what do you think of this letter in ST? Durai has done......
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Dec 29, 2005 (ST)
Durai has done far more good than bad for NKF
ALMOST 20 years ago, I was a project manager with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). At that time, it was a small outfit, with few staff. We squeezed into a modest house on the grounds of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital in Balestier Road, which we shared with the NKF's sole dialysis centre.
Some administrative staff were fortunate to have desks. Project managers camped out in the sole meeting room in the building, sitting wherever we could. Mr T.T. Durai's office was a tiny space under the stairs. He held the position of honorary secretary.
The dialysis centre was a depressing place, with its cold, functional appearance. If I remember correctly, it could serve only about 30 patients then. Funds were extremely limited, so we could not help everyone who applied for help.
The first time we met to select new beneficiaries was heartbreaking. We hated to turn people away just because we did not have enough money, but we had no choice. Feeling helpless, we cried.
We worked long hours but we did not mind, even though we were not compensated and had very modest salaries. Mr Durai was an important motivating force. He had big dreams of a network of dialysis centres, with a bright and cheerful environment to help keep patients' spirits up.
He talked often about improving the lot of patients and their families, and developing programmes to encourage them to lead normal, productive lives. His face would light up with enthusiasm every time he talked about his dreams for the NKF, and he would beam with joy whenever we scored a win.
He worked tirelessly to make the NKF a better organisation, and even played a significant role in pushing through the opt-out scheme, which made more donor organs available for transplant.
Almost three years ago, I met Mr Durai again when I visited the new NKF premises. I was floored by how far it had come. How civilised and stylish! The NKF was truly a pacesetter and I was filled with pride at its accomplishments.
There is no doubt Mr Durai has made mistakes. He is human, after all, and which human being is perfect? He has passion, which can produce spectacular results but can also get him into trouble.
In Singapore, we have been encouraged for years to think out of the box. If not for Mr Durai thinking out of the box when we were all huddled together in the old office at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, the NKF could well be still an ineffectual beggar charity, like so many others out there. He has done far more good than bad for the NKF.
The man is a visionary, and every country needs visionaries. Had better checks and balances been in place at the NKF, this sorry state of affairs could have been avoided.
People make mistakes, or sometimes they just dare to take a different road, which may rankle with the masses. What is the use of baying for blood? Can we please try to forgive?
Carol Chua Siew Gek (Ms) -
I think its nicely written, can't find a single grammar error.
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That means the forums editor has been doing her job well.Originally posted by ditzy:I think its nicely written, can't find a single grammar error. -
I concur.Originally posted by charlize:That means the forums editor has been doing her job well. -
who is Carol Chua Siew Gek (Ms)???
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Hmm so if I am good now, I can do horrible stuff later and be let off?
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According to her letter to the ST, she used to be a project manager with NKF 20 years ago.Originally posted by margarita:who is Carol Chua Siew Gek (Ms)???
That answers your question? -
he was paid to do his job. if he did not produced any results, he should have being sack 20 years ago.
No one can deny that hanky panky business was going on, therefore there must be penalty belt out.
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You can try.Originally posted by pie:Hmm so if I am good now, I can do horrible stuff later and be let off?
Nobody is stopping you.
No guarantees on the final result though. -
wanbo reported a fund donated 1.25 million to nkf. or did i get it wrong?
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nah...Originally posted by dragg:wanbo reported a fund donated 1.25 million to nkf. or did i get it wrong?
tat fund was donated to mr durai and his board of directors...
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Related to Matilda Chua?
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Originally posted by Glen999:
No one denies that he brought NKF to what they are today, however he fell to temptation and abused public funds for his own benefits.
Dec 29, 2005 (ST)
[b]Durai has done far more good than bad for NKF
ALMOST 20 years ago, I was a project manager with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). At that time, it was a small outfit, with few staff. We squeezed into a modest house on the grounds of Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital in Balestier Road, which we shared with the NKF's sole dialysis centre.
Some administrative staff were fortunate to have desks. Project managers camped out in the sole meeting room in the building, sitting wherever we could. Mr T.T. Durai's office was a tiny space under the stairs. He held the position of honorary secretary.
The dialysis centre was a depressing place, with its cold, functional appearance. If I remember correctly, it could serve only about 30 patients then. Funds were extremely limited, so we could not help everyone who applied for help.
The first time we met to select new beneficiaries was heartbreaking. We hated to turn people away just because we did not have enough money, but we had no choice. Feeling helpless, we cried.
We worked long hours but we did not mind, even though we were not compensated and had very modest salaries. Mr Durai was an important motivating force. He had big dreams of a network of dialysis centres, with a bright and cheerful environment to help keep patients' spirits up.
He talked often about improving the lot of patients and their families, and developing programmes to encourage them to lead normal, productive lives. His face would light up with enthusiasm every time he talked about his dreams for the NKF, and he would beam with joy whenever we scored a win.
He worked tirelessly to make the NKF a better organisation, and even played a significant role in pushing through the opt-out scheme, which made more donor organs available for transplant.
Almost three years ago, I met Mr Durai again when I visited the new NKF premises. I was floored by how far it had come. How civilised and stylish! The NKF was truly a pacesetter and I was filled with pride at its accomplishments.
There is no doubt Mr Durai has made mistakes. He is human, after all, and which human being is perfect? He has passion, which can produce spectacular results but can also get him into trouble.
In Singapore, we have been encouraged for years to think out of the box. If not for Mr Durai thinking out of the box when we were all huddled together in the old office at Kwong Wai Shiu Hospital, the NKF could well be still an ineffectual beggar charity, like so many others out there. He has done far more good than bad for the NKF.
The man is a visionary, and every country needs visionaries. Had better checks and balances been in place at the NKF, this sorry state of affairs could have been avoided.
People make mistakes, or sometimes they just dare to take a different road, which may rankle with the masses. What is the use of baying for blood? Can we please try to forgive?
Carol Chua Siew Gek (Ms)[/b]
Yes, people make mistakes. However they pay for their mistakes. Forgiveness have to be earned. I can't imagine if he just gets off scot-free because of his past achievements.
I think Ms Carol Chua Siew Gek forgot that NKF is a non-profit organization and every cent is donated by the common people. If this was a listed company, the board of directors have to answer to the shareholders and they can be jailed for any mismanagement of funds and misleading the shareholders. As the head of NKF, Mr Durai should know better than that as it is a much more severe crime!
It's not about baying for blood but one has to pay for their own mistakes. Can you imagine this being used as a benchmark in court if Durai get off scot-free???
Sheez -
mayb he has already planned wat he has done 20 yrs ago...
n probably dat was wat made him kept going... -
Aiyaa.. enough of this crap lah.
It's done, it's out of our hands, what more can we do besides all this biatching??
I'd only donate directly rather than go through all these big name entities. -
He did a lot of good, but could've done better. If he were far less extravagant, a larger portion of donations could go to the needy. No need for gold taps, expensive paper and a fleet of executive cars, unless they were gifts. I'd prefer to see the money spent on these go to the patients to seeing him get some traditional penalty.
However, demanding refunds of past donations is a tad too much. -
all she shu yi wo 1 la... defend each other cos probably they are involved also...
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he did his part , but most important very cent came from the public, which give them their premies and everything NKF have today.
So what Durai have done good, but he has done bad also ! He have turn into a rotten no good apple, he been given too many chance to give and forget. Did he ? No he have sued too many good folks, please don't forget how many people he sued . And it is his own arrorant that he sue the press that lead to his down fall. Did any of those he sue in the end got any mercy from him ? No, what they say was right, and they are make to pay every cent to him.
During his running of his NKF empire, how many just employees was fired ? did they got mercy from him ? No.
He misrepresent data !!!
He shall not have mercy !!!! Let him face what he deserve ! -
just because he got achievments doesn't mean he can go scot-free for wrong doings. Just like that bo lan pa world renounce pianist deosnt mean he should escape punishement.
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pianist > u
Durai > u
Besides, Hitler, these are the few mens who i respect. -
Donors do not have a legal right to demand back their donations as no Manifest disadvantage have been incurred.Originally posted by Kuali Baba:He did a lot of good, but could've done better. If he were far less extravagant, a larger portion of donations could go to the needy. No need for gold taps, expensive paper and a fleet of executive cars, unless they were gifts. I'd prefer to see the money spent on these go to the patients to seeing him get some traditional penalty.
However, demanding refunds of past donations is a tad too much. -
i hope he pays but nothing more, nothing less.
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With all the good he has done....
He has two downfalls....
Greed -- which started his mistakes
Pride -- the defamation case that he sued SPH on, which brought about the end of his career in NKF and reputation. -
tink abt it...
of every dollar ppl donate...only 10cents go to the patients rite? which means 10%?
so those charity shws on tv...usually they collect hw much? 6 milliion? i tink so, if nt wrong...
meanin only less den a million goes to patients...its nt a cool figure for the ill manz....
wat i'm tryin to say is...if the percentage of the donations dat goes to the patients r of an acceptable one, den i wld agree wif the person who wrote the letter...
otherwise...its a complete no... -
actually, i do not want durai's blood. What for want his blood? I only want him to cough out the money he took for himself...