The purpose of this entry is to make a personal directory of significant events (to me anyway) of the NKF saga, post lawsuit withdrawal on July 12, 2005. I've tried to loosely organize them by issues (see NKF: The Aftermath), followed by date.

Feel free to add on or make corrections by leaving a comment.

Previous Entries: The 600K CEO, NKF Withdraws, NKF: The Aftermath

Corporate Governance
July 14, 2005, 6.41 pm - Durai and NKF board resign (Business Times) so as to allow MOH to restore public confidence. Durai says he "strongly believe[s] in change" (reported in ST, July 15, 2005). Mrs. Goh Chok Tong also steps down as Patron for NKF to gain fresh direction (CNA) while Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan makes an effort to disassociate Mrs. Goh from NKF management (reported in ST, July 15, 2005). No word on whether "peanuts" will be distributed to angry monkeys in Singapore. According to Mr. Khaw, the new board will be appointed next week and is likely to include current board members as well for "a certain amount of continuity" (reported in ST, July 15, 2005) . Seems to me certain people have a warped definition of "resign".

July 15, 2005, 5.45 pm - IRAS steps in to prepare for audit (reported in ST, July 17, 2005)

July 15, 2005, 7.01 pm - NCSS president Gerard Ee named interim chairman and acting CEO of NKF. He will take over the running of NKF Monday onwards. The interim Board, expected to consist of at least six corporate leaders, medical doctors, and a lawyer, will be announced next week. (CNA, ST)

July 18, 2005, 4.21 pm - Gerard Ee begins interim CEO stint. Will not accept pay for his work in NKF.

July 20, 2005, 3.15 pm - New NKF board formed. Immediate priority to account for assets. (CNA)

July 25, 2005, 11.03 am - Professor Goh Chee Leok, Senior Consultant Dermatologist at the National Skin Centre, appointed interim CEO. (CNA)

August 18, 2005 - NKF interim board requests the aid of CAD to probe into "matters of grave concern". (CNA)

September 16, 2005 - 92 non-clinical staff laid off. (CNA)

Post Petition Effect
July 13, 2005, 9.30 am - Petition Count: ~400
July 13, 2005, 11.00 pm - Petition Count: ~16000
July14, 2005, 12.00 pm- Petition Count: ~26000
July 14, 2005, 8.30 pm - Petition Count: ~37000

July 15, 2005, 2.50 pm - Petition Count: ~41700

The closing date specified on the petition is July 14, 2005, 11.59 pm. However, the petition count is still increasing. I wonder if the new petitions are legitimate ones or just spam...

Legal Costs

July 15, 2005, ? - Durai to foot legal costs. "Bill of costs" up next to decide how much to pay. Expected cost is a few hundred thousands (i.e, peanuts). (Reported by CNA, July 16, 2005)

Public/ Ministerial Backlash
July 13, 2005, early morning - Vandals hit NKF HQ (Electric New Paper)
July 14, 2005, 10.39 am - Dr. Balaji urges for calm and calls for greater transparency (CNA)
July 14, 2005 11.00 am - NKF enters top ten most popular search at Technorati (via lancerlord)
July 14, 2005, 1.59 pm - Dr. Balakrishnan will monitor the situation, urges Board to do the right thing. Ominously promises to "nudge people in the right direction" otherwise. (CNA)
July 14, 2005, 6.41 pm - Active fundraising suspended
July 14, 2005, 7.30 pm - NKF Cancer Show III continues without promoting hotline
July 14, 2005, 10.07 pm - Mrs. Goh's definition of "peanut" sneaks into Wikipedia. Reads "They are a rare item in Singapore, where its value is estimated to be around S$600,000, which was confirmed by the Senior Minister's wife." Someone is severely narked.
July 14, 2005, 10.19 pm - NKF Cancer Show III only manages to raise $6800 (CNA). Donors show NKF what truly constitutes "peanuts"? N/b: Headline says $6800 raised during show, but main text says $6800 raised by 5pm, even though the show ended at 8.30pm.
July 14, 2005, 10.57 pm - Total number of donors who've cancelled their monthly donation hits 6800 (CNA). 6800 again... can someone say 4D?
July 14, 2005, 11.00 pm - NKF is most popular search at Technorati (logged at lancerlord)

July 15, 2005, 9.55 am - PM Lee adds his weight, welcomes the resignations, urges for calm and looks forward to NKF starting anew. Indicates that a ministerial statement will be issued during Parliament next week. Changes to the guidelines for VWOs are not expected. (CNA)

July 15, 2005, 10.30 am - Mrs. Goh's definition of "peanut" removed from Wikipedia... spoilsport.

July 15, 2005, 5.13 pm - NCSS president Gerard Ee warns against more regulations, but urges for transparency and proper communication with donors. (CNA)
July 16, 2005, 3.43 am (?!) - Total number of donors who've cancelled their monthly donation hits 10,362. Total number of ex-donors who've resumed their monthly donation hits 1. (CNA)

July 16, 2005, 9.54 pm - In what I suspect is the closest thing to an apology the public will receive, SM Goh says NKF former patron Mrs. Goh regrets her "peanuts" remark. Clarifies that Mrs. Goh did not step down because of her words, but rather to allow NKF board to start afresh. (CNA)

July 18, 2005, 6.18 am - Ho Ching, ranked fifth by Fortune magazine as the most powerful women in business outside US in 2004 and wife of PM Lee, makes a balanced case for continued support of NKF. (CNA and ST July 18, 2005)
July 18, 2005, 2.00 pm - NKF drops to 10th most popular search at Technorati. Exit imminent. ("Harry Potter" is ranked first).
July 18, 2005, 4.21 pm - Total number of donors who've cancelled their monthly donation hits 15,000. Total number of ex-donors who've resumed their monthly donation hits 100. (CNA and ST July 19, 2005)

July 20, 2005 - MPs voice concern during parliament. (CNA) Mr. Khaw issues a ministerial statement (full text from Asiaone) and outlines six key tasks for new board (CNA).

July 21, 2005 - Mr. Khaw challenges NKF to be a pace setter and shining example to other VWOs. Reads out TT Durai's daughter emotional appeal to PM Lee. (CNA) Actually, spending too little time with the family does not necessarily imply that a man is totally devoted to his job, or even if he is, for the right reasons. If you ask me, Mr. Durai got off lightly where his "reputation and honour" was concerned. Restore his ego perhaps?

Foreign Press
The Star
Bloomberg
Financial Times
Reuters (Oddly enough, filed under oddly enough)
MSNBC (An article on blogstorms rather than NKF per se)

Filed under: Singapore, News, NKF