Peanuts? My arse

I wonder, what does NKF's ex-Patron Mrs Goh Chok Tong have to say about the whole saga now, after the KPMG audit was released? Does she think Durai's salary is still peanuts? How can she justify their numerous extravagances? What does she think of the fact that by audit firm KPMG's estimate, only about 10% of whatever was raised went to patients? Peanuts too, I hope she has the sense to see. But judging by her infuriating attitude when the news first broke big time, which seemed to suggest she has absolutely no idea that most of the people donating to NKF will never ever see $600,000 even in 20 years, she probably will not get it.

They are a whole bunch of criminals, running a charity like a family business and doling out money on themselves however they liked. And the following must be among the most despicable things they have to say. When defending the policy of having more salary increments and perks for fund-raising staff compared to clinical staff, apparently former NKF board member Loo Say San told KPMG that the discrepancy was because clinical staff's work was more routine in nature.

Fuck off, you douche bag, more perks for fund-raisers is good and fair I suppose, especially if you pay your fund-raisers measly amounts to begin with and considering that monetary reserves are important to any charity. But fucking eight increments in a year is fucking way too much okay? Plus the increments are backdated. Remember too that you claim to be working for the patients, to provide them the best care and services? Well, your clinical staff are the ones who are facing patients day in, day out yah? Giving them the best care and service that you only know how to talk about with your witless mouth.

I can't believe the fucking criminals got away with so much; Matilda Chua, Ong Su Ying, TT Durai and all the others. Yen's right; they should all be thrown into jail and be raped by animals or something. How can they live with themselves knowing that they've cheated and abused the public's trust and support? And that in doing so, they've effectively thrown all the good work and name that NKF has built up and achieved over the years, making it an uphill task now to raise funds and win everyone's support again? How is it that Ministers go after politicians who supposedly defame them so vehemently, tracking down every little bits and pieces of evidence and yet, with all their resources they are unable to verify and act on so-called annonymous tip-offs about NKF's wrongdoings? It's so disappointing; the Government had better own up to their own lack of efficacy as well as any cover-ups.

It just says an awful lot when even NKF staff are appalled to learn of the many questionable practices turned up by the audit. While everyone's stoning the NKF and its old leadership, have we stopped to think about the betrayal that the staff must have felt on learning the results of the investigation? And yet, we must also remember even in the midst of our collective outrage and anger that the NKF has been imbued with a new direction and a new leadership. I don't believe that people should be condemned for wanting to cancel their donations. After all, for those who already don't earn much and yet donate to charity, why should they continue to donate to an entity that has played fast and loose with their money? But, without the donations, how else can the charity do the work that has become so important to the nation? It's a messy state of affairs.

One thing I noted idly in passing, were there other reasons for the choice of KPMG to conduct the investigations, other than the fact that it had a number of big healthcare accounts? PWC was obviously out, since they were NKF's auditors. Not sure about Deloitte. But am speculating that it would not have been E&Y since NKF's new head Gerard Ee has ties to E&Y. And when lousy corporate governance is the focus of the investigation, it is probably wise to avoid any suspicious business ties.

All I can say now is, all the best to the new NKF. You guys have been left in the lurch with a thankless job, but I'm sure that one day when the outrage has died down, people will come to thank you for all the great work that you have done.