# MND’s 5 June response to media queries on AHPETC’s response to Minister Lawrence Wong’s op-ed

- **Source:** Ministry of National Development
- **Published:** 2015-06-05T14:10:00.000Z
- **Author:** Ministry of National Development
- **Original:** https://www.mnd.gov.sg/newsroom/press-releases/view/mnd-s-5-june-response-to-media-queries-on-ahpetc-s-response-to-minister-lawrence-wong-s-op-ed-1
- **Topics:** Market Updates

## Featured rationale

The findings signal significant governance concerns that could affect confidence in town-council financial management and oversight of funds supporting residential estate services.

## AI summary

MND cited High Court concerns over AHPETC’s accounts, including the validity and propriety of $25.9 million in payments to related parties.

## Original article

In response to media queries, MND notes that contrary to what AHPETC stated, the concerns raised by Minister Lawrence Wong in his Op-ed are not his own, but directly attributable to findings and observations made by the High Court Judge of AHPETC and its financial mismanagement (see Annex for summary of findings and observations in judgement).

The High Court Judge said there were “grave and serious questions” regarding the state of AHPETC’s accounts and the validity and propriety of payments previously made by AHPETC to related parties (amounting to $25.9 million), and that “there have also been numerous breaches of the provisions” of the Town Councils Act and Town Councils Financial Rules. The Court added that the TC’s conduct was the “height of financial irresponsibility”. AHPETC had filed affidavits before the High Court, and had every opportunity to address these points before the Court made its findings. AHPETC should consider the Court’s findings seriously, instead of dismissing them cavalierly.

On 13 February 2015, the Workers’ Party (WP) Members of Parliament (MPs) voted in support of the motion that expressed grave concern over the AGO’s report on AHPETC, and unanimously called on all Town Councils to uphold high standards of accounting, reporting and corporate governance. During the debate, they had also praised the AGO report for being “thorough [and] fair”. However, AHPETC now seems to imply that the AGO report, like the High Court’s judgement, does not amount to much.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok_cli

### 国家发展部6月5日就阿裕尼—后港—榜鹅东市镇理事会回应黄循财部长专栏一文的媒体询问所作答复

针对媒体询问，国家发展部指出，与阿裕尼—后港—榜鹅东市镇理事会（AHPETC）所述相反，黄循财部长在其专栏文章中提出的关切并非其个人意见，而是直接源自高等法院法官就AHPETC及其财务管理所作的裁定与观察（见附件中对判决书裁定与观察的摘要）。

高等法院法官表示，就AHPETC账目状况，以及AHPETC此前向关联方支付款项（总额达2,590万新元）的有效性与正当性，存在“严重而重大的问题”，并称“亦存在多处违反”《市镇理事会法令》和《市镇理事会财务规则》条文的情况。法院补充称，该市镇理事会的行为是“财务不负责任的极致”。AHPETC已在高等法院提交宣誓书，并在法院作出裁定前有充分机会就这些要点作出回应。AHPETC应认真对待法院的裁定，而不是轻率地予以否定。

2015年2月13日，工人党（WP）国会议员投票支持一项动议，对审计总长公署（AGO）关于AHPETC的报告表达严重关切，并一致吁请所有市镇理事会维护高水平的会计、报告和公司治理标准。辩论期间，他们亦称赞AGO报告“全面［且］公正”。然而，AHPETC如今似乎暗示，AGO报告与高等法院判决一样，并无多大分量。