What about the MD who’s also an MP?

What about the MD who’s also an MP?

Weekend • April 18, 2009

Letter from Peter Tan

MR CONRAD Raj in “What’s good for the goose” (April 17) brings up valid points about DBS’ handling of Ms Josie Lau’s appointment as president of Aware.

While the examples that Mr Rajcites are mostly non-executive members of the DBS Board, within the management of DBS is a managing director who is also a Member of Parliament. Surely both these roles come with heavy responsibilities, including the need to attend Parliament sessions during office hours.

Might it not be better for DBS to trust that senior management (including VPs) will do the right thing and ensure that whatever activities or membership they have outside of work will not affect their responsibilities at DBS or damage the bank’s reputation?

Demanding that senior management seek prior approval for what they do on their own time seems unnecessarily heavy-handed and belittles the trust the bank has in its management. Even if there is a need for prior approval, DBS should still clarify why it feels one employee can be both MD and MP butMs Lau cannot be VP and head of Aware.

By not doing so, it will be easy for people to accuse the bank of practising double standards.

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