The Workers’ Party (WP) has let down the voters of Aljunied, Hougang and Punggol East constituencies with the management of its town council. (“Town council management should be depoliticised: Low Thia Khiang”; Feb 13)
So far, its explanations for the lapses in financial management, and negligence and incompetence in corporate governance, are inadequate.
The most damaging revelation was the appointment of FM Solutions and Services (FMSS) as the managing agent and the owners as senior officers of the town council.
That FMSS was formed shortly after the last General Election (GE) may indicate an intention to profit from an existing relationship with the WP. Inexperience in managing a large town council is no excuse.
As the alternative party in Parliament, the WP must be ready, with the necessary political talents, to manage municipal issues and to take over the Government at every GE.
The reason that no managing agents, besides FMSS, are willing to take on the job because of political affiliation is also invalid.
Some 40 per cent of Singaporeans voted for opposition parties at the last GE. There would surely be a sufficient pool of willing companies. Furthermore, estate management is not rocket science.
I support the tightening of the Town Councils Act to bring it closer to the Companies Act, as town councils function more like a not-for-profit commercial entity.
Specifically, we should bar Members of Parliament and senior officers of town councils, including their close relatives, from having any commercial interest in companies engaged by town councils.
Overseeing related-party transactions through established procedural steps is less effective and transparent. Other bidders may not be privy to insider information that related companies are bound to have.
A tighter legal framework, though, is no panacea for proper management, with accountability, of town councils. The WP should eat humble pie and clean up its act.
So far, its explanations for the lapses in financial management, and negligence and incompetence in corporate governance, are inadequate.
The most damaging revelation was the appointment of FM Solutions and Services (FMSS) as the managing agent and the owners as senior officers of the town council.
That FMSS was formed shortly after the last General Election (GE) may indicate an intention to profit from an existing relationship with the WP. Inexperience in managing a large town council is no excuse.
As the alternative party in Parliament, the WP must be ready, with the necessary political talents, to manage municipal issues and to take over the Government at every GE.
The reason that no managing agents, besides FMSS, are willing to take on the job because of political affiliation is also invalid.
Some 40 per cent of Singaporeans voted for opposition parties at the last GE. There would surely be a sufficient pool of willing companies. Furthermore, estate management is not rocket science.
I support the tightening of the Town Councils Act to bring it closer to the Companies Act, as town councils function more like a not-for-profit commercial entity.
Specifically, we should bar Members of Parliament and senior officers of town councils, including their close relatives, from having any commercial interest in companies engaged by town councils.
Overseeing related-party transactions through established procedural steps is less effective and transparent. Other bidders may not be privy to insider information that related companies are bound to have.
A tighter legal framework, though, is no panacea for proper management, with accountability, of town councils. The WP should eat humble pie and clean up its act.
