Tuesday, July 19, 2005

The whole issue

I believe many bloggers have talked about this and even lead to some fame and publicity for such bloggers. I do not wish to be 'famous' or perhaps just being talked about. However, if it helps in getting some good money, guess I will not mind it! hahaha

NKF has reserves of SGD$220 million which at a 3.5% interest rate generates enough money for one year operating expenses. So is there still any need to donate to NKF? My feelings is that it is self sufficient for a long time and it is time Singaporeans look at other charities and help them along.

The issue of salary and transparency keep coming up. It is perfectly normal to peg a CEO's salary to performance of the organisation. For NKF, this performance seems to be pegged to how much donations it gathered. This is definitely a wrong peg. A possible peg is how many patients they manage to save, continue their lives till a kidney transplant is possible, patients and their familes' lives improved under their schemes etc. It may be hard to qualify and quantify but I feel it is a realistic peg to use or something along the line. After all, NKF is a voluntery welfare organisation (VWO).

Sad to say, the higher-ups in Singapore are losing touch with the man in the street. How many are them can understand that we do believe in paying a person a salary what he deserves, a 12 months bonus, in lean years, is way too much. How many people do not have a 13th month bonus, how many people do not earn enough money have saved and scrimped and decided to donate to charity and for it to go to a salary. The appeal during lean years was that the patients may lose jobs, donations drying up but donations still keep pouring in, to fill up a few's pockets and the patients still lacking funds. It is of no wonder that people rather press the money straight to a patient as they know the money will be well-utilised to help a patient to survive thru the years.

With any VWO, transparency is important as what they spend is not of theirs but the public. If the money is invested to generate more funds, the generated funds still belongs to the public and fully accountable. Afterall, the capital is still from the public's donations.

Until everything is sorted out, there are still lots of explanations and changes to be done.

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Accountability

The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) is a charity organisation which sought to help subsidy ppor kidney patients who otherwise will not have money to pay for dialysis and medicine.

Initially it was a small charity that has done good and become a big, powerful effective charity. However scandals and controversies started to rock the boat.

Accountability is nil for it. As a charity, the funds, salaries are paid by the public. As the CEO Durai said in court, he liken himself to the CEOs of big listed companies, ministers of the government. Even CEOs and minsiters have to publish their salaries for accountability. NKF is funded by public money and the Government too. If ministers need to publish their salaries, why is the NKF's CEO's salary is a private issue.

NKF sought to sue Singapore Publishing House (SPH) for slander over an article and was forced to show transparency during court proceedings. The CEO, as the first defendent, was forced to reveal his salary. He earns SGD$25,000 and a total of 34 months of bonus over the past 3 years (10,12,12), earning a grand total of SGD$1.75 million for 3 years. This excludes other perks and entitlements.

NKF produces an average of 2 charity shows each year which are heavily subsidied by sponsors etc. Charity proceeds for each show averages SGD$5 million. Based on 2 shows per year, proceeds from charity shows stands at SGD$10 million, of which SGD$0.6 million goes to the CEO. This is a whooping 6% of proceeds. 6% is a small figure relatively but translated to actual figure. This is way too much.

All along, I do not support NKF, esp after the scandals start to break out and the manner of getting donations from the public.

After this whole issue, will you still support NKF? I rather you support other causes until it has finished its SGD$189 million reserve. Money for thought indeed!

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

Interesting Movies I have watched..

This is not a list of movies i like most or whatever. Rather more of some of the more interesting movies i watched and the feelings I felt, the story being told or the implications.

Please refrain from reading this post as it will contain some spoilers and may spoil your taste for the show.

Basically I watched the DVDs of these movies which I rented online from here. Good way to catch up on a lot of shows! Available for Singapore only!

Saw
A man when desperate will do anything, esp if the stakes involved are his family. It also shows how much a perverted mind can be and how elaborate the game can be setup.

The Green Mile
A moving story where a gentle giant was thought to have raped and murdered 2 children and was sentenced to death. He was brought to the prison where he touched the wardens and prisoners alike. It is real sad to see him die for something he has not done.

The Village
A farce. The whole village and traditions are all a farce. Opting to choose a simple life, away from the perils of urban life, this peaceful village was broken when an intellectually-disabled man accidentally mortally wounded another man. The blind lover sought to find medicine and probably due to her disability, she was given permission to be out to the modern world and collects some medicine to save her lover.