SINGAPORE : Some Singaporeans were surprised by news that the
National Kidney Foundation had requested the assistance of the
Commercial Affairs Department to investigate "certain matters of
grave concern" - while others said it was all a matter of
time.
But the CAD's probe has got many talking about the NKF once
again.
Singaporeans are wondering what CAD officers could be looking into
at the NKF.
While many hope the investigations will bring about greater
transparency at such a big charity organisation, others say
donations may once again be affected.
One person commented on it affecting public confidence, "...I mean
you're supposed to be a charity organisation but yet you have
investigators coming in to check you; that's of serious
concern."
Another however noted, "It does not mean that CAD goes in and it's
immediately a major problem. It's just to rectify and to make sure
that the implementation and policies are adhered to."
A third said, "It's a question of the public being surprised once
and now it's a second time. So it's something that's really
unexpected."
"Let's be very fair. With the new management on, we should give
them the benefit of the doubt. In fact, I've reinstated my
donations," noted one person.
"With this, I guess donors will stop donating. I just feel very
sorry for the people, the patients at NKF, they're going to suffer
the most. We'll see how it goes," said another.
But one charity hopes the CAD's involvement will not affect
donations to welfare organisations.
Lee Kim Siang, Chairman, Thye Hua Kwan Moral Society, said, "It's
an optimistic kind of thing, it's a positive thing. We should not
look at it from a negative or pessimistic point.
"It isn't that way. After all charities have to go on. It has to go
on. Out there a lot of people require help. We must continue to
help but we do it better.
"How can it be wrong when we're discovering things that ought to
have been discovered. When we're looking at things that were
already there. And we're now trying to find out the extent of these
things and then put it back. And put it back means the future will
be better. Everybody will be more confident, everybody will know
what should be done, what shouldn't be done. And the whole charity
scene will be that much better."
The Society has been in existence for some 26 years - offering more
than 50 charity programmes and services, including running the Ang
Mo Kio Hospital. - CNA/ms
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