The indented statements are extracts from the Daily Express report on 12.1.2017.
The Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host claims it responded within 24 hours upon receiving a show cause letter from the Registrar of Societies on issues it believes “were purely administrative and do not warrant deregistration”
My comment now: Who decides it is administrative and does not warrant deregistration? Francis Liew and the Lions Club of Kota Kinabalu Host?
We all know that the club was deregistered after a year of investigation. What most Lions do not know is that it was deregistered not due to my complaint but because Dr. Arabi Wazani, the guy who was responsible for starting the Past President’s council, had mentioned about the existence of such a council to ROS. The club was deregistered due to this illegal council that was operating without being registered with ROS.
My complaint about the misappropriation of funds meant for the needy and the non-recording of the correct information in the ROS records are all punishable by paying a fine. These are also not easily proved. Joseph Chai (JP) had all the financial records which is only known to a select few past presidents. Since they are all guilty would they want to present the documents to ROS?
Francis Liew could always say that he made a mistake in his recording.
The guys involved are doctors and Justice of Peace and professionals. As such they can easily wriggle their way out by telling some cock and bull stories.
On hindsight, if only Datuk Dr. Muthusamy Palanisamy (JP)
had had a discussion with me when I requested to meet him at his clinic this
matter would have been resolved 3 years ago. He was obviously convinced that I will not be able to prove the existence of the 3 extra secret bank accounts.
I was informed by the Director of ROS and its officer that I will be called for an interview to assist in their investigation of misappropriation of funds. I was also told that I will have to sign and confirm that my complaints have been dealt with. To-date I have yet to be called to the ROS office to sign such a letter. I believe, for all intents and purpose, this case is still outstanding.
I will write to ROS next week and ask them about the progress of the investigation. Then, I will have to decide if I want to proceed with court action against the club.
“…ROS made no mention of misappropriation of funds, the office lot, furniture and fittings”
My comment: Just because ROS did not mention about the misappropriation of funds does not absolve the club from this accusation.
It is a fact that the office lot, furniture and fittings and the bank balances from the extra 3 bank accounts have not been disclosed to ROS. Neither have they ever been disclosed to most of the members of the club including most of the past directors (including me).
I repeat, these matters have not been dealt with. ROS decided to deregister based on the fact that they operated an illegal unregistered body – Past Presidents Council.
I want to now find out if ROS is going to investigate these crimes or not.
“We have given a signed statement to the police that misappropriation of funds will require, firstly, non-authorisation, secondly no accountability and thirdly, one party must gain and one party must lose”
My comments:
i. Non-authorisation – who authorized the payment for the purchase of Air-Conditioners and payment for office renovation amounting to almost RM15.000? In fact, who authorised all payments from the three bank accounts that are unknown to most members? If the bank accounts are not even known to the BOD and most members how can the expense be authorized by the Board of directors? In the first month of each financial year the bank accounts operated by the club will be named and the signatories to the bank accounts will be in the minutes. Never had the 3 secret bank accounts ever been discussed at the BOD’s meetings.
The payment for the air conditioners and the renovation expense did not come from the two bank accounts known to all members.
ii. No accountability – how is it accounted for? I do not see the office lot and air conditioners in the balance sheet of the club nor was it submitted to the ROS. The 3 extra bank accounts have never been accounted for either to the BOD or ROS during and before my time as director.
iii. One party must gain and one party must lose – the Club or members of Past President Council gained from the purchase of air conditioners and expenses paid for renovation of the office lot. They also gained from all others payments for administrative purposes during the many years the extra bank accounts have been operated. The losers are the people for whom the funds were provided for.
The funds for the rural water projects and the hostel for needy students come from an overseas Lions Club and Lions Club International.
My comment: This amount received from overseas was not reported to ROS as per the requirement of the Societies Act.
Perhaps ROS has overlooked this point and perhaps I should point this out to them.
I have certified extracts from the records of ROS where the secretary of the club Francis Liew has stated that no funds were received from overseas. We will examine these in the near future.
“For all these projects, all funds shortages or excesses are for the account of our club”?
My comment: There is nothing in the constitution to say that excesses are for club account. On the contrary it clearly says that any excess fund should not be used for administrative purposes.
I believe the investigating officers from the police were deceived into believing that excesses from any project fund can be utilized by the club for administrative account.
Any Lion reading this may confirm with Lions Club International. Is it true that any excess from any project may be utilized by the club for Administrative purposes?
“All our bank accounts have been approved by our Board of Directors” he said, adding that the ROS letter only stated that the club had infringed Article 7 relating to non-compliance of rules in the appointment of club officials during the AGM and intentionally violating the club’s constitution in appointing of exco members.
My comments: This is an outright lie. I was directors for year 2015/2016 and I was only told that there were 2 bank accounts. All minutes of meetings have only 2 bank accounts mentioned. We will examine this in the near future.
The report ends with the words that a ROS official had told Daily Express that the club had to prove they have not violated regulations set by the Registrar of Societies.
You can’t hide the moon, the sun and the truth forever. (Buddha)
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