RIDOUTGATE AND THE SLA SPOKESPERSON'S NIGHTMARE - YOU'RE FIRED

Someone from SLA provided certain information regarding the palatial government-owned bungalows at Ridout Road rented out to 2 ministers. Not exactly a whistleblower, but uncoordinated dissemination of information may get the government into a jam as it tries to spin a politically correct account of the affair. If there is one thing the bureaucracy will profit from this nightmare, it is to never ever allow any staff member to make public statements unless authorized. Pray for this staffer for the odds weigh heavily against him or her as the flashing exit sign beckons. There have been precedents which did not work out well for those who step on wrong toes in the corridors of power.

In 1996 during the throes of the Nassim Jade affair, Koh Beng Seng, then a deputy managing director at MAS, suddenly threw himself into the melee and announced the central bank will investigate the matter. I was piqued at the time for 2 reasons. Firstly Koh was seen as a mild and meek civil servant. It was absolutely against character to investigate a matter involving the Second Family. Secondly, if at all, the investigation ought to be conducted by CAD (Commercial Affairs Dept) since the developer of Nassim Jade was public-listed Hotel Properties Ltd. Decades later I read somewhere that it was Dy PM Goh Chok Tong who initiated the MAS move and the job landed on Koh. GCT made a statement he didn't understand why people want so many homes. He was happy to stay in just one. That seemed like a very clumsy attack on his colleagues, at a time when Goh was viewed as a seat warmer and a gangling uncomfortable politician. It is strange for Goh to publicly say what he said, and to quietly initiate a MAS inquiry. It does not add up.

Read all about it ; "Nassim Jade and all the wrong questions". For 2 decades, no one asked the questions that beg to be asked

Lee Kuan Yew publicly welcomed Koh's announcement and alluded to a clean government when a central bank inserts itself to investigate without fear or favour. I had been an observer of PAP ever since I became politically conscious in my early twenties. My younger brother and I, 4 years apart, spend hours chatting many topics under the sun, often on governmental issues. We still do today over my favourite cuppa teh tarek We have been right second-guessing the moves of LKY on several occasions. When Koh made that announcement, we both concluded it is finished for him. Lo and behold, 2 years later in 1998, Koh suddenly exit MAS. The poor fella had to take on a job in Bangkok where he failed to shine. He has since returned to circulation and holds cushy positions in establishment OCBC stable. Well rehabilitated by now.

In the 1976 general election, opposition leader JBJ said this in a rally speech:

"Mr Lee Kuan Yew has managed his fortune very well. He is the Prime Minister of Singapore. His wife is the senior partner of Lee & Lee and his brother is the director of several companies, including Tat Lee Bank in Market Street; the bank which was given a permit with alacrity, [a] banking permit licence, when other banks were having difficulties getting their licence."

LKY sued for defamation. The Wall Street Journal, a respected paper back then unlike today, wrote that “… government leaders are seeking to turn a simple statement of fact into a case for defamation.” Indeed there was nothing in JBJ quote that was not fact.

Hands down, LKY won in 1979. A most interesting thing happened in the trial missed by everybody, including all media both local and international.

In the trial, defendant brought out the case of Tat Lee Bank’s application for banking licence in 1970 which was not approved. LKY’s brother, Dennis Lee Kim Yew, was brought into the board. The following year, the bank reapplied. This time, it was approved. Michael Wong -Pakshiong, the very well respected Managing Director of MAS at the time, gave evidence. He made it clear Dennis Lee’s seat in the board of the bank did not influence the decision of MAS. The date of the second application had been contentious and wildly debated in coffeeshops. When asked in court, Wong said the second letter was dated after Dennis Lee joined the board. I remember almost choking on my coffee when I read that in the papers. Michael Wong is finished, that was my immediate thought.

Before 2 years were over, Wong exited MAS. It was a ruthless parting of ways. Chairman Goh Keng Swee, Dy Prime Minister at the time, had to give the international financial market a good reason. He claimed Wong had totally mismanaged on personnel and organisation. MAS was thought to be way over in headcount. The local market understood MAS was in the midst of re-organising in preparation for the merger with The Currency Board, a fact Goh Keng Swee knew only too well as that was his very own baby. Goh began slashing headcount, first to go, the managing director.

Knowing how power works, when a dy managing director and a managing director of MAS had no chance at all, is there any sliver of hope for that spokesperson from SLA?

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RIDOUTGATE - WHERE 2 MINISTERS OCCUPY 1% OF THE LAND

No matter how one looks at it, something does not look quite right when 2 ministers live on 2 plots approximating 1% of our tiny land mass. Sorry for the clickbait title. I got my math wrong by a couple of decimal places. Nevertheless, the size of the 2 plots work out to almost 5 soccer fields. Palatial by any standards, obscene in land scarce Singapore.    

Head down to Polish blogger's FB and you see how he and his horde of PAP supporters and fake accounts thrash those who dare to raise any question. Since the government has not released any official narrative, these folks have nothing to regurgitate. So they resort to the only offensive they are masters at - ad hominems, lots of it. All who questions are green with envy and making insinuations of wrongdoing tantamount to defamation. These pro-establishment folks have no respect for the idea of conflict of interest that this episode screams out loud.

Yet many who voiced out never stressed on affordability. Kenneth Jeyaretnam, who broke the story, in fact magnanimously gave it a pass and praised the pair for astute financial management skills that allowed them the capability to rent the place. The latest contribution came from my good NS buddy Gerard Ong who talked of the need for decorum by ministers. That means humble lifestyle choices, because as public figures, all eyes are on them, as Gerard says. Say no to extravagant abode fit for Rajahs (thanks to Bertha Henson for reminding us the use of the word. By the way, did you know the last White Raj passed away not that long ago in 1946?).

"Oh what a tangled web we weave
When first we practice to deceive"

If you think the quote came from Shakespeare, you got it wrong. It's a common mistake. It came from Sir Walter Scott in his poem Marmion: A Tale of Flodden Field. Shakespeare popularised it. This quote suggests when one lies, one initiates a domino effect of more lies until eventually getting caught out. When a mistake is made, it is always better to tell the truth. But don't Singaporeans know, PAP never makes mistakes.

This is a PR nightmare for the PAP. They need to circle the wagon and do damage control. That's why the best government in the world requires a 2 month wait to report to its citizens. But here's the problem. The SLA has already made public 4 anchor points of the spider's web. (a) Minister Shan had spoken to a senior minister of his intent to rent, (b) they bided above guided price that ministers were not privy to, (c) Shan bided via an agent, (d) the 2 bungalows were unoccupied for a few years.

Already, there are holes in the narrative:

(a) Who was the senior minister Shan spoke to? There is only one minister that the tough talking Shan bows to. What transpired? Was the property ceded like it was the king's to give away? What does SLA mean when they offered this insight? That all procedural protocols are off as the king has spoken?

(b) As boss of SLA, Shan is not privy to guided prices? I think Abraham Lincoln said something about you can fool some of the people all the time (those in Critical Spectator's FB) all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all the time.

(c) Why use an agent? In the world of monkey business we call this 'layering'. It's an effort to conceal and distance oneself from association. Who is the agent? Is this a Shan corporate interest that claims tax cover for the rent? This is criminal malfeasance. Do note that here I’m only guessing, but we certainly need clarification is the agent the named tenant.

(d) That the bungalows were unoccupied has absolutely no relevance to the issue. This is a trick that has one and sundry in Critical Spectator’s FB all shilling in support. Don't’ be fooled by this sort of distraction.

But if KJ has his intel correct that a foreign fund manager occupied one of the bungalows who was rendered unable to extend the tenancy, it's a bigger headache for which SLA needs more than a Panadol to extricate itself. Was there bid rigging? Was there specification tailoring to favor one party? This is a common trick in monkeying with a tender process. I learnt much about this in my years in Philippines. Neighbours talk. Let’s hope no neighbours suicide themselves – sorry, it’s just a joke I can’t resist.

There was massive overhaul of the 2 bungalows. Whether the government or ministers paid for it in of itself does not suggest anything is amiss. There is a change in value to both parties which is reflected in the rent. Where owners foot the bill, rent goes up. Where tenants foot, rent is reduced. I recall decades ago, I was working in a regional head office of an international bank. My regional CEO rented a big bungalow owned by one of the bank's clients. We spent about $200,000 to retrofit the property. That was a huge sum in those days. I was not privy to the arrangement so I assumed the rent was pegged lower as a trade-off. Sometimes owner-tenant makes this kind of arrangement for tax reasons.

However, in the case of our 2 dear ministers, we do now have a bigger issue. The massive redevelopment points to the inconvenient fact that the tenancy was negotiated and not tendered. That’s pretty obvious. And that means we need to open up the books to see where the benefits and costs flow. For me, this is the eye of the hurricane I want to see.

Read all about it ; "Nassim Jade and all the wrong questions". For 2 decades, no one asked the questions that beg to be asked

I do hope opposition MPs equip themselves with meaningful queries in the coming parliamentary sessions to satisfy WE THE PEOPLE. Please do not ask what flavour of ice cream the ministers had for dessert.

In exasperation of the depth of distrust of officialdom we have fallen, I penned this styless poem to close.

BALLAD OF RIDOUTGATE

OWNSELF check ownself on Ridoutgate,
THEY truly are masters of their own fate.

IN parliament come July what will the peasants face?
BEHOLD another spectacle reminiscent of Nassim Jade.

Critical Spectator and his horde on high horses tramp,
QUESTION not, ye knaves and fools of the opposition camp.

THEIR'S it is to obediently sans examined minds accept White trespass,
THUS condemns History to repeat itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.

BUT for the pursuit of truth the beloved JBJ fought so doggedly,
WE will know not the HDB conveyancing monopolised by Lee & Lee.

AS father so the son, KJ he shines some light on verdant land,
TO reveal developments certainly never observed in official Master Plan.

QUESTION, Question, Question all ye Singa sheep you must,
WHENEVER you see elected servants embroiled in acts that disgust.

NO doubt he who plants the corns deserves to enjoy his harvest,
NAY it is not the size of the Ministers’ vaults even if they are the largest.

OUR Little Red Dot sits on an isle so small Robinson Crusoe would have despaired,
YET two ministers reign supreme on almost 1% of the land, the surveyor declared.

HUMILITY, honesty, hardworker bees, the best of the best, in Whites we trust,
RIDOUTGATE will be hyped, the major lift the minor fall and nothing but wind gust.

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