• About Us
    • Fact Checking Policy
    • Ownership & funding information
    • Volunteer
  • Subscribe
  • Letter submission
    • Submissions Policy
  • Contact Us
The Online Citizen Asia
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Letters
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Singapore
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Politics
    • Civil Society
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
No Result
View All Result
The Online Citizen Asia
No Result
View All Result

Chairman of local charity, allegedly influenced staff to take research project for own financial gains

by Terry Xu
22/02/2016
in Current Affairs
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

Image from Shutterstock

This is a developing story which will be updated as more information come in. 
A whistle-blower has alleged that Ms Isabella Loh, Chairman of the Singapore Environment Council (SEC), a local charity organisation used her position to influence the charity in taking part in a research project which she gains financially without any declaration of conflict of interest.
This allegation was sent to the Commissioner of Charities on 16 February 2016 with The Online Citizen (TOC) copied in the email.
Ms Loh has held the position since 2008 with her husband, George Huang being the chairman of the Advisory Committee of the SEC.
As proof of her allegations, the whistle-blower attached a confidential document detailing a research project proposed by Dearman Engines. The content of the documents will not be disclosed due trade secrets, but more importantly, is shows the proposed working committee structure for the project.
workingcommittee
In the proposed committee, Ms Loh is named the Chairman of the research project with SEC labelled as one of the committee members along with other government ministries and universities.
Ms Loh’s introduction in the proposal writes, “With her extensive experience and contacts, she will be leading the whole study, ensuring that all deliverables are completed.”
The whistle-blower wrote, “She (Ms Loh) has informed staff of Singapore Environment Council that she wants to have SEC involved in this research project.” and said that the staff in SEC are afraid to act upon the issue or to report the matter.
How much does Ms Loh get from her position of chairman?

costofanalysis
breakdown of budget
The stipulated budget found at the end of the proposal document states that the chairman fees for the working committee is $60,000. It is, however, uncertain how much of the $60,000, would the chairman of this research project receive for her work rendered.
The whistle-blower asked in her mail to the Commissioner of Charity, “How can a chairman of a charity use a charity in which she gains financially?”
The charity receives funding from various sources, grants, sponsorships and programme; a large part of its funding comes from National Environment Agency’s 3P Partnership Fund and its joint partnership with Public Utilities Board’s water programme. In 2014, the total funding it received is near to 2.9 million dollars.

According to a trusted source, the SEC constitution (not publicly accessible online) states that the chairman and members of the SEC board cannot be paid any fees in return for their services.
Apart from having a conflict of interest in her two appointments, she is also publicly known as an advisor and an investor of Dearman Engines, the company that is in charge of developing the research project.
TOC has sent a clarification email to Ms Loh on 18 February but no reply was given yet. According to a reliable source, Ms Loh was upset over the email and “jumping” over the enquiry in office.
Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District in Singapore
Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District in Singapore
On 20 February, the Charity Commission replied the whistleblower, “Thank you for your email feedback regarding the Singapore Environment Council’s Chairman, Ms Isabella Loh.  We have noted the contents of your email and are currently looking into the matter.” However, the Charity Commission choose not to reply to TOC’s enquiry sent on the 18 February.
TOC has not received any reply MP of Bukit Panjang SMC and Mayor of North-West District, Teo Ho Pin about the allegations. Mr Teo is also the vice-chairman of SEC.
We will update accordingly on this post when they reply.

For just US$7.50 a month, sign up as a subscriber on The Online Citizen Asia (and enjoy ads-free experience on our site) to support our mission to transform TOC into an alternative mainstream press.

Related Posts

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID
Current Affairs

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

03/02/2023
Minister Tan See Leng only reveals 500 intra-corporate transferees from India for last year – a Covid year
Opinion

Increasing number of working Permanent Residents in Singapore but with a stable PR population

03/02/2023
Opinion

A multi-party parliament is the only way to make sure that Singapore continues to not condone or tolerate corruption

03/02/2023
Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor
Malaysia

Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

03/02/2023
Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI
Indonesia

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023
Commentaries

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Subscribe
Connect withD
Login
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
Notify of
Connect withD
I allow to create an account
When you login first time using a Social Login button, we collect your account public profile information shared by Social Login provider, based on your privacy settings. We also get your email address to automatically create an account for you in our website. Once your account is created, you'll be logged-in to this account.
DisagreeAgree
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest posts

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

Adani’s brother runs SG company and registers as director with local ID

03/02/2023
Minister Tan See Leng only reveals 500 intra-corporate transferees from India for last year – a Covid year

Increasing number of working Permanent Residents in Singapore but with a stable PR population

03/02/2023

A multi-party parliament is the only way to make sure that Singapore continues to not condone or tolerate corruption

03/02/2023
Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

Anwar criticised over appointing own daughter as his senior advisor

03/02/2023
Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

Level of unemployment in Indonesia shows failure in the Job Creation Law, says KSPI

02/02/2023

The Keppel bribery scandal tests Singapore’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption

02/02/2023
Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

Singapore Law Watch removes commentary on CPIB’s decision to not prosecute former Keppel executives

02/02/2023
US businesses ‘fear internet curbs in Hong Kong’

Hong Kong offers free flights after COVID isolation

02/02/2023

Trending posts

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

Former Singaporean shares change of life in Australia with annual pay of S$80,000 as a plumber

by Yee Loon
30/01/2023
25

...

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

Earning only S$400 a month, delivery-rider turned hawker threw in the towel after two years of running a rojak stall

by Yee Loon
26/01/2023
24

...

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

They have done a fine job of confusing us about the jobs situation

by Augustine Low
01/02/2023
36

...

Two Indian nationals paid about S$330 and S$730 respectively for forged certificates submitted in their S-Pass application

MOM found issuing EPs meant for foreign PMETs to PRC waitress and general worker

by Correspondent
26/01/2023
41

...

Singapore warns slower economic growth in 2023

Less than 1 in 10 jobs created in first three quarters of 2022 went to Singaporeans?

by Leong Szehian
28/01/2023
69

...

Excessively charging for an essential need, and calling it affordable because people still can pay for it?

by Terry Xu
31/01/2023
39

...

February 2016
M T W T F S S
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
29  
« Jan   Mar »

The Online Citizen is a regional online publication based in Taiwan and formerly Singapore’s longest-running independent online media platform.

Navigation

  • Editorial
  • Commentaries
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Community

Support

  • Contact Us
  • Letter submission
  • Membership subscription

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Fact Checking Policy
  • Privacy Policy

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

No Result
View All Result
  • Opinion
    • Editorial
    • Commentaries
    • Comments
  • Current Affairs
    • Malaysia
    • Indonesia
    • China
    • ASEAN
    • Asia
    • International
  • Finance
    • Economics
    • Labour
    • Property
    • Business
  • Community
    • Civil Society
    • Arts & Culture
    • Consumer Watch
    • NGO
  • Politics
    • Parliament
    • Transport
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
  • Law & Order
    • Legislation
    • Court Cases
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
  • Subscribers login

© 2022 - 2023 The Online Citizen Asia

wpDiscuz