This letter was first published at TODAYonline.
I refer to media reports that town councils face Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) arrears of between 3 to 9 per cent of households in Housing and Development Board (HDB) estates run by PAP town councils.
As there are about 885,140 HDB flats, does it mean that about 53,108 HDB households (average of six per cent of the total number of flats) may be in arrears of over three months?
Although Dr Teo Ho Pin, coordinating chairman of PAP-run councils, declined to give statistics on the total number in arrears, I think that this is a very important statistic that should be made public, as it would give an indication of how many may still be financially stressed in the current economic downturn.
With 27,000 needy families receiving financial assistance under Comcare, and HDB making 60,000 visits last year to HDB households that had difficulty paying for their HDB flats, the S&CC arrears statistics breaking down the numbers by HDB flat type, may help policymakers to better review and provide targeted assistance to the households affected.
In this regard, interestingly, the only two councils which revealed their arrears percentage, were both at only three percent.
As S&CC ranges from $18 to $85 depending on the type of flat, and the late payment interest charge is two per cent per month, the legal letter fee is $20, and persistent arrears households are charged in court, fined, and jailed if they cannot pay the fine, why are there so many still in arrears?
Using S&CC arrears as one of the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for town councils, may not be appropriate, as it may force councils to be more harsh in chasing residents for the arrears.
In fact, a poor grade in this aspect, may actually indicate that the council concerned may be more compassionate, or simply that there are more poorer residents in the constituency.
KPIs should motivate councils to serve residents better, instead of making life more difficult for financially stressed residents.
After all, the total arrears of about $15 million, is only about 0.75 per cent of total town councils’ funds of about $2 billion.
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After all, the total arrears of about $15 million, is only about 0.75 per cent of total town councils’ funds of about $2 billion.
And they still throw those poor citizens in jail for not able to paying up their SC&C charges. Funny how the system here can automatically turning you into a criminal when you are already facing problems having enough for your daily basic meals.
After all, the total arrears of about $15 million, is only about 0.75 per cent of total town councils’ funds of about $2 billion.
And they still throw those poor citizens in jail for not able to paying up their SC&C charges. Funny how the system here can automatically turning you into a criminal when you are already facing problems having enough for your daily basic meals and when those TC lost those millions, its OK!
It is rather sad that the PAPies keep throwing poor people in jail rather than trying to help them. Who was responsible for the multi billion dollar losses at Temasek and GIC.? Why not throw them in jail as well.
This is very terrifying. Why MSM like to sweep PAP dirty linen under the carpet and give half-hearted report about the poor in Singapore. Instead of wasting money blowing trumpet for pap, it will be fruitful for any newspaper to highlight the predicament of Singaporeans and help built a more passionate society than a cruel one. Our leader on hand hand urged Singaporeans to be charitable and on the other hand treat the poor people with iron-rod.
Arrears are only 0.75% of total TC’s funds, the millions lost by TC’s investments in credit linked notes.
The difference between these two types of funds is investments losses are legalised with those responsible for these losses do not have to account for, and arrears are not legalised with defaulters having to pay up or go to jail when sued.
Although there are some black sheep who are recalcitrants, with ability to pay but for various reasons do not, many are genuine cases of hardship in these recessionary times, TCs should be campassionate and not follow the typical civil servants’ practice of just following the book rules blindly.
Actually, it depends on how the KPI issue is dealt with.
We may still use the S and CC arrears as a KPI. However,
(a) how we move towards achieving zero arrears will be the key. If punitive measures/ pure collections systems are all we go for, then it’s clear we are getting to the point of being inhumane. If the arrears are not meant as an end, but as an identification on how deserving households get adequate and prompt help by citizens’ standards. In fact this can be another indicator whether current policy makers are nearer or further away from the ground. (I need to hear a strongly case that government standards will still work, given the blunders since time immemorial).
(b) the quantification of the arrears and all assumptions must be transparent. While it’s true there are areas policy makers have gotten things right, there is substantial evidence many areas were wrongly/ inaequately dealt with. Being transparent will also send signals that current policy makers are more open to criticisms (even if the language is harsh), instead of remaining in their cocoons.
The statement “KPIs should motivate councils to serve residents better, instead of making life more difficult for financially stressed residents.” therefore holds true in all circumstances.
I wonder why investment returns were not included in the KPI. Are residents being overcharged to fund their overzealous kitty? Still afraid to open up the books on their investment losses?
Also, compared with the Opp TCs, residents in PAP run ones have to pay more. So where is the economies of scale for the bigger PAP TCs? Are PAP run wards any better in terms of TC services provided?
And why is it that only PAP run TCs keep bugging us about their arrears problems? I’m sure Opp TCs also got same problem too but I don’t see them crying baby about it.
1) tiredsingaporean on October 7th, 2009 11.53 am
And they still throw those poor citizens in jail for not able to paying up their SC&C charges. Funny how the system here can automatically turning you into a criminal when you are already facing problems having enough for your daily basic meals.
Being poor is a crime in Singapore. Throwing poor people in jail for not paying SC&C would not make them rich. They will come out even poorer.
The people who are in arrears – how many of them are genuinely poor and how many of them are being severely affected by the present economic downturn. Also, how many of them are jobless.
When the economy was good and let us take for example the last few years before the economic tsunami and during this period how many people were in arrears?
By doing a meticulous study of such factors and taking other related factors then one can have a much better knowledge on the cause and causes of the arrears.
The Town Councils should carry out such studies and take remedial measures.
Jailing the people who were in arrears – and it is an indication of overkill.
popcorn on October 7th, 2009 12.36 pm
You are right that only a few have the ability to pay but don’t. The vast majority of those who can’t pay are genuine hardship cases.
From reports we know that many Singaporeans have lost their jobs to cheap foreign labour and now struggle to put food on the table. The ST school pocket money fund is an acknowledgment that thousands of young Singaporean children go to school hungry. I can’t imagine that our PAP town council would be so callous as to now throw the parents of these children in jail. Won’t that make it even worse.
PAP MPs certainly lack compassion. Remember when an MP’s wife said TT Durai’s $600,000 salary was peanuts.
Why are they throwing poor Singaporeans in jail? I guess one reason could be that the PRs have not been paying their SC&C and have left the country without settling their debt. That is why the town councils are coming down hard on Singaporeans.
Vote for Change.
With regard to this specific measure, I support kf at 6)’s proposition that quanification should be transparent. This is more so for Singaporeans to understand if the assumptions (e.g. differences in demographics, TCs’ management approaches, etc.) of the measurement are on justifiable grounds.
The refusal to provide statistics on the total number of arrears is both puzzling and disturbing to the public at large.
Some TCs lost millions in the mini bond saga a few months back. Obviously, they need to recover at least some of the money lost from their investments . Hence, they will try every ways and means to collect from residents the arrears due to them. Who cares whether you are jobless or not. Owe money you pay money. Beware some TCs Officers are going around knocking on doors of those whose S & CCs are in arrears. Quite similair to.. Ah Long.. tactic.
Will KPIs help improve the performances of TCs ?. I have my doubt. Many of the TCs services are outsourced to third parties and often to the lowest bidder. In order to make money, these contractors cut corners and the TCs just don’t have sufficient manpower to check on the service providers. The results ? slip shot and sloppy service.
where can i get a comparison of town council charges in Spore by location? Couldnt seem to find it anywhere.
Thks
Whenever these TCs people open their big mouths, they talk nothing but MONEY!
As the Chinese say `Open mouth talk money, close mouth also talk money`.
Mr. Teo Ho Pin has hinted that those eststes which expect to score HIGH marks
on thier report cards will have to fork out more every month.
Mr. Teo, before anything happens, kindly recoup all the losses which the TC have lostin the various investments and re-imburst the residents involved.
For once we residence also know how to talk MONEY!!!!
the total arrears of about $15 million, is only about 0.75 per cent of total town councils’ funds of about $2 billion. It is only 0.0375 per cent of the $40 billion lost by TH and this is excluding the amount lost by GIC.
Those in-charge of TC responsible for the $millions lost in the mini-bond, you should go to prison and squat also.
With the $2 billion TC funds from the PAP TC, it is obvious that they are collecting more than they need from us. They also have the cheek to KPKB and increase the charges despite having so much surplus. If the amount earns and interest of 1%, the interest earn will be $20million.
Hello, PAP TC, care to share with us how/where is the interest earned being spend?
FriedKwayTiaoWithCheeHum
Yes U are right, the interest earn must be return back for our share.
I’ m residing in an EA apt. Past decade during budget reading I don’t have a share of rebate. Come to SC adjustment I have a share. After the incident came to light I curse & swear the PAP. (Day Light Robbery).
All those who implicate to this robbing must sent to Firing Sqaut just like China.
TOC readers should read the letter by Mr Muhammad Yusuf Osman to ST forum today. When it comes to TC duties and responsibilities the elected MP is in-charge but when the two opposition wards of Hougang and Potong Pasir would be getting their lifts upgraded the two defeated PAP candidates made the announcement. It is a mockery of the electoral system when the mandate that the residents gave to the elected MPs is not respected.
Those poor citizens who are fined or jailed should follow the example of the SDP five reported in the ST 7 Oct. We must praise District Judge John Ng who acquitted the five on the sole ground that he did not consider what they had done a “procession”.
What country jail its citizen for their inability to pay their bills? Only Singapore. It’s sound incredulous that even a nightmare will not venture. Big joke.
They will send a legal warning letter if you are just one month late. Do u still want such a government?
Vote these demons out!!! No more excuses!
From Leong’s article:
“Although Dr Teo Ho Pin, coordinating chairman of PAP-run councils, declined to give statistics on the total number in arrears, I think that this is a very important statistic that should be made public, as it would give an indication of how many may still be financially stressed in the current economic downturn.”
Teo Ho Pin has been losing his town council’s sinking fund when he bought into Creative Tech and Lehman’s structured notes. These are KNOWN fiascoes; not sure if there are more loses.
Just how he remains an MP, let alone Mayor, bugs me. I wonder if his higher ups realise Teo’s failures.
Even the ST’s Chua Mui Hong – known for her singing the praises of the pappies questions Teo Ho Pin’s threat to increase the S&C charges; as if the CURRENT charges, which are already exorbitant, are not enough. (Of course lah, money sure not enough one)
As to why town council’s management of its finances not being one of the KPIs, other than the number of HDB units in arrears, the MND’s expert committee spin is that finance, including its loses in investments of its sinking fund, is NOT a CORE function. That’s LUDICROUS, but then what can lesser mortals do?
Lesser mortals can VOTE for CHANGE! Use your PEOPLE POWER!
S and CC arrears as a KPI is a bad idea.
As many have correctly said here, it make overzelous bill collectors out of the TC staff, who will be forced to do it or face the boot.
They may even outsource it to Ah Long.
On the other hand, there are similar maintenance fee arrears problem also occurs in high end condos. So what does that says? They have no money to pay? No. There are some people who just do not want to pay on time.
Not being able to afford the S & C are the poorest of the poor ! They can hardly put food on the table – surviving on canned foods supplied by volunteers !
Having to cope emotionally with their worries on a daily basis they are then burdened further by being charged in court and fined – how much more blood can one squeeze from a rock !
If they are unable to service their S & C, what about the other evil – PUB – which is a greater burden ! Heard that more than 3,000 household are without water and electricity !
Where are the compassion and dignity when one is poor ? So far it’s all talk and no action – cause WORDS are CHEAP !
i fail to see how chasing after arrears shld be made a KPI.
i think residents are more concerned about how funds are used. We rather have a detailed breakdown (e.g. collections, maintenance works, how sinking funds are invested etc) and a say in how these are managed. the last KPI cld have been to measure how town councils truly meet the needs of the citizens – they send detailed reports of the use of funds and residents vote on their level of satisfaction. ie somewhat along the line of a private condo management committee seeking residents’ approval in managing estate.
the pap jolly well knows that one of our top concerns is that they are charging way too much for s&c. we can see that in
- their indifference when losing millions in share-punting
- enormous size of sinking funds
- unnecessary repair work (e.g. in Pasir Ris, there are some blocks that get repainted/ pathway in garden that get repaved/void deck recemented in 5 years)
instead of addressing our concern, they set up the last kpi to address their MONEY mind. to add salt to the injury, they dress up the kpi and try to convince us that this is good for us!
what do residents want? to squeeze the last dollars from the poor or a say in how funds are used, with the possibility of lowering the charges?
How does throwing the breadwinner in jail help these poor families settle their SC&C. It only causes more hardship. These PAPies are just plain evil.
Please help the poor instead of throwing them in jail.
I must apologise for my ignorance. You mean people have to go to jail for not paying S&CC? This is so ridiculous. Town Councils should conduct more visits to gauge the plight of these people & provide help accordingly. Please don’t drive people to sleep on the streets or park benches!
8) Ang Kong Kia on October 7th, 2009 1.00 pm
For these people, the flat is the only asset they have.
I find it quite amazing to throw people into jail for the SC and powerbills.
You go to the one of the courts for fines , and you will find the magistrate handing out jail terms to these poor people. No wonder our jails are so filled up.
Have they committed a crime, I don’t think so. Its the situation that they are caught in and this is caused by the government. Many have called for the government to be voted out. If we do not take the courage to do so now, we will be in for many more difficult years, vote the current (PAP ) government out.
The more I think of it, the more outraged and shocked I am. Jailing our struggling citizens for arrears?! OMG, what type of country is that?
We MUST throw all these mother frockers out! What have they done to our nation? Squandering billions away (eg: Temasek) and committing stupid errors (eg; Mas Selamat) without any fear nor accountability, and then forcing citizens to all kinds of harships (eg perpetual relentless increase costs of living).
Hello Singapore??!!!, what have you done to your own homeland? WAKEP UP! Get/VOTE these greed infested cowards & leeches OUT!!!! Stop complaining and ACTUP! Words are cheap!\
Stop deluding yourself that there’s nothing we can do- NO, NO, NO, NO, NO! Even if you were DEAD, you still can rise up and curse these losers! Rising from the grave is not reserved for MM unless he paid the underworld billions of hell money-and we all know, like his legacy, is worthless!
If we are still BLIND to all these legalized corruption and still not vote these evils out once and for all, then Singapore deserves to rot-period! No hope.
Actually, there is a FAST and Furious way out of all these issues.
We must have change but only Big Change can create the change we need.
‘We can take them to court but it’s a long process. The cost of collecting payments is also high in terms of manpower costs and legal expenses”
That is the statement from the TC.
“persistent arrears households are charged in court, fined, and jailed if they cannot pay the fine”
This is what the writer wrote.
“why are there so many still in arrears?”
This is what the writer asked.
The answer to that is vital. What percentage of those in arrears are in dire need of help and how many are just simply exploiting the situation.
The cost of bringing those who can pay but persistent refused to pay only adds up to the S+C cost, which all other rule abiding resident will eventually end up paying.
Quoting from No Clothers Emperor at 19),
“As to why town council’s management of its finances not being one of the KPIs, other than the number of HDB units in arrears, the MND’s expert committee spin is that finance, including its loses in investments of its sinking fund, is NOT a CORE function.” Forgive me for missing this out on the MSM and this having to quote from you.
Not being a core function doesn’t mean it should be exlucded from the KPI. It simply means lesser weightage should be attributed to the non-core functions in the KPI. All functions, regardless important or non-important or not, should be measured.
These greedy PAP MPs are cold and heartless. They have given themselves huge pay increases while the number of hardcore poor in Singapore increases>
From my own observation, many there are more homeless Singaporeans now that there were twenty years ago. Fortunately for these callous PAP MPs there are no harsh winters in Singapore. If not, they would have been thrown out long time ago when people read of the homeless dying on the streets.
In any case, we have to vote them out now. Vote opposition.
The harassment has started. Heard from several residents in Bukit Batok that the TC has started sending lawyer letters (so you incurr legal cost) and has staff knocking on the doors of people who owe arrears. The visits are mainly carried out at night and the staff demand partial payment in cash when they visit. This becomes a routine till full payment is made. To do this, the TC either has hired additional staff or has farmed out the collection to another party. Either way its an addition to the operating cost.
As someone pointed out, we still have not seen any action for the loses suffered by the TC and the call for accountability and transparency has resulted in the people being penalised. We also have not had a valid explanation for the 8 months bonus issue and one wonders how top heavy these TC are and how much they are spending of wages and bonuses. The question is were the residents consulted before the KPI were formulated. When I talk about residents I do not mean the grassroot stooges.
@ 21) KopitiamApek
“On the other hand, there are similar maintenance fee arrears problem also occurs in high end condos. So what does that says?”
You want to use analogy, then why do our Ministers demand millions of dollar salaries when they claimed that $350 a month is enough handout for those unable to fend for themselves?
Besides, those in condo don’t claim to be serving the people, unlike the pappies.
32) Anon
Sorry, I cannot follow the logic of what you wrote.
There is no analogy. It is a fact that condo face this problem, whereby the able refuses to pay on time. Late charges are imposed to act as an deterrent.
Your question of “why do our Ministers demand millions of dollar salaries when they claimed that $350 a month is enough handout for those unable to fend for themselves” is a oft used argument in TOC for any and every topic, but it has no relevance to my post.
I cannot understand what you mean when you wrote “Besides, those in condo don’t claim to be serving the people, unlike the pappies. ”
What has that got to do with what I wrote?
Even with so many in arrears, Dr Teo can still claim that the TC is making profits overall despite the millions lost on toxic investments.
Looks like we have been grossly over-charged in the first place.
When it comes to things like this, I think we should apply the same rules to government bodies that are applied to the rest of us. Look at it this way:
1 – Companies and Employees have KPI to make sure they deliver something – so why stop at Town Councils when enforcing KPI?
2 – You must accept competition for jobs from foreign talent cause the job needs to be filled by the best man available – so shouldn’t we also open up cabinate positions for foreign talent?
Just a thought we should all consider ;)
i was sent lawyer letter demanding i pay my 350 dollars owed to TC plus the 300 over lawyer fees!!! making it over 700 plus!!! thats the TC for you.
my bro who owned a car was not able to buy season ticket till the S & C money owed is paid in full, thats how f#$% up our govt is.
blood suckers.
#37, but the majority support them waht. non-stop somemore. 50 years in a row and counting for more.
37) kpsg
//// i was sent lawyer letter demanding i pay my 350 dollars owed to TC plus the 300 over lawyer fees!!! making it over 700 plus!!! thats the TC for you.////
My post #29 refers: The cost of bringing those who can pay but persistent refused to pay only adds up to the S+C cost, which all other rule abiding resident will eventually end up paying.
//// my bro who owned a car was not able to buy season ticket till the S & C money owed is paid in full, thats how f#$% up our govt is.
blood suckers. ///////////
My post #21 refers: There are some people who just do not want to pay on time.
Are you part of the solution or part of the problem?
when they gambled away the sinking fund, they said its normal. but on the contrary,
every late bill is slapped with fine and lawyer’s letter, already spoke much of the government’s stance towards its citizens.