No question AHPETC’s finances have improved over past 2 years: Png
‘I think we’d like to move on from the AHPETC issue. I think voters are getting tired of this,’ said AHPETC vice-chairman Png Eng Huat (left, standing), who is also the WP’s incumbent in Hougang. Photo: Raj Nadarajan
SINGAPORE – Possibly addressing the issue of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) for the last time, AHPETC vice-chairman Png Eng Huat stressed yesterday that its latest financial report supersedes the Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) report on its finances.
Although the town council’s latest audited accounts — filed on Monday — remain qualified, its financial position has improved over the past two years, and there is no argument there, Mr Png said in reply to media questions at a party walkabout.
Pointing out that the AGO report concerned the town council’s Financial Year (FY) 2012/13 and that AHPETC has since submitted two more sets of accounts, Mr Png said: “Anyone can just take these three financial reports, compare and see whether (there are) improvements.
“You can find the numbers there, the auditors’ opinion and so on.”
The Ministry of National Development (MND) has noted that AHPETC went from an annual operating surplus of S$1.1 million in FY 2011 to a deficit of S$1.53 million in FY 2012 and a deficit of S$2.01 million in FY 2013.
In its latest report, however, the Workers’ Party said the town council had an annual surplus of S$1.7 million if government grants were taken into account.
Mr Png, who is the Workers’ Party’s incumbent in Hougang, also said yesterday that there were “a lot of problems” with the interpretation of dates as to whether Hougang Town Council had a deficit when it merged with Aljunied Town Council.
The People’s Action Party has said that there was a deficit as of March 31, 2011. But Mr Png highlighted yesterday that the two town councils merged on May 26 that year and questioned if there was a deficit in the intervening period.
Asked about Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong’s comments that town councils are a training ground for political parties to show that they can run an estate and, by extension, the Government, Mr Png said parties should then be given “more liberty” to run their town.
For example, the Government should not have to impose rules and regulations on why a party cannot allow trade fairs at certain places.
AHPETC was taken to court over a Chinese New Year fair held in Hougang Central in January last year. It was found guilty of operating a trade fair without a permit and was fined S$800.
Returning to the town council’s latest accounts, Mr Png said auditors picked out only two items about the sinking funds that were deemed “qualified”. For instance, the town council could not transfer money to the sinking fund without the grants that the MND is withholding.
Operation-wise, this was not an issue, Mr Png said, adding: “I think we’d like to move on from the AHPETC issue. I think voters are getting tired of this.”
