I can smell the arrogance from here, Dr Teo

The arrogance can be gobsmacking some times, but when it comes from the same people who lost S$16 million of taxpayers money investing in risky funds, paid their managers whopping 8-month bonuses in the midst of a recession, then turned around and said "I don't know", and that we should be thankful they used our tax dollars to play the market,  the grand show of arrogance is further augmented by a level of stupidity and incompetence that makes me wonder why these people are in elected office.

Dr Teo Ho Pin, coordinating chairman of the 14 PAP-run councils, said on Thursday that several face difficulties getting residents to pay the monthly service and conservancy (S&C) charges promptly.

At its worst, some 8 per cent to 9 per cent of households in HDB estates managed by these councils have payments outstanding for three months or more, he told The Straits Times.

That could translate to a poorer grade for one of the four categories in which councils are to be assessed in the first Town Council Management Report, to be released by June next year.

It's not an issue when they lose S$16 million that is not their own, and still unaccounted for. It's not an issue when they pay senior managers 8-month bonuses in a recession when the country was haemorrhaging jobs. But it is an issue when people don't pay their S&C charges because it will reflect badly on a scorecard that has nothing to do with how happy, or unhappy, they are with the town councils they pay to run their estates.

And here's some more of that jaw-dropping arrogance:

But there is also a sizeable group which can afford to pay, but does not, MPs said. Said Aljunied Town Council chairman Cynthia Phua: 'Some own cars and send children overseas to study, but tell us: 'We don't have money to pay you.'

'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.' About 3 per cent of the 50,000 households under her council are in arrears of three months or more.

They are willing to sue to get the S&C money. And how would they pay for it? The answer should be obvious. That's how far they are willing to go in order to recover about $40 per household per month, just so their report card will look good to their bosses.

Here's some news for you Dr Teo. You already look bad, and this just makes your stench worse. At this point it does not matter how well your town council scores on this report, because the people have already given you a grade: a big, fat "F" for fail, feeble, and fatuous.

Comments

[kevin]

we should greet and address these people by their proper title, CIVIL SERVANT. not Mr or Sir. lest they forget.