My reaction after reading KPMG NKF Report

[RockLobster]

Every S$1.00 donation we make to NKF, only S$0.10 (ten cents) goes to the patients

Not to mention perks to the executive members and himself..... its a sad day for everyone who donated wholeheartedly to NKF "charity"..

Two words to describe TTD... "REN ZAR"

[framerunner]

Wah you so solid can read the report. I open up and after reading halfway through the executive summary, i almost fell asleep

[limbssg]

we've just seen chapter 1, will the rest of the story be revealed? seriously, I doubt so....

written by CEO of Temasek Holdings this July 2005,

Well, birds of a feather flock together....

NKF deserves continued support

Monday • July 18, 2005

Ho Ching

I write in my personal capacity.

I have been a long-time admirer of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF).

The NKF has been outstanding in supporting kidney and other patients. They and their supporters have been tireless not just in raising funds. They have played a key role in providing life saving dialysis services for kidney patients and more.

They also counsel and sometimes cajole or even berate patients and their families to take responsibility for themselves and make an effort to live.

Patients and their families, including their children, are encouraged to work together to contribute to their own support, and not give up.

This helps them retain their self-respect and live their lives confidently as full members of society. I cheer the NKF for this enlightened philosophy.

Taking on a dialysis patient is almost like adopting a chronically and critically ill child. You take responsibility not just to give money at the spur of the moment in a flash of sympathy, or to organise dialysis sessions for the week in a spurt of enthusiasm.

You know that it is a serious life-long commitment of support. You know that any interruption of that support means fear, a loss of hope, and a death sentence of sorts. Many long-time Giro donors understand this.

The NKF has wisely built up strong reserves over the years. It is a sensible and responsible approach. The NKF's fears are understandable. No one likes to have the dreadful responsibility of deciding which patients should live when money dries up in an economic downturn.

What if 10 per cent or 20 per cent of their patients or their patients' breadwinners lose their jobs in an extended downturn? Surely, you hope to continue dialysis for them even if they cannot co-pay their part?

I would like to recommend that the NKF consider building and managing its reserves as an endowment. It also needs a sufficient buffer to weather a deep recession.

Perhaps this was what it had been trying to do. Perhaps the prolonged years of difficulties during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s and the earlier brink of the 1985 recession have spurred the frenetic pace of fund raising in recent years.

But this funding model needs to be properly modelled, analysed and communicated.

When the NKF completes its review and puts together its plans, do share them. I am sure Singaporeans and many others share a chord of sympathy for your cause.

On the issue of CEO pay, I believe that even charities ought to be managed professionally. How else can we extend high quality and impactful services including specialist educational and therapy support to those in need? After all, we do not expect CEOs of publicly-funded hospitals to be poorly paid, do we?

Indeed, the NKF is more like a community hospital with multiple centres for high-quality, life-long critical care. It operates and manages dialysis centres to provide vital life-saving services at the highest safety levels. It does this with a heart, looking after the emotional and psychological well--being of its patients, too. Taken as a whole, the NKF has certainly done very well for its patients.

True, there will be volunteers, much admired and respected, with independent means who could help charities without having to take a single cent in salary.

There are also others — much loved and lauded — who for religious reasons or perhaps in memory of a parent, child or friend, would give selfless service to others. Society owes them all a debt of gratitude and applauds their spirit of charity.

But we should not then believe that all those involved in charitable causes should in turn be charitable cases themselves.

Skilled specialists and experienced managers would soon turn to other careers and job opportunities if they cannot earn a living commensurate with their skills and ability. And we would all be the poorer for it as services drop in quality or wither away.

Sometimes, in a life-threatening illness, all the money in the world will not be able to bring a loved one back.

Mr Durai has helped make a difference in the NKF where medical science has offered a lifeline, though at a cost of tireless fund raising for life time dialysis support. I would not begrudge Mr Durai a proper and well-earned compensation and bonus. He probably earned less than what he would have earned if he had continued in his profession as a lawyer.

Yes, some of the things that Mr Durai has allegedly done rather raise a questioning eyebrow or two. Some may have crossed the line of proper conduct in respect of conflicts of interest as well. If so, they should be corrected.

It is also important to put in place a set of practical governance guidelines to minimise conflicts of interest, especially for an institution of public trust.

While the leadership of a CEO is critical to shape and drive any organisation, it is equally important that the board balances its support and guidance for its CEO, with its fiduciary duty. It has to serve as an impartial guardian of stakeholder interest in a public institution.

As a civilised society, we should not lightly condemn anyone in the court of public opinion without the benefit of due process and the right to a fair hearing. Even murderers have that right.

If there has been corruption or misuse of funds, then let the relevant authorities investigate and take the case through due process for a fair and proper judgment. There may have been errors of judgment. Most of us can accept and forgive this.

On the other hand, we should resolutely guard against those with serious faults of character and not put them into positions of trust. But let's be fair and keep an open mind, and give the benefit of doubt until the full facts are known.

These deliberations and decisions have important long-term considerations and impact. They should be taken calmly and steadily, away from the acid of hate and anger of betrayal.

Understandably, many feel betrayed. They feel they have been deceived into making donations of hard-earned money. However, this is no excuse for vandalising the NKF facilities, or heaping abuse on NKF staff. Two wrongs won't make a right.

Let us not forget there are real patients who continue to need dialysis support. I urge the staff of NKF to continue to support them well, and not let this wave of fury shake them from their mission and professionalism to serve their patients well.

I am sure it would be a tremendous comfort to both the patients and their caregivers if the rest of us can keep calm and give them our moral support.

Finally, whatever the transgressions or shortcomings, I want to put on record my deep gratitude for Mr Durai and the NKF and their supporters, including numerous donors, media artistes and volunteers as well as board members and patron.

Together, they have been tireless in their efforts and contributions all these years to make a difference in the lives of many kidney patients in need.

I do hope that every one of us, including Mr Durai and the NKF, will emerge the stronger, wiser and better from this serious and unfortunate setback.

I am also grateful to all the volunteers and professionals working in the various other voluntary welfare organisations. They too have given tireless and dedicated service of time, effort, money, love and emotions, to the young and old, to those sickly and in need, in their respective worthy causes.

Whatever their faults and foibles, the volunteers, staff and professionals in our VWOs have collectively given hope to many amongst us, and made this island a better place.

In turn, I hope Singaporeans and my fellow men will join me too in supporting them, and show them our generosity and warmth of the human spirit.

Many drops an ocean make, and many hands will lighten the load. On my part, I will continue to donate to the NKF and other favourite charities.

Ho Ching, the executive director of Temasek Holdings, sent this letter in her private capacity

[Dazza]

i believe in karma ..... he'll get his just rewards along with his cronies ... but "rewards" may come sooner if he is seen in some back lanes by some ah bengs hahaha

[Mr CRABS]

No wonder they got soo many peanuts to give to their employees.

[tineng]

we've just seen chapter 1, will the rest of the story be revealed? seriously, I doubt so....

written by CEO of Temasek Holdings this July 2005,

Well, birds of a feather flock together....

careful bro...of your postings. To be fair, what she wrote was before the investigation and based on her understanding and perception of what is going on. i seriously doubt that at that point in time, not many people knows much of what is going on....personally, at that point in time, i still believe its fair to pay $600k to a CEO running a mutli-million organisation - but now it light of this report...

anyway we already have in other thread, people threatening to sue reefers and the SRC here, so while its ok to air your view in the forum, do restrain from posting that might be interpruted as 'unfounded accuesation'.....

[ervine]

wah that means every month for the past 3-4 years I've been donating $6 per month but only $0.60 goes to the patients????

Then the rest goes into trips to Las Vegas, first class tickets, golden taps, chauffer, etc etc etc etc????

[RockLobster]

wah that means every month for the past 3-4 years I've been donating $6 per month but only $0.60 goes to the patients????

Then the rest goes into trips to Las Vegas, first class tickets, golden taps, chauffer, etc etc etc etc????

That's the assumption.... and not to mention you're also paying for his OT pay and his 150++ days of leave cashed in...

[Chris]

First time I heard CEO got OT pay!! Most executive already got no such thing as OT pay liao.

Maybe his OT includes the hours he is travelling in the first class plane, the time he was washing his arse with his golden tap and the time he spent in court.

This so called 'ren cai' is just a 'ren za' bluffing the kind-hearted and stealing from the sick. Can you imagine how many sick people are denied of treatment because the funds went to his pocket!! Let's balance the lives he has saved against the lives lost. 10 cent when to save lives when it could be 80 or 90 cents. That means every 1 live save, 8 to 9 more were denied!!

[Seng]

I would wonder what his daughter will be thinking now. Can still remember her letter to the ST Forum.... Looks like her dad has been very naughty Keeping this ugly truth of excess earnings from her daughter.

Lets hope that the authorities will do something to get the money back and use it for its intended purpose of helping out the kidney patients.

So sickening to see that they earn so much $$ for selling medication at a 'subsidised' rate... 'KA PUI" !!

[pospeh]

And where is the first class governance structure that Singapore supposedly has. The MOH, NCSS and Commissioner of Charities completely dropped the ball on this debacle. Having Mrs. Goh as patron insulated NKF from the scrutiny that it would have gotten.

[RockLobster]

Yah if I rem his daughter's letter to ST Forum correctly.. even dare ask PM to set things right if the accusations against her father (TTD) proves to be falsehood... talk big somemore! Stupid fool!

I find it acceptable that part of my S$1 donation to NKF will see something like 30-40cents go to "admin charges". But 90cents is pushing my limits.... any rational person will reject this....

Looking at how "old" NKF award projects (to board member's company and good fren's company) and reward staff ("hey durai I wanna quit NKF", "huh? okie, have another 2/3months bonus then before you go"....)

I work in the IT line and NEVER is there a case whereby the customer gives my company the FULL AMOUNT before the project is completed.

"Here's a couple of mil for the project, lemme know when i can see some pictures and click some buttons.... it doesn't work??? If I give you a few mil more would that help?"

Stupid FOOLS.. makes my blood boil when my heartfelt donations is mis-used by people who think they know....

[Seng]

Yah if I rem his daughter's letter to ST Forum correctly.. even dare ask PM to set things right if the accusations against her father (TTD) proves to be falsehood...  talk big somemore! Stupid fool!

I hope that govt will set things right after it is clear that it is true. Let her eat her own words. TTD better not run away!!

[rose]

the best thing is don't donate to them anymore, but will you do it???

if not then why you want to complain this & that...for me, totally no to nkf anymore, somtime you can't just forgive someone that make a big mistake, how you know there won't be another golden tap

[ckevin]

For those who make monthly contributions to NKF, i have a very clever suggestion.

For example $6 every month. Bring this money to any dialysis centre, pick the lucky chap among the patients and pass him the money in ang pau packet. Like that the full $6 gets to the patient. More rewarding is that you can see the happy smile and look of gratitude personally and your money don't get taxed. But then also a bit flawed because sure got some suay patients never get to see any money.

[ervine]

For those who make monthly contributions to NKF, i have a very clever suggestion.

For example $6 every month. Bring this money to any dialysis centre, pick the lucky chap among the patients and pass him the money in ang pau packet. Like that the full $6 gets to the patient. More rewarding is that you can see the happy smile and look of gratitude personally and your money don't get taxed. But then also a bit flawed because sure got some suay patients never get to see any money.

yah man that makes so much more sense....

worse thing is NKF get subsidised drugs.. but then instead of passing on savings they actually PROFIT from them!!!

[RockLobster]

wonder whether tonite will someone do some creative artwork on the walls of NKF or not?

last time when SPH printed the court findings, someone did.... hmmmm.. NKF near my place.. maybe I should do stakeout?

[mUAr_cHEe]

First of all, I think we should draw the line somewhere and not used too strong words. We might get the guys who give us this site free into trouble, not to mention yourselves eventually.

I have been travelling around, as those who bother to read my threads know. I know it is not modest and humble, but I think I have seen much more, heard much more, done much more and on the way screw up much more than most of the people I know.

This is my piece:

Charity in Singapore has never been 100% true and real charity. People who work or 'volunteer' do get paid or compensated in one way or another directly from the charity organisation. The only true volunteers in Singapore are the minor few that REALLY volunteer (I really mean MINOR), and the students made to walk around and haress us with the stupid tin cans on weekends.

We will not talk too far away or too much. We take Hong Kong. For a matter of fact, the person who heads the Community Chest in Hong Kong. He had to fork out and donate a substantial sum to get into the seat that he is seating. Fork out from his own pockets. I heard he is not getting a single cent every month as well for doing what he is doing. He is just doing it out of charity or probably what some reglious advice given to him for him to get good luck. He is chinese after all.

"Give back society what it has given you."

Noble as it sounds, but it does not pay the bills. Every adult in Singapore should know this very well. It all boils down to whether can you pay the bills at the end of the month.

The world is changing. Maybe there was a time that charity and noblity might make the world go round. Maybe there WILL be a time in the future. But it is definately not now.

Shaolin monks in China used to be self-sufficient in a way and did not need to be connected to the world to keep life going. For a matter of fact, I know they are learning to use the internet and technology now. I heard many other things but I never like to spread what I heard. I only tell people what I know and what I believe. Even such a great group once, is also changing as the world changes.

This is my reaction after reading all your replies. How that is connected to the KPMG report? I also do not know. Then again, we are in kopitiam. Anything goes.!

[RockLobster]

I hope the authorities do the right thing if any laws is breached by TTD and make an example of him that such actions will not be tolerated in modern Singapore.

[ervine]

Actually even after the first incident I didn't cancel my monthly donations, fault the management not the patients...

Since the cat is out of the bag, I believe they will get what's coming. Besides, pulling out your montly donations won't affect the old management anymore, only the new one will suffer and we can see they are already making amends for wrong doings that someone else did... so no point "punishing" them by pulling out donations

[pospeh]

The current reserves of NKF are sufficient to last at least 6 years in the worst case scenario, and up to 12 years, in the best case scenario--even if they don't raise a single dollar. So they don't need any money now.

In view of this, I would not contribute to the New NKF now or in the near future. They have yet to prove themselves worthy of my donation, and it is not clear at all whether they will fully and effectively institute all of the changes that are necessary to reform it.

No kidney patient will suffer for lack of donation. We can afford to take a wait-and-see attitude and see if the new NKF changes for the better. I would guess that their reserves of at least 6 years is probably among the richest out of all the charities out there.

There are much more worthy charities out there that deserve your money, who are worse financial situation. And if the new NKF management can prove that they have instituted the needed changes, and if their reserves are running low, then I would reconsider.

[limbssg]

Time is GMT + 8 hours

Posted: 20 December 2005 1853 hrs

NKF report: Most Singaporeans upset but would donate again

By May Wong, Channel NewsAsia

SINGAPORE : The report on the practices of the former management of the National Kidney Foundation has drawn strong reactions from Singaporeans.

Yes, they are upset by the findings, but 7 in 10 of those interviewed by Channel NewsAsia also say they will resume donations to the NKF now that the facts are out.

Many say the auditor's report gave them a better understanding of how the organisation had been spending the funds raised.

And they are confident the new management team will exercise more responsibility and accountability.

The auditors' revelation of many discrepancies at NKF shocked many Singaporeans.

One of their findings was that there wasn't an effective hierarchy of power.

Power was centred on one man -- former CEO TT Durai.

"You would think they would have counter-checking where you would have different managers covering different department and not just reporting to just one person. Something is bound to happen," said one person interviewed.

"I think it's shocking that one man should hold so much power and running such a big organisation, so certainly, governance is an important thing that all organisations should look at," another said.

The other concern of Singaporeans was that only 10 cents of every dollar raised went to patient care subsidy.

"I think public confidence will definitely be affected because whatever they contribute, it's only 10 percent," said one Singaporean.

"My first reaction was disgust because I feel that people who really need the funds are now affected," another said.

"After all these charity shows every year how many millions they've been getting in their reserves and yet so little amount goes to the real people who need it," said a third person.

As for donating to NKF, many are willing to give the new management team a chance.

"Everybody makes mistakes, so we give them second chance," one person said.

"The public needs to look forward to the future, there's still a lot of sick people out there," said another person.

Speaking to more than 20 Singaporeans, it is clear that many are glad the activities of the NKF under the previous management are now out in the open.

Some are clearly upset with the findings, while others say it is time to close this chapter and move on.

But many also hope other charities will learn a lesson or two from this experience. - CNA /ct

7 nameless singaporeans??

or 7 fictitious ppl?

[hammerhd]

Juz a note

Would mrs GCT know anyting abt the 1st class flight, pay increment etc...

[Melvyn Tan]

You guys are soo farnny hehhehe...

[limbssg]

Minister backs NKF's 'sound record' in using funds

The Straits Times, 20 April 2004

By Wong Sher Maine

THE National Kidney Foundation (NKF) spends more than 80 per cent of its funds on its beneficiaries, which is within the guidelines set for charities, said Minister Lim Hng Kiang (Prime Minister's Office).

Mr Lim, in giving his support to the NKF yesterday, noted that it spent 56 per cent of its money on beneficiaries and put 26 per cent aside into its reserves.

This 'puts the NKF on quite a sound record', said Mr Lim, who is also the Second Finance Minister.

NKF's reserves of $189 million, enough to fund its programmes for two to three years, had sparked controversy recently as many people asked the charity body to explain how it spends the millions it raises.

Some people also urged NKF to hold back its fund-raising efforts in order not to crowd out the smaller charities.

But Mr Lim pointed out that it had to raise tens of millions of dollars a year because it was 'very, very expensive' to treat a kidney patient with dialysis.

The procedure of cleaning the impurities from the blood of a patient with failing kidneys costs $25,000 to $30,000 a year, which works out to around $60 million annually for its more than 2,500 patients.

Also, when the NKF takes on a patient, it is committed to him for life, he said as he applauded its medical record, adding that it is 'better than world standards, so patients... live much longer'.

This commitment also means it made sense to put some of its money in reserves, Mr Lim said in reply to a call by Nominated MP Braema Mathi for more accountability and transparency in how charities spend money.

However, he sympathised with its 'dilemma' in whether to disclose the salary of its chief executive.

'If they don't, then I think there will be critics who say they are not transparent. If they disclose, I think there will also be critics who will say that whatever they pay will be too high.

'So, I think they are caught between a rock and a hard place.'

Mr Lim also defended the 30 per cent cap on expenses used for fund-raising, saying it helped the smaller charities.

They run up higher overheads in fund-raising and would be hit if the cap was lowered, he said.

On the controversial issue of sharing its database of donors with its partners, Mr Lim saw 'nothing objectionable' as NKF had declared that the data would be given only if the donor agreed.

On aquariums and plasma TV sets at its dialysis centres, he said they helped keep patients occupied during their treatment and added: 'We do have aquariums and TV sets also in our blood donation centres.'

Mr Lim does not see fund-raising as 'a zero sum game', maintaining that there is room for big and small charities.

Singaporeans have big hearts, and 'if you convince them of the worthiness of your causes, Singaporeans will open up their wallets'. He also urged the smaller charities to pool their efforts in fund-raising to 'get a bigger share of the pie'.