NKF sues SPH on defamation
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Whether NKF wins or loses the suit doesn't matter to me.
They ain't getting their hands on my hard-earned Singdollars - ever. -
I can see this....
SPH is trying to defend the way on how the reported it (Yes NKF is in fault, but how ST reported was wrong either) -
Strait Time did a good job, they publish what we public need. Anyway should publish earlier ma den a lot of ppl will not be so stupid to donate the money liao.
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But the way they reported is defamatory...Originally posted by Ogbunwezeh:Strait Time did a good job, they publish what we public need. Anyway should publish earlier ma den a lot of ppl will not be so stupid to donate the money liao.
And making it da zi pao, what motive do they have?
Neither I donate $$ to NKF, all those lucly draw frills -
the 80/20 rule? it works almost everywhere.Originally posted by EkBoy:Realli sad n lost 4 words..
If we still donate, where will the $$ go?
If we dont donate, where the aid for NKF patients come from?
that is y 80% of the world's population r struggling to earn the 20% global wealth, where the remaining 20% r enjoying the remaining 80% wealth?? Is it true?
anyway i always tell myself to stop donating. but everytime i watch the charity show my heart gives in. maybe i should stop watching. -
Juz becoz of all these black sheep ah, donate money also need to worry.
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this is all so ridiculous.
- NKF CEO is getting a pay check of $25000/mth
In 2002, pay check of $25000/ mth plus 10 mths bonus
In 2003, pay check of $25000/mth plus 12 mths bonus
In 2004, same as 2003.
Total in 3 years = 1.8 million bucks!
- he denies having travel on first class and sued 2 people in 1998, made them apologize and paid compensation.
now he admits in court that he travels on first class USING business-class airfare. And he maintained that it is an entitlement! -
Not really worry lah. Look at it this way. It's better for the public to learn to be more aware about charitable organisations, how they function and help their beneficiaries, and truly understand what's going on, instead of blindly accepting whatever is being marketed to us.Originally posted by Ogbunwezeh:Juz becoz of all these black sheep ah, donate money also need to worry.
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Mr T T Durai, where is our money?? In ur pocket? -
This is a case of inavailable public information and it feels great that justice is done...I will really question the integrity of NKF.
Hope the 2 people that is being sued in 1998 can see some lights, as the saying goes "there is no smoke without fire", and the chinese saying " paper can wrap around fire"...the truth will reveal. -
Did you read what TT Durai said about NKF that it's run as a business?
That sure sums up the mission of NKF - it's a profit-oriented charity business,
not non-profit-oriented charity.
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return back our money to usOriginally posted by Ogbunwezeh:
Mr T T Durai, where is our money?? In ur pocket?
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I always believe tat smart n clever person is the most dangerous person in some way, see wat happen, clever but no integrity, study do high also no use. Con ppl hard earn money.
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"The NKF and Mr Durai contend that this was not the case and that the words in the article, 'The NKF: Controversially ahead of its time?', had damaged their reputation by implying that donors' funds were being misused. The hearing yesterday was delayed by the NKF's application for special damages of $3.24 million, which it claimed was what it lost in donations following the publication of the article. Justice Tan Lee Meng threw out the application and ordered the NKF to pay SPH's legal cost for its last-minute move." quoted from asia1.com
INCREDIBLE, they wanted to sue SPH for $3.24million, for what!!! TO PAY THEM THIS YEAR BONUS!!!! -
check this out:
By Bertha Henson
July 12, 2005
The Straits Times
A CLOSELY guarded secret of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) was finally made public yesterday: the salary of its chief executive T.T. Durai.
Gasps could be heard in the courtroom when it was revealed that on top of his $25,000 a month salary, he also received 10 to 12 months in yearly bonuses. That makes his annual salary between $550,000 and $600,000, or $1.8 million in total over the past three years.
This fact, and the disclosure that he had flown first class on NKF's funds, emerged on Day 1 of NKF's defamation suit against Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).
The NKF, which is entirely dependent on public funds, offers dialysis treatment to kidney patients. Two out of every three Singaporeans contribute to it.
It is taking issue with a Straits Times article by senior correspondent Susan Long published on April 19 last year, which stated that a gold-plated tap had been installed and later replaced in the private bathroom in Mr Durai's office suite.
The NKF and Mr Durai contend that this was not the case and that the words in the article, 'The NKF: Controversially ahead of its time?', had damaged their reputation by implying that donors' funds were being misused. The hearing yesterday was delayed by the NKF's application for special damages of $3.24 million, which it claimed was what it lost in donations following the publication of the article. Justice Tan Lee Meng threw out the application and ordered the NKF to pay SPH's legal cost for its last-minute move.
At the hearing, Senior Counsel Davinder Singh, acting for SPH, noted that the tap in question cost $990, expensive by his standards although Mr Durai did not agree. The lawyer sought to show that the NKF was neither honest nor transparent about the way it uses donors' funds.
He told the court he had to ask the NKF three times, twice through the courts, to have the salary of its CEO made public.
Mr Durai, represented by Senior Counsel Michael Khoo, was the only witness who took the stand yesterday. Among those in the gallery was NKF patron, Mrs Goh Chok Tong, wife of the Senior Minister, who left midway through the hearing.
Mr Durai argued that he was not required by law to tell the public what he earned, even though he conceded that they paid his salary. Also, he wanted to protect his personal privacy.
Mr Singh asked: 'The man who earns $1,000 a month who donates $50... every month thinking that it is going to save lives, should they not know that that is the kind of money you earn?' Replied Mr Durai: 'I don't see the need for him to know.' He denied Mr Singh's charge that he refused to disclose his salary as he knew he would lose moral authority with donors.
Mr Durai's travel perks also came under scrutiny.
Not only had the NKF maintained consistently - as recently as in the April 19 article - that none of its executives flew first class, it had threatened to sue people who said Mr Durai did so.
At least two people have had to apologise publicly and pay damages and costs for saying they had seen Mr Durai travel first class, as the NKF said this implied he was wasting donors' funds.
Under questioning, he admitted he had flown first class on some airlines. His explanation: The NKF board allowed this as long as he did not bust the Singapore Airlines business-class rate.
Mr Singh countered: 'Isn't it your duty as a trustee of people's monies to make sure that you get best value on a business-class seat instead of deploying this clever tactic... using it for first class on another plane?'
Mr Durai replied: 'This is a decision made by the board. I used the entitlement.' The entitlement, he added, kicked in only in the past two years. Previously, when he flew first class, he had paid the difference out of his own pocket, he maintained.
Mr Singh noted that although he now flew first class, Mr Durai did not correct his chairman Richard Yong's assertion in the April 19 article that 'there is no such thing as first-class travel'.
'The reason you hide the truth is because you know that that is the wrong thing to do, using people's money, and you know that is mismanagement of donations.'
Mr Durai was asked if he should now 'do the right thing' by the two individuals who had paid him damages and costs for saying what he had now admitted in court. He said no, sticking to his claim that at that time, he did not travel first class using NKF funds and when he did so, he paid the difference himself. -
Just read the entire ST report on the whole thing and one part made me
Ministers' salaries are published and known to the public. Business CEO's salaries are also known to the public. T.T Durai liken himself to a business CEO, so, generally, he shall let his salary be known to the public. But T.T Durai say cannot, the amount of my salary cannot be let out to the public.
"I value my privacy"
"Doesn't everyone value his privacy?"
Then, T.T Durai say unless there is a regulation insisting him to release his salary, he does not see the point to let a man who earns $1,000 a month and donates $50 every month to NKF to know his salary.
WTF!?!?!?!!?!
*Eagerly awaiting more reporting of this case* -
THe one and only time I donated to NKF was last year before the Straits Times article was published. But by now, I think I made a great mistake of giving 100 dollars to NKF. I should have passed the money directly to the patients instead of giving it to them.
The kidney patients who are suffering certainly deserved better, they have suffered more than enough and here we have a CEO of a supposely non profit organization reputely earning 1.8 million dollars in 3 years.
Charity my ass manzz!!!
To hell with NKF!!!
From now on, I will only give my hard earned dollars to needy persons directly. We don't need to pay these assholes fat bonuses to manage my hard earned donated monies. -
From this,we know tat karma is coming for someone. Think he been eating lots of money, n one fine day the big day will come. Nothing is free in this world, yeah u will be able to take it secretly from the donor but after a period of time or when time is ripe, karma looking for u.
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I am proud to say that my family and I never, ever donated to NKF! We knew that this will happen from the start of this entire "show".
Who's with me? -
my dad also thinking abt this...Originally posted by Honeybunz:This lawsuit, using who's money?
NKF's or TT Durai's?
Or the good lawyer giving free service??? -
NKF sure knows how to use their head to move hearts and money into their
coffers. How many people are "moved"? Is NKF "moved"? Hardly when they're celebrating with FAT FAT bonuses. They sure are laughing at "moved" donors. -
Think its also time to check out the pay of the rest of the board members too.Originally posted by soloken:check this out:
Mr Durai replied: 'This is a decision made by the board. I used the entitlement.' The entitlement, he added, kicked in only in the past two years. Previously, when he flew first class, he had paid the difference out of his own pocket, he maintained.
Mr Singh noted that although he now flew first class, Mr Durai did not correct his chairman Richard Yong's assertion in the April 19 article that 'there is no such thing as first-class travel'. -
like i posted earlier nkf probably sued with cost.Originally posted by bismarck:my dad also thinking abt this... -
Yep, how many people are in the board of directors?
Using a very loose assumption of 20 people, each earning 500K a year, that's about $10 million a year.....
Add in all their extra benefits, travel entitlements, car entitlements, medical benefits, insurance etc.....chao chao also $11 million.....
Can I join the Board of Directors?
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I've never donated to NKF
Unfortunately my family must have donated enough to cover my shareOriginally posted by CoolMyth:I am proud to say that my family and I never, ever donated to NKF! We knew that this will happen from the start of this entire "show".
Who's with me?