Chua Chu Kang MP opts out of PAP’s CEC
SINGAPORE — Chua Chu Kang GRC Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad will not join the People’s Action Party’s (PAP) highest decision-making body as his current employer is the party’s auditor.
Instead, Tampines GRC MP Baey Yam Keng will be co-opted into the 18-member Central Executive Committee (CEC), the party’s organising secretary Chan Chun Sing said yesterday.
Mr Zaqy, who joined Ernst & Young last year and is now its ASEAN Accounts and Business Development director, was co-opted into the CEC on Jan 5. However, he informed the committee that he was unable to proceed with the appointment owning to “regulatory compliance reasons”.
“The CEC has accepted Mr Zaqy’s request not to proceed with his appointment to the CEC,” said Mr Chan in a statement.
“The CEC looks forward to Mr Zaqy Mohamad’s continued contributions to the party and to Singapore.”
Mr Zaqy told TODAY that he was not aware that his current employer is the PAP’s current auditor.
“For an audit firm, we take compliance seriously and are sensitive to independence.
“As soon as I was informed by the firm that Ernst & Young was the auditor for the PAP, I alerted the CEC,” he said.
When contacted, Mr Max Loh, ASEAN and Singapore managing director of Ernst & Young, said: “Our partners and staff should not serve as a director on the board ... of any audit client to ensure that we adhere to the strictest standards of independence.”
Mr Zaqy said when it comes to respecting Singapore’s regulations and law, “we have to remain above board at all times”.
Although he is unable to join the CEC, Mr Zaqy said: “I will continue to serve the people as best as I can.”
Mr Baey told TODAY that his CEC appointment would give him “an opportunity to contribute in another way”.
“It also gives me a chance to share my views and offer my perspective on party matters.”
