PG And DEACONS Continue To Hoodwink

One would have thought that after a major expose on the Calvary saga in a national newspaper (read http://calvarytoday.blogspot.com/2009/11/calvary-crisis-in-star.html), our dear pastors and Board of Deacons (BOD) will get their act together and seek to resolve all the issues facing our Church.

Unfortunately our dear Deacons and Pastors (and PG) are not ordinary God-fearing people. They have proven, once again to be man-fearing people.

In an immediate response to the report in the The Star on 18 November 2009, the Deacons and Pastors issued an announcement through the pulpit on 22 November 2009 as well as through the Church website to reaffirm their confidence in PG and his wife and deny all the "allegations" stated in the newspaper report.

This is an excerpt from the Church website announcement:
"Many of you may have read the article published in Metro section of the Star dated November 18, 2009 titled “Crisis rocks Calvary Church”. We understand that you may be disturbed by the allegations in the article.

These allegations were presented by the Board of Deacons and deliberated at length by the members of Calvary Church at the EGMs on 15 August, 2008 and 4 April, 2009 and AGM on 19 June, 2009. The allegations were investigated thoroughly by the Church’s internal auditors, a renowned firm of Investigative Accountants and a firm of Advocates and Solicitors specializing in criminal practice. These allegations were found to be baseless………..

……..The Deacons and Pastors reaffirm our confidence in Senior Pastor Prince Guneratnam and his leadership. We believe that the Lord will continue to use him and Sister Petrina to enable God’s will and plan for Calvary Church to be fulfilled.

Let us as a church receive the exhortation in Hebrews 10:36 “to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Also, let us continue to love and support one another as we stay focused and faithful, praying for our Senior Pastor, Pastors, Deacons and their families for God’s protection, strength and wisdom as they lead and guide the Church.”

It is typical of PG and his deacons to use the word “allegations” to continue to hoodwink the members. What the newspaper has reported are FACTS and not allegations.

IT IS A FACT that RM1.9million was transferred from the Church Missions Fund to CIM without members’ knowledge!

Lawyer KK Wong and Edward Rajasingam (Church Deacon and Treasurer) confirmed this at the EGM held on 15 August 2008. Although KK Wong stated that since the transfers were approved (by ratification) by the BOD and therefore, there were no CBT involved, he later, during question time, qualified his opinion by saying that if we were to give the same set of documents to other lawyers, we would get all different opinions. In answer to a question, he also stated that he has no way of confirming if the documents and minutes given to him by the BOD are genuine.

Another thing to note is that KK Wong made his presentation at the EGM in his personal capacity. He did not represent his firm and therefore, the announcement by the BOD is MISLEADING!

Edward confirmed that the funds were transferred over several years to CIM and the BOD’s approval was obtained (ratified) only after each transfer was done.

Listen to both KK Wong and Edward’s statements by clicking on the audio clips below.

Clip #1 : Lawyer's statements


Clip #2 : Treasurer's Statements



OTHER FACTS:

#1. IT IS A FACT that a gift of US$10,000 was given to Dr Guynes!

#2. IT IS A FACT that the Church paid for the overseas airfare of PG’s grandchild!

#3. IT IS A FACT that the Church gave a scholarship to PG’s children to study in USA!

#4. IT IS A FACT that the Church paid RM40,000 medical fees for PG’s grandchild!

#5. IT IS A FACT that PG’s gym membership was paid for by the Church!

#6. IT IS A FACT that PG has never declared the love offerings he has received!

#7. IT IS A FACT that our Ampang Outreach Pastor was paid a mere RM250 a month previously!

#8. IT IS A FACT that the love offering collected for Pas Phil was not given to him!
(Read Pas Phil’s story at http://calvarytoday.blogspot.com/2009/09/pastor-phils-story.html)

#9. IT IS A FACT that PG appraises his own children and the BOD does not know their increments!

#10. IT IS A FACT that there is poor financial management!

#11. IT IS A FACT that there is a lack of transparency!

#12. IT IS A FACT that Dr Lum was sacked for speaking out!

#13. IT IS A FACT that the CCC’s building cost has ballooned from RM50m to RM150m!

#14. IT IS A FACT that the CCC construction commenced without sufficient funds in hand!

#15. IT IS A FACT that Calvaryland was built to house 200 orphans and homeless but today has only 4 residents, at the last count!

The first 9 facts listed above which were published in the newspaper report were taken verbatim from the Church’s Annual Report 2009. All the 9 items were also investigated by our Internal Auditors and presented to the members at an EGM held on 4 April 2009. ALL the 9 “ allegations” were proven by the Internal Auditors to be TRUE! These were actual transactions and incidences which took place according to accounting records and witnesses which neither PG nor the BOD could deny. Therefore, these items cannot be deemed as "allegations", much as PG and the BOD want all to believe. They even took great pains to ensure that PG's name is not mentioned in the EGM minutes pertaining to this Internal Auditors' presentation. If you have a copy of Calvary Church's 2009 Annual Report, take a look at the EGM minutes and you will see how ridiculous the EGM minutes have appeared. While at it, also take a look at the minutes on lawyer KK Wong's presentation. If you had attended the EGM, you will notice a number of statements in the minutes alluded to KK Wong which he DID NOT say at all. That is creative minuting by PG and the BOD.

Listen to the Internal Auditors’ presentation by clicking on the audio clips below.

Clip #3 : Church Auditors' Statements



The renowned firm of Investigative Accountants which the BOD referred to in their announcement was Ferrier Hodgson. The firm was asked by the BOD to look into the accounts of CIM but this is barking at the wrong tree. They should have been asked to investigate the accounts of the Church because that was where the funds were being channelled from. Therefore, their findings that the accounts of CIM are in order is totally irrelevant.

The BOD knows this and the purpose of their mentioning the appointment of "a renowned firm of Investigative Accountants and a firm of Advocates and Solicitors specializing in criminal practice" in the announcement is merely to hoodwink the church members and the public.


Clip #4 : Forensic Accountant's Statements



The Church website statement also says, "These allegations were presented by the Board of Deacons and deliberated at length by the members of Calvary Church at the EGMs on 15 August, 2008 and 4 April, 2009 and AGM on 19 June, 2009." Listen to Clip 5 to see if this is a true statement. All the AGMs or EGMs so far have always been conducted according to PG's autocratic style. Members' grouses or criticism are always brushed aside, other times promises are made by PG to pacify the members but never intended to be fulfilled. There has not been a single occasion whereby the members' views have been considered as worth listening to, unless the views are in support of PG. It is shocking that one of PG's supporters (Lawyer David Peters) considers fellow church members' request to solve church issues at a General Meeting as HIJACKING THE AGENDA. However, PG & BOD's unscheduled introduction of the church auditors to present their findings without prior notice to members is deemed legitimate.



Clip 5 : "Deliberation" between PG & Members


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