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Despite latest scandal, donors express confidence, support for NKF

SINGAPORE — Donors and patients on Wednesday (Nov 16) expressed shock over the dismissal of National Kidney Foundation (NKF) chief executive Edmund Kwok — a regular face at NKF’s dialysis centres — but said the charity would continue to receive their support as it weathers its second scandal in a little over a decade.

SINGAPORE — Donors and patients on Wednesday (Nov 16) expressed shock over the dismissal of National Kidney Foundation (NKF) chief executive Edmund Kwok — a regular face at NKF’s dialysis centres — but said the charity would continue to receive their support as it weathers its second scandal in a little over a decade. 

The sudden and unceremonial sacking of Mr Kwok has also prompted questions of whether it was fair, but corporate governance and human resources experts said the move would not be considered extreme if the situation was serious and due process was followed.

In a press conference, the charity said Mr Kwok was fired over a “personal indiscretion” involving a male employee, while the police confirmed that a report had been lodged. NKF also said Mr Kwok had admitted to his indiscretion, and its board decided to act swiftly.

Mr Wee Liang Hin, 55, a frequent donor since 2010, had turned up at the NKF headquarters on Wednesday (Nov 17) to make a donation when he heard the news, but he said his confidence in the organisation remained.

“Finances are not what’s affected … If it’s a personal thing for which he had done wrong, we have no say. I will still continue to donate to NKF,” he said.

Mrs Luo, 68, the wife of an NKF dialysis patient, said it was “a huge pity” that Mr Kwok was no longer at the helm, noting he had been a very visible figure at the dialysis centres — she had seen him more than eight times over the seven years she has been accompanying her husband to NKF’s dialysis centres.

“He always shows his concern, visits dialysis centres and asks for feedback on his nurses and centre,” said Mrs Luo, who did not want to give her full name.

A patient who also did not want to be named added: “He is a very nice man. He listens to our complaints. Every year he is always the first to greet us during Chinese New Year at the dialysis centres.”

Retiree Madam Chan Ai, 69, a regular donor, was more critical. “It probably means he had not focused on the job. This affects patients also. Also, for someone in such a senior position, he should have more decorum,” she said. Nonetheless, she would continue to donate to NKF, given that Mr Kwok has been fired.

Ms Linda Teo, country manager of ManpowerGroup Singapore, said that, in general, suspending the employee in question while investigations were ongoing would have been more prudent. “However, since a police report was lodged and the board agreed that the offence was serious, it might be justifiable for them to terminate the staff’s employment,” she said.

Mr David Ang of Human Capital Singapore said the question was whether there was due process, such as what steps were taken after the organisation became aware of the incident, and whether the employee was given a chance to explain himself. “If they have not done all this, but just reacted, then we could plead for a milder way of handling the situation,” he said.

A corporate governance expert, who did not want to be named as he was not cleared to speak to the media, noted that non-profit organisations are held to “higher standards”. “They would have to keep to a code of conduct and ethics guidelines, and CEOs should carry themselves according to these standards, especially because they carry the organisation’s image,” he said.

Experts also felt that bringing in former CEO Eunice Tay was a good move, with Ms Teo noting that a predecessor would have the experience as well as the trust of the board. But an HR professional at a multinational company, who wanted to be known only as Ms Tan, noted: “The question is why they couldn’t appoint someone internally (in the interim). It shows that internal succession planning is weak.” ADDITIONAL REPORTING by WONG PEI TING

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