an organisation is run by an authoritarian person, system or government, everything can be manipulated because the people in there are installed by the one who calls the shot.
All these cases can be considered peanuts until proper audits are done in GIC, Temasek, town councils, etc. Possible titanic shocks may be revealed when the opposition gets to rule.
Even then, it’s still hardly surprising to me.
To Conjob,
No body knows our reserves, except a few persons u mentioned. It is not transparent. For Renci ,a nd NKF, at least the ministry can check on them, but for Temasek, GLC, nobody dare to check on them, you can’t say they misuse the fund, they misappriote the fund because you don’t have evidence. Even the president also dun know, what is the use of president, collect money only !!! [deleted]
Comments edited by moderator to remove cussing.
All this boils down to the lesson that human beings need other human beings to keep them from falling as none is perfect, none is above temptation.
Blind faith and blind trust is both foolish and dangerous.
Tewniaseng ,
you been kind enough giving the benefit of doubt of Singapore government due to lack of evidence but tell us where in the history of the world a dictator is not corrupted and doesn’t abuse power and authority ? Just name us one. The problem with Singaporean is that the government always tell you to provide evidence but yet it is the government that suppress evidence. Without evidence, Singapore gov knows that you are helpless and useless against them. That is reason why the coffers always talk want you to produce evidence which you can hardly get. Try to get ? Over their body with millions and one reasons.
Please exclude the self-righteous and power-hungry refused-to-die old man that clutched power to no end. He is not only pathetic dictator but a world-class clown, a disgrace to Singapore.
Dear Readers;
I have said Spiritual Wellbeings many times though I am an atheist.
Spiritual Wellbeings are for everyone, believers and non believers, it is a feeling of contentment, peace, comfort and goodness etc. In short, the emotional and mental states are wholesome and feeling good.
patriot.
Tewniaseng ,
Does anyone know where is the evidence that shows a few people know exactly what is the amount in the reserves?
Chua Mui Mong
hi Harrison,
“The main problem in the US sub-prime crisis is caused by GREED. CEOs are paid according to the business volume and profits that the companies made. In order to achieve and earn more for themselves, CEOs will direct their charges to go all out to garner the necessary results.
No surprises here. Anything and everything goes. Loans are extended to people who are not qualified, without jobs, etc. It was a financial nuclear bomb that has been built up and on the verge of mass destruction soon. The current situation in the US is akin to a leaking nuclear facility only.
When an organisation is run by an authoritarian person, system or government, everything can be manipulated because the people in there are installed by the one who calls the shot. ”
U did mention human being above! I just wonder why none of human being being held responsible for the crisis of US sub-prime. Dont they have audit to do check and balance and advise from Risk Management Consultant ? If this happen in Singapore, we will demand Mininster to resign. ha ha …
Maybe US is different from Singapore … Singapore is viewed to be corrupted..
The SS ,
On the kidney case, Khaw said the law cannot be broken.
Recently, he said maybe this can be changed.
I must be an idiot not able to understand his excellency.
/// What is happening to our society, when even such men fail? ///
1) When elites will only serve if there are big bucks to be made.
2) When success is measured by how much your pay packet is and material possessions.
3) Anyone in the same job dealing with large sums of money will sooner or later succumb to the temptations.
All these are normal con job but there is an even bigger con job in singapore. Right ? Old Fart.