How do one define corrupt practises? The Singapore Court system has attempted to define corrupt practise by subjecting one of the employees of the old NKF to a fine of S$10,000. Frankly speaking, knowing some of the big manufacturers including foreign MNCs operating in Singapore, practises as per described by the court is relatively rampant. There are many grey areas as to what is entertainment and what is bribery.

Gifts, financial rewards both monetary and in kinds are seen as bribery. Full stop. Yet in reality of private business dealing, it is very hard to segregate the two.

Let me give you an example. If you are the boss of a big company, and your friend happened to be your supplier, would it be illegal to accept a free dinner when you go out to fill your tummy? What about mooncakes delivered by boxes to you. Is that a form of bribery?

Sure enough, perhaps the fact that NKF is a charity organisation it is more important to exercise prudence in selecting the suppliers. I believe that the yardstick that should be used in measuring corrupt practise should include a random comparison of the goods purchased against the market price of the goods. If there are inflated profit, then corruption is highly suspected.

Say for example, in this case, medical supplies like gauzes and surgical dressings, where there are more than one suppliers, get a comparison of their average selling price and costs to gauge the level of corruptibility. If the accused suppliers supplied the goods at market price, then I personally believe that there is no corruption.

Let’s hope that this is not the start of a witch hunt.