SINGAPORE: The Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) has appointed an external accounting firm to assist in cleaning up its earlier accounts, the Town Council’s chairman Sylvia Lim announced on its website on Saturday (May 2).
The accounting firm will also "give advice on strengthening its internal controls and processes in financial management, and on internal audit matters", it added.
AHPETC also said it is "working hard" on completing its annual audits, "with a view to filing our audited FY 2013/14 accounts by 30 June 2015 and FY 2014/15 accounts by 31 August 2015".
Below is the statement in full:
INTERIM UPDATE ON FOLLOW-UPS ON AGO REPORT
"I hope this message finds you well.
"You would have noted media reports and Parliamentary debates concerning the Auditor-General’s Office’s (AGO) Report on its audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) released in February 2015. The AGO had found some lapses and weaknesses that needed to be addressed.
"You will soon be receiving a letter from us giving you details of some key points from the AGO Report and Parliamentary debate, and clarifying some misconceptions that have been circulated. Due to the importance of the subject, we have taken some time to prepare this letter.
"Meanwhile, in this short interim note, I wish to inform you of two major tasks that AHPETC has since been following up on. First, on 3 March 2015, we appointed an external accounting firm to assist AHPETC in cleaning up its earlier accounts and also to give advice on strengthening its internal controls and processes in financial management, and on internal audit matters. Secondly, we are working hard on completing our annual audits, with a view to filing our audited FY 2013/14 accounts by 30 June 2015 and FY 2014/15 accounts by 31 August 2015. These tasks are critical to complete.
"The past months have been challenging, but AHPETC remains undaunted.
"At the heart of it all, AHPETC’s Members of Parliament from the Workers’ Party are mindful of our duty to be accountable to you, the residents who have put us in office to serve. You have supported us, and we will do our best despite the challenges we face. Thank you for your concern and understanding."
Sylvia Lim
Chairman
Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council
I seriously doubt that they can come up with any kind of report within the stated time frame they promise.
ReplyDeleteLet's give them a couple of months and see what other lies they come out with