Ex-principal charged with misappropriating funds

there is a lesson to be learnt here.

just because a principal or a person in power is supposed to be a respectable person doesn't mean he is. principals are paid on a super-scale level. apparently, this is in payment for good talent and to prevent levels of corruption.

there we have it. pay, regardless of whatever level does not prevent corruption, fraud, accounting irregularities, front-trading or whatever. performance incentive fees otherwise known as bonuses are asymmetrical in the sense that people are rewarded for good outcomes (regardless of whether it is from sheer luck or through their efforts) but are not punished for bad outcomes (even if it is truely as a result of their actions). incentives do not work to keep out corruption and fraud if they are asymmetrical. symmetrical incentives (like clawbacks for poor performance, or outright fraud) will keep any potential unethical behavior at bay better.

the same principle applies in politics and not just to principals, pun intended. just because a politician tells us he is clean doesn't mean he is. if there is no way to audit the behavior of one, one never knows what goes on under the surface. the political debate today is on dishonesty in the recent electoral campaigning where politicians who had the desire to resign from their posts kept it secret from the electorate. what is not illegal does not mean it is ethical. the politicians, being politicians are masters of treading this fine line of what is ethical and illegal and what is a-ethical and alegal - i.e. making ethics and legality a non-issue.

ethical behavior is hard to define but one certainly knows it when one sees it. what does not look like ethical behavior, does not sound like ethical behavior certainly can't be ethical behavior.

the debate today has to be widened to include a true audit of a politician's behavior and possible wrong-doing away from the public's eyes. what better way to do it then to a financial audit of all ministers, whether pap or the opposition?

-Uniquely Singapore-

This is what Modern Singapore wants...GDP growth, salary grows, money also grow...
Everything now Modern Singapore teaches our NEXT GENERATION IS NOTHING BUT MONEY...& THAT'S = GREED!

Can we don't mix this with politics? I know GE just over... but the linkages are ridiculous...

As an educator and a representative of the christian community, it is very sad to see our society degraded to this stage. It's the Moral compass that is lost in this materialistic society today.

This principal should be sacked rather than allowed to retire. He should faced the humiliation of the public, christian community and the educators. The pain must be inflicted so strongly that this is a deterrent for future occurrence.

Its very sad fact of our society today... hard to trust people in power, be in politicans, teachers, principals. Society as a whole is so screwed up.

So who says that high pay would stop corruption? Its about time that our Ministers stop talking our money for themselves. with the present argument from them is just telling us that the people who they get to join them are a bunch of money grabbers who won't do anything for less. If the opposition parties can attract qualified people to serve without much expectation, then what can we say about the people from the PAP and their civil servants. With newbies like Sim Ann, should they be paid million dollars as well? Are Ministers like Teo Ser Luck and Sim Ann or even VB CEO types? When these people are in the private sector, can they actually stand on their own? Money is always not enough.

One after another...
Singapore is not as Clean as Before.

As normal, what's happening at the upper level are not being mentioned to the subordinates. What bosses convey are most likely to be a "We Decide, You do" kind of things.

These are taxpayers' money. How can we make these things as transparent as possible? Everyone should be involved in decision making, not only the principal. A principal should be open to suggestions on ways to improve the school & shouldn't be dominant of the school funds.

Meetings should be held openly and not only meetings with appointed Key Personnel whatsoever. What if the KPs suck? Those at the bottom will be crying out.

And this is what happens... "Im the boss, I suka suka do things. I can cover my @#$% coz I know everything. If I do anything wrong, it must be one of my subordinates' fault. People have vey high respect of me coz I'm a (Long-time Principal / Scholar).." MOE should look into this and improve transperencies between a Principal and the OVERALL staff..

Haiz, greed and love of money brought about his downfall.
When can human-beings ever learn to be contented?

Mr Joseph Lim have an important task of restoring any lost faith & confidence in all Marists under his care. Many of us are behind him during these critical moments. To readers, let the law do the judging. Spare the young Marists from extreme criticism & sarcasm of their ex-principle. Damages to the young minds can easily be over-looked. Teachers & staff of Maris Stella, please impart the right values.

PM Lee & Mr Vivian Balakrishnan,

This illustrate the point that govt. MUST respond POSITIVELY & URGENTLY to an indepth audit and investigation on the overspending on YOG by $284 millions.

Fully TRUST the integrity of Ministers and Cabinet. In view of the HUGE sum of overspending,
it necessitates the actions call for which is sensible and appropriate !!

TOO HUGE AMOUNT of $$$$$ involved and your actions WILL send a CLEAR CORRUPTION FREE REQUIREMENT thru ALL the ranks & files !!!

Last time when i play "Sell Coffee" with my niece, she says 1 cup coffee $2.... but when i gave her a real $2 note, she cried "Don't want, don't want!!!"...... now, i play with her, she will say 1 cup coffee $5..... and she will happily accept my $5 note !!!! What has happened to the society nowadays !!!!

"Let him/her who has not sinned cast the first stone!" Dear friends, no doubt this action of the brother has sparked and fueled unquenchable anger in the hearts of many especially those who have given donations from the little they have, but let us consider the following :

1) Everyone who donates does so out of goodwill and from the abundance of his/her heart. Therefore if I donate to someone not expecting any return for myself on earth, then I will be blessed. (Of course we have to ensure that the donation is used appropriately if it is in our prerogative.) Whomever misappropriates the donation will have to answer their Creator.We have no right to us to judge him/her for we will be judged with the same scale.

2) God is pure and sinless. Therefore every sin whether small or big is the same in God's eyes.

So let us stop to examine ourselves before being quick to comment about others. Just because our small sin is not found out it does not make us innocent before God's eyes. Every sin is the same be it looking at a woman lustfully or living an adulterous life, be it ruining your health by smoking and drinking or committing suicide, be it marring one's name by gossiping or committing a murder, be it with-holding job promotions and appropriate salary payments to one's employees or robbing a bank. Every sin is the same in God's eyes!
Therefore dear friends, "Let him/her who has not sinned cast the first stone!"

Another Christian Principal....

I still remember what you told me 25 yrs ago.'' i misplace your son pre primary school application form. actually what you want is a donation. '' this is how you treat your fellow catholic children.

How could this have happened? In a period of 5 years, there were no checks or audits? The school's finance/accounts administrator? How are principals accountable on the use of their schools' finances or collected donations? I have always wondered about the "contractors" used for supplementary/enrichment classes and the students' insurance. Who appoints them and what are the rules of accountability.
Likewise with RC's and the use of PA funds.

A good example of why we all need to earn millions like the MPs..
From LTA to M1 to The Church and now Schools...
Moral of the story? Stop screwing with our money!

In this world you can trust nobody... even people with high salary also steal money... i cant imagine him punishing the students for stealing... hahaz

GREED propels human kind to a better life ... i have soy sauce on rice today, i want to have some vegetables with it tomorrow and some soya sauce, vegatables and meat the day after tomorrow ... its OK it is progress. But if you scheme to have birds nest to to rinse you mouth in the morning and caviar to smoothen your complexion ... something is wrong.

EXTREME GREED will only lead to your self destruction and all those who are around u. For those where having millions is insufficient ... may I ask if u need a 24k solid gold air-conditioned coffin with precious stones trimmings and all the modern comforts installed into it as a mark of your success when u return to where u come from?

Please do learn to be greedy but try to avoid being extremely greedy.

Our leaders must start to realise too high pay is no good for singapore. Because ministers wants lots of money, everybody also going for it at the expense of ethics. And this guy is a school principal. OH GOSH! How is he going to teach ethics to students. How is he going to be a good role model for teachers. Monkey see monkey do.