Many hats for two Workers' Party supporters raises potential conflicts of interest

The managing agent of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC) has come under the spotlight again.

FM Solutions & Services (FMSS) is majority-owned by Ms How Weng Fan and Mr Danny Loh. The husband-and-wife team is also employed by AHPETC.

Since Aug 1, 2011, Mr Loh has been secretary and Ms How has been deputy secretary and general manager of the town council.

They formed FMSS shortly after the 2011 General Election, where the Workers' Party (WP) won Aljunied GRC.

FMSS went on to be awarded the contract to be managing agent for AHPETC (known then as Aljunied-Hougang Town Council).

FM Solutions and Integrated Services (FMSI), a company owned solely by Mr Loh, was also paid $88,200 by AHPETC for essential maintenance and lift rescue services for the period from April to June 2012.

The couple are long-time WP supporters, and were assentor and proposer to the WP candidates who contested Ang Mo Kio GRC in the 2006 General Election.

It is not uncommon for party supporters or members to be hired by town councils or to be closely involved with the managing agents appointed by town councils.

Mr Ho Thian Poh, who is secretary of the People's Action Party-run Jurong Town Council, is a member of the party.

He is also the managing director of the town council's managing agent, Esmaco Township Management.

But the Auditor-General's Office said yesterday that AHPETC did not properly disclose or manage potential conflicts of interest, leading to situations where the same individual issued an invoice for work done by FMSS, and then approved payment from the town council for that work.

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