AHPETC in surplus for FY14/15 after factoring in MND grants: WP

The accounts of the Workers’ Party-run Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) are in surplus for the financial year ended March 31, after including the S$7.2 million in grants, which are being withheld by the Ministry of National Development (MND), said AHPETC immediate past chairman Sylvia Lim and the town council’s audit committee chairman Png Eng Huat yesterday.

Speaking at the WP’s press conference to introduce its new candidates, Mr Png said: “The financial statement has shown a marked improvement on annual and accumulated basis. Taking into account the grants, AHPETC will be in a surplus position.”

Declining to reveal the size of the surplus, Mr Png reiterated that the town council will file its annual report today — within the set deadline, Ms Lim noted.

The MND has been withholding grants from AHPETC, as it has said it has no guarantee the money would be used properly. AHPETC, meanwhile, has asked that the full sum be paid to its sinking fund account.

Mr Png told reporters that energy cost was one area the town council had managed to save on, by opting for a “contestable” contract with Senoko Energy.

Under such a contract, a consumer whose electricity consumption meets a certain criteria can choose between packages with different price plans and services provided by the energy retailer. “It saves us a lot of money, almost S$100,000 a month,” Mr Png said.

In the previous financial year, AHPETC reported an annual deficit of S$2 million. LEE YEN NEE