$60,000 loan from Ren Ci to PAP MP Ong Seh Hong sparked furore in cyberspace

$60,000 loan from Ren Ci to PAP MP Ong Seh Hong sparked furore in cyberspace

The Ren Ci fiasco took an unexpected twist today when it was revealed in the court by Ming Yi that he approved loans to several of its staff including is Chief Operating Officer Dr Ong Seh Hong who borrowed a stunning sum of $60,000. (read article here)

Dr Ong Seh Hong is the PAP MP for Kampong Ubi ward under Marine Parade GRC. He was in the spotlight lately over the Geylang Serai market food poisoning outbreak which took away the lives of two residents living in his constituency.

He has declined to comment on the matter on the grounds of the ongoing trial.

Within minutes of the news release on the Channelnewsasia online portal, the major internet chatrooms are abuzzed with the loan Dr Ong had taken from Ren Ci.

In less than a hour since the post first appeared on CNA forum, it has attracted over 2,000 views.

Many cannot understand why a doctor and a MP has to borrow money from a monk. Some questioned if the loan is interest-free.

Wrote “18″ on CNA forum:

“It is a public fund & not Ah Gong or your $$ cannot any how loan la… If it is a listed company, sure close shop one…..”

Another forumer remarked sarcastically:

“That some talent he has to borrow money from Monk - first world talent.”

ilfishing was more interested to know if the loan is interest-free:

“Is this interest-free loan? Good to know this fact, if yes, on what basis the loan is given to the MP?”

Scandals about PAP leaders are far and few because the mainstream media which is largely controlled by the government is not allowed to pry into their personal lives.

The scandal only came to light because of a trial hearing involving Ren Ci’s ex CEO Ming Yi who was falsifying the charity’s accounts and lying to the investigators.

As the second largest charity in Singapore after the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), Ren Ci runs a hospital and medical centers for the chronic sick.

It is funded almost entirely by public donations with occasional contributions from the Ministry of Health. Before his fall from grace, Ming Yi was a highly respected Buddhist monk in Singapore who risked his life in dangerous stunts including walking from a tightrope down from Suntec City a few years ago to raise funds for Ren Ci.

In the aftermath of the NKF saga, many Singaporeans will undoubtably feel hurt and betrayed by the dirt which has been dredged up in the Ren Ci case so far.

While there may be no criminal wrongdoings in Dr Ong taking a loan from Ren Ci, it is morally wrong for him to knowingly accept the money which is meant to help the needy patients. Neither is it good corporate practice for a staff to borrow money from the charity.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has always praised the PAP MPs as the best talents Singapore can ever produce and therefore deserving of their exorbitant salaries which are fueling widespread resentment in the face of the current economic downturn.

Dr Ong will be hard pressed to a satisfactory explanation to the public about the loan which will probably sound the death knell for his unremarkable political career. It may also be his last term as a MP for Kampong Ubi given the impeccable record MM Lee demands from his MPs.

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