Sunday, October 7, 2018

Workers' Party took on a town council which was ‘stripped of its computer system’: Defence
Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/workers-party-ahtc-prptc-stripped-of-computer-system-10802624

 (Updated: )

Ricky Lim
Opposition Party if want to win and take over a GRC or a Single-seat - must be well aware of all possible contingency they will need to handle - and have the competency to take over the ward the moment they win. This apply to the Ruling party that won back the Punggol East.

This is the same in the commercial world - for eg. a vendor lose a contract to manage, operate and run a complicated and complex IT system - the winner of a vendor must be able to overnight take over the system and run - bearing in mind that the losing vendor will not provide the winning vendor any things that benefit them and will pull away their own copyrighted software, tools and their proprietary IT gadgets that they need not provide.

To give you an example, I know of one group of IT consultants that has taken over more than 20 projects of multi-million dollars overnight from another group of IT consultants and run without complaining - and still can manage the projects very well.

But there must be a proper handling over period to hand over documents and system that belong to the public and the documents that are required for the continuation of running the system minus the proprietary tools that belong to the past vendors not belonging to the town council.

This is where "Competency" and the "Governance Standard" come into play --- ie. are you up to mark to do such thing?

When Mr Lee Kuan Yew as Opposition won the Election and take over from the incumbent Government Mr Lim Yew Hock - he had to take over the state of affairs and run without complaining and blaming the Lim Yew Hock government when he run into difficulties.

The same as Punggol East when they win over WP - did Punggol East PAP MP moan, groan and blame WP after he take over? So far did not hear any complain and heard that he is doing relatively well.

So I am not sure is this a good excuse or not.
It boils down to 没有那麽大的头 - 不要戴那么大的帽。
LikeReply1mEdited
Ricky Lim
Also, with no benefits of an incumbent computer systems - i agree will bring handicap to WP in running the system - but it still will not absolve the responsibilites of WP from :-
(1) not appointing the wrong persons as GM for town council - and contravene the Town Council act of conflict of interest - where these persons will in fact be the vendors providing the services and goods - where they will benefits from the award.
In this case, $33 million windfall.

(2) WP has run Hougang ward for many years - and will have know all the prices of facilities management, lift maintenance, cleaners services, estate management, park maintenance etc --- and can easily compare the prices that are quoted by FMSS.

If the price of lift maintenance is $1,000 and now the FMSS quote $10,000 --- will WP sign and award to FMSS without asking any question or get another quote?

Actually, WP should just issue a work order of $1,000 and tell FMSS to do the lift maintenance at that price ---- then this is a good and responsible custodian of public funds.

Not let FMSS anyhow quote - and WP anyhow award.

(3) If WP has insist on proper handling of all documentation from the PAP wards during the handover period - WP will have all the documents in place.

With this documents, WP will be able to compare prices of the previous FM services - and can do a proper comparison of prices quoted by FMSS.

Wonder did the WP do a proper "due diligence" in taking over all the documents - during the "Handover Period" - where I believe by Law - should be accorded the rights to do so.

WP cannot later blame PAP for not proper handling over the documents --- because by right - it is WP's responsibilites to take over all the documents properly and completely --- as WP has the right not to take over, file a complaint or even sue PAP if PAP did not hand over the documents properly.

Thus the excuses of WP not able to handle the GRC is not a good excuse.

Conversely, if WP feels that it can't handle a GRC, then why go out to bid for it --- and when won over - cannot handle the GRC if they do not have a proper IT system in place to take over?
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Lau Lan Chu
Exactly. Pity the WP, don't know what they are defending for. I read the article with amused, seems to me they are saying they took over suffer great ordeal of the IT system allowing them to break the law of overpaying, blaming the auditors for not taking that into consideration. May as well say I am suffering from poverty I go commit crime and please the law take that into consideration. Audior only see document proofs. Please showed where the money goes and stop fighting to get empathy from the judges. Going on like that may as well plea guilty and save everyone time and money. Fighting a losing battle, really.
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Ricky Lim
If WP has problem taking over a $100 million GRC or a project within 1 year --- I seriously doubt the "competency" and "governance standard".

Let me give some examples of how the commercial world handle multi-million dollars or billions dollars project.
(1) Government tender only open multi-million dollars projects within 1 month or sometimes extend the tender period for another 2 weeks - before closing the tender.
For ease of illustration, eg. a few hunderd over million to 1 billion $ IT projects.

Commercial vendors who bid for the tenders need to do :-
(1) read the whole volumes and volumes of tender documents, form bidding groups based
on various specialisations eg., technical team like network, servers, applications, security, middleware, software; legal teams, facilities management team, sales team, human resources team etc.

(2) designing, solutioning, architecting -- putting all the bit and pieces into a whole complex network architecture and applications running on top of it that meet each and every specifications specified in the volumes and volumes of tender documents without missing any components - for even miss one small components - the IT system cannot function.

(3) meeting suppliers of all the parts, system and devices such as routers, LAN switches, WAN equipment, firewall, IPS, virtual machines, virtualisation software, operating systems, database, middleware, applications etc etc. to supply the products and services at a good price.

---- imagine doing all these within 4 to 6 weeks - without making mistakes, still can earn profits, still competitive to beat the competitors, still can do impressive presentation, still can answer all the questions thrown out by Government and convince the Government that the vendors can meet and even exceed Government expectations --- to win the multi hundred millions dollar to 1 billion dollars IT projects.

----- Now compare this to Aljunied GRC projects ----- do you think this commercial group of vendors can do better than the WP Aljunied GRC?

Thus I cannot "buy in" WP's arguments that they are grossly handicapped by the IT vendor not supplying than an IT system --- and they cannot run.

The above example illustrate that a "Competent and Capable" team in the commercial world can handle a short, intensive, much bigger scale projects with ease - and can still convince the Government they can do a good job and impress them.
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Breeke Lo
You are totally confused. TC is not a PAP asset. The software is an asset bought using residents' money. PAP MPs knew they cannot like you say 'pull away' the software because it is not theirs. So they sold it to AIM, a company owned by PAP, BEFORE WP take over, AGAINST the interests of residents they once claimed to serve.
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Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - If this is the case tell WP to sue AIM and present all the facts in Court.
Public will like to see all the facts.


Anyway, did WP handicap Punggol East by pulling out its IT system - and the PAP MP cannot run?

But I still don't buy in WP's arguments that without the IT system - they can't operate as I illustrate many examples above.
It boils down to "Competency" - do you agree with me?
LikeReply1mEdited
Yi Yong Ke
Ricky Lim Well said. Good comment... logical, rational and without prejudice.
You can be an MP...
LikeReply40m
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim PAP/AIM, what they did was legal and within their powers. Nothing to sue. Note that being an as*hole is not illegal and within your powers too.
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Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim I would boil it down to ''inexperience" managing a GRC, nothing a healthy dose of accomodation and understanding can't manage. Otherwise, tgere wouldn't be a second term. Oppo voters have big hearts, don't you agree too?
LikeReply26m
Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - AIM software is $1 as goodwill (knowing that a manpower cost of writing a software far exceed that).
So if you want AIM to extend the goodwill to WP --- then WP will have to convince AIM to believe in their political movement.

WP FMSS software is $33 million.

You call this an as*hole?
I don't know whether i can agree with you --- $1 vs $33 million. ($1 goodwill to serve residents vs $33 million to fleece the residents - who is more as*hole in your own words? )

You say WP is "inexperience" in running a GRC. But Mr Low Thia Kiang also inexperience in running the Hougang SMC. Mr Chiam See Tong also inexperience in running the Potong Pasir.
Both can handle their wards very well. Now you say a whole team of WP cannot handle a GRC because of "inexperience" ---- I don't buy this idea.

I illustrate that in the commercial world, competent and capable people can win "multi-million and billion" of projects -- much larger than the Aljunied GRC of $100 million project - without experience (and the win is over a few competitiors who are incumbent running the existing systems) --- and yet after winning it -- still can run, manage and operate very well. This is a fact and not a myth.

So your excuse of "inexperience" --- don't go down well with me and i don't buy this idea.
LikeReply2mEdited

Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - Another thing, whether the Oppo voters have "big heart" or not - we have yet to see.

But residents of Aljunied GRC wants the $33 million "improper payment" back from FMSS - so that it should go back to the sinking fund of Aljunied GRC sinking fund.

This money 有血,有汗,有泪 - it is the blood, sweat, tears money of the residents of Aljunied GRC and the residents want it back.
They don't want their flat values to drop - as $33 million can boost the values of their flats.

This is the rights, interests of the residents of Aljunied GRC - and the residents want the $33 million back from overpayments to FMSS !
LikeReply1m
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim again, you are totally confused. Mr Low's takeover of Hougang was anything but smooth, what nonsense you talking?

“Mr Low also hopes that there won't be 'any sabotage' like what he encountered in 1991 when he was first elected in the Hougang single-seat ward,” the Straits Times reported.

AND, in 1991 and Chiamg See Tong's time everything is paper lah, you are totally unsound to draw parallels with the software issue we are discussing here.

And what on earth were you trying to say with the $1 firesale sale to AIM? That's a question we are still waiting for PAP to answer you know? Why sell it to own company for $1 BEFORE WP take over and caused residents to spend more money to rush out a replacement system? You hv an answer for them?
LikeReply23m
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim AND, 33m is not payment for the system lah! It's total expenses for managing AHTC from 2011 to 2015! Wgat $1 vs $33m u crapping about? Empty vessel makes si such noise. Shut up lah.
LikeReply17m
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim "and the residents want the $33 million back from overpayments to FMSS !"

Then why got second term? This saga started in 2013 r u actually aware?

And since when you are appointed as Aljunied residents spokesperson? Haha. You are damn cute.
LikeReply10m

Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - You will watch and see as the Court process are still ongoing.

You can be bias, emotional, totally unreasonable and totally irresponsible (without regard to safeguarding the public funds) - you are just skewed by political incline and not serving the well-beings and welfare of the public.

Fine with me.

Irregardless of what you say - Aljunied residents will want the $33 million - this is the outcome that the residents want to see.

$33 million is the taxpayers money - and must not be misplaced or mishandled.


This is the COLD HARD TRUTH !
LikeReply1mEdited

Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim bye bye
LikeReply2m

Dave Tan
PAP 14 TCs spent a total of more than $41 million ($24.8 million + $17 million) on the accounting software alone. And the software owner is AIM.

Compare to WP paid FMSS $33 million for a new accounting software with other maintenance job.

So should the 14 PAP TCs also take civil suit against the MPs for breaching their duty of care and skill...

That's public funds too. Its definitely very unfair to the residents of the 14 PAP TCs if the TCs didn't proceed with the civil suit to claim their loses.
LikeReply1h
Ricky Lim
This work out to $2.9 million per town council - which is a reasonable amount for a software to handle a $100 million project for 5 years and amortise to 5 years - about $585,000 per year per town council - which is equivalent to the yearly salaries pay to any staff to handle the town council accounts which is within the norm of expenses incurred.

If break the GRC town council of 4 to 5 MPs - about $100,000 per year is paid to maintain the estate per MP - which is a very cost effective software solution. ($100,000 per year is a GM salary to handle an estate of GRC town council --- which is a
 reasonable sum).

(See how I do the due diligence - even without experience running a Town Council?
I illustrate that with good faith and due diligence --- I still can safeguard the public fund and work for the well-being and welfare of the residents.
Then wonder why Aljunied GRC cannot?)

Is you feel that there any improprietary or breaking of laws by the 14 TCs, you should have report it.

Based on my calculation - it seems like the 14 TCs did use a cost effective solution to manage the 14 TCs. You can dispute my calculation with facts if you have.

You say $33 million of "improper payment" in Aljunied GRC - flag by independant auditor is ok?

But the charge of contravening Town Council Act brought by the plantiff - indicate that indeed laws have been broken.
LikeReply1mEdited

Breeke Lo
No corruption cases in TCs under WP's watch the last 27 years. Need we say more?
LikeReply40m
Lau Lan Chu
You sound like a great supporter of WP. Infact I like them if not for this case as they have the prospect of check and balance of the government. Just that they don't have the capability of managing a GRC yet.
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Ricky Lim
No corruption - yes.

Conflict of interest, Gross negligence Section 15 and 17 of Town Council Act (plus some other Sections - I notice that may also be applicable) plus Fiduciary Duties as per commercial law --- not so sure - let wait for Court's outcome.
LikeReply1mEdited
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim

Corruption - yes.
Amk tc
keppel
ICA
Scdf
etc etc

Conflict of interest - severe. Former ATC
Gov boss and GIC boss (who owes a fiduciary duty to Gov boss, gov, and citizens) sleeps on same bed
LikeReply59m
Breeke Lo
Lau Lan Chu AMK MPs got capability to manage GRC?
LikeReply36m
Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - Will you be reporting all your allegations of "corruptions" to the CPIB for follow up?

Don't just talk and no action - if you have serious grievances.

All the individual you so called "corruption" - have been reported and are currently dealt with or have been dealt with by the Court :-
Amk tc
keppel
ICA
Scdf

I suggest you report this :-
"Conflict of interest - severe. Former ATC
Gov boss and GIC boss (who owes a fiduciary duty to Gov boss, gov, and citizens) sleeps on same bed" ---- if you have problem with this.

This topic have been discussed extensively in Parliament - where the Opposition did not find any improprietary according to the Law.

If you have any evidence to the contrary - you can file a report.

Will you be filing a report?
LikeReply1mEdited

Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - Also I ask you a simple and direct question.

The Court case is now trying to recover "$33 million from FMSS that is improperly paid" so that residents in Aljunied GRC will not be worst off by putting it back into the sinking fund ---- my question is do you support this move?


Or your preference is not to support this move and let residents suffer the $33 million loss from their sinking fund.

This will determine if you are putting the residents' interests above the interest of the party or the other way round.
LikeReply1m
Weng Cheng Ye
Ricky Lim
So is the Lehman investment HOT SOFT LIE?
LikeReply41m
Ricky Lim
Weng Cheng Ye -
The loss of investment by the town council is an unfortunate loss - and residents similarly are not happy about it.

But having said so, did the town council break any law or any Town Council Act?

The Town Council Act - Section 41 Power of Investment - allow Town Council to put funds as investment - the same standard power of statutory bodies.

The town council are allowed to put their sinking fund in banks, insurance, financial institutions to earn income and grow their fund.

Did the town council exercise due diligence in the investment?

Yes because Lehman Brothers are just like Bank of America, Citibank, JP Morgan etc that are so call "too big to fail" by the US.

Unfortunately when US sub-prime crisis hit - many big banks in US face the real threat of bankruptcy - if not the US President Obama at that time do quantitative easing (similar to the effect of printing money) to prop up the banks.
Unfortunately Lehman Bros is not one of the banks that the US government will help - and Lehman Bros collapse.

Some town council that bought Lehman Bros minibond as investment to grow the funds was hit.
Yes residents are not happy about it because their funds suffer loss -- but there is no gross negligence, no conflict of interest, no breaching of fiduciary duties or breaking of any law.

So residents will urge the affected town council to be more vigilant in future investment - and try to recoup the loss by more prudent investment.

In retrospect, if Aljunied GRC town council is of similar plight - i doubt any residents will bring the WP MPs to Court.
LikeReply1m
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim know what is meant by alleged?
LikeReply15m
Ricky Lim "Will you be reporting all your allegations of "corruptions" to the CPIB for follow up?"

What on earth are you talking about? Report convicted cases? U ok or not?
LikeReply13m
Breeke Lo - I think you don't understand simple english.
I suggest you report this :-
"Conflict of interest - severe. Former ATC
Gov boss and GIC boss (who owes a fiduciary duty to Gov boss, gov, and citizens) sleeps on same bed" ---- if you have problem with this.

This topic have been discussed extensively in Parliament - where the Opposition did not find any improprietary according to the Law.

If you have any evidence to the contrary - you can file a report.
Will you be filing a report?
LikeReply2m
Breeke Lo - I am still waiting for your reply below, don't evade this question:-

Also I ask you a simple and direct question.

The Court case is now trying to recover "$33 million from FMSS that is improperly paid" so that residents in Aljunied GRC will not be worst off by putting it back into the sinking fund ---- my question is do you support this move?

Or your preference is not to support this move and let residents suffer the $33 million loss from their sinking fund.

This will determine if you are putting the residents' interests above the interest of the party or the other way round.
LikeReply1m
Breeke Lo
Ricky Lim a tip for you, the next time when you don't get an answer to your question here, it means your question was dumb and likely ignored. It doesn't mean your english is too good. Lol.

So have you checked dictionary for the word alleged? Better hurry, and then delete all those defamatory comments, might get sued you know
LikeReply23m
Ricky Lim
Breeke Lo - I think i have finished with you because very evidently, you are putting your party above resident interest. I will not respond to you anymore.
All readers in the forum will size it up and make informed decision when the time comes.
The debate and argument is not only for you - but the larger audience at large which has a wider implication.

As for whether you get sued or i will get sued - will depend on what you write here.
I have nothing to fear as I have not write anything defamatory.

You have make a few serious allegation here.
LikeReply1m

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