IT IS appalling that recent comments from board members and representatives of Institutions of Public Character (IPCs) show they have not fully grasped the seriousness of public outrage and disappointment. IPCs should be thankful the Commissioner of Charities (COC) has instituted regulatory procedures to shore up public confidence to ensure continued public support. If a 'sledgehammer' is needed to 'swat a fly', so be it as we are dealing with hard-earned public funds. When a charity is 'presumed guilty' by the public while suspended under investigation, it only shows public trust in the COC to protect public funds.

CEOs and board members of charitable and religious organisations should be held equally responsible for the proper management of funds. They have a moral obligation to ensure that funds raised for a said purpose are used for that purpose and that alone. It is outrageous to witness misappropriation of public funds by a CEO, despite the presence of board members.

Board members of IPCs are not there to scratch one another's back. Their position calls for active participation as overseer of overall operations, and, with the CEO, they must be given the responsibility to account for every cent donated by the public. The public has a right to expect such accountability as its absence defeats the purpose of the board's appointment in the first place. The COC should investigate thoroughly the reasons for the Ren Ci board members' apparent failure to curb the alleged misappropriation of public funds that began a decade ago.

The public expects full transparency from all IPCs. This should include, among other disclosures, the salaries of CEOs, business interests (if any) of board members with IPCs, organisations that are subsidiaries or related to the IPC in any way. IPCs should be made to declare existing funds in bank accounts before they raise more funds from the public.

Lastly, remind board members of IPCs that funds raised for IPCs are to help the needy and underprivileged. They are not to generate more funds via investments in any form (other than fixed deposits) as investments carry risk and are not the original intended purpose. The best people to 'watch the watchers' are the charitable and religious organisations themselves - tighten financial controls, build in operational checks and balances, and ensure full transparency - to keep the 'watchers' at bay or in check.

Yuen Kwong Chow