Lim Hwee Hua’s accusation a ‘personal attack’: WP’s Low

Worker's Party (WP) chief Low Thia Khiang has called People's Action Party (PAP) candidate Lim Hwee Hua's query on Hougang Town Council's financial accounts a 'personal attack'.

Lim, who is part of the PAP team contesting at Aljunied GRC, had earlier questioned Low over the transparency and accountability of Hougang Town Council's accounts.

She also asked if the Worker's Party is capable of running a bigger estate.

"Is it messy or are they holding back till after the elections so that whoever wins Hougang will then inherit the accounts? The Worker's Party has always emphasised transparency and accountability of the town council.

"It is very perplexing why they have kept very quiet," said the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister for Finance and Transport.

However, speaking to an estimated crowd of 15,000 at the WP rally on Tuesday evening, Low hit back at Lim's comments and said it was a 'personal attack to discredit his character and capabilities'.

Said the WP chief: "Do you believe if Hougang's accounts are messy, I can win Hougang for 20 years?"

Low, who is part of WP's 'A' team that is contesting the hotseat of Aljunied GRC, went on to explain the stringent auditing process all Town Councils in Singapore, including the Hougang, go through.

Town Councils are audited by an external auditor approved by the Ministry of National Development. Once the audit is completed, the account will be sent to the Ministry's Auditor-General for approval before they are presented and circulated to all members of Parliament.

"If the account is messy, as what she claimed, then why would Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew and the Auditor-General approve it? Are they sleeping?" questioned Low, with his comments drawing a loud cheer from the crowd.

"Moreover, Mrs Lim would have received a copy of Hougang Town Council's report. She has not made any observations earlier. Why shoot such irresponsible comments on me now," he said.

Low added that Hougang Town Council was one of the those that did not make any loses during the 2008 Lehman Brothers crisis, highlighting two other town councils that sunk S$12 million in Lehman-related products.

Touching on the privatisation issue of HUDC flats in Hougang Ave 7, he explained that when he took over Hougang Town Council in 1991, the HUDC flats and other normal flats were taken in as one single account under Hougang Town Council.

However, after the announcement of privatisation on 23 August 2010, the accounts of the HUDC flats will be segregated from Hougang Town Council's accounts.

The expenses contributed by the blocks will have to be attributed to their own accounts. He added that Hougang Town Council is in the process of capturing expenditure by the HUDC blocks. Once the data-collection is completed and presented in Parliament, the Town Council will answer to the pro-term committee.

Low noted that the duration of legally privatising an estate is about two and a half years and the pro-term committee were informed of the processes.

"Therefore, we have done everything correctly. Why does Mrs Lim Hwee Hua decide to take up the case and suggest that the account of Hougang Town Council is messy and I, as chairman of Hougang Town Council, have done something wrong? I leave it to you to guess her intentions," he said.

At the end of his speech, Low told the crowd that if the PAP suspected him of doing something to the accounts, they can report him to the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB).

"Do not hoodwink the voters at this critical time when Polling Day is near," he warned.

Also speaking at the rally, WP candidate Pritam Singh suggested that Singapore is ready for a female Prime Minister.

Referring to women as equal Singaporeans and "co-driver" of every successful relationship, Singh commented on a resident who suggested that Singapore is ready for a non-Chinese Prime Minister.

"I am comfortable and confident with a Prime Minister from any race. But if it was a man, I would want him to complete his national service," said Singh, reinforcing WP secretary-general Low's call on Monday for a change in the Constitution so that all male election candidates will have to serve National Service first before being eligible for election.

After sharing with the crowd his list of capable female Members of Parliament from the PAP-- including Halimah Yacob and Indranee Rajah -- as possible candidates to be Prime Minister, he spoke on the prospect of his party chairman Sylvia Lim as another candidate for the role.

Describing her as 'honest, forthright, energetic and fearless', he said, "As an NCMP in the last five years, she has asked more questions in Parliament than many PAP MPs."

Follow Yahoo! News on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

This article is published by Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd., 60 Anson Road #13-01 Mapletree Anson, Singapore, 079914.