general public. Some 3,800 regular donors cancelled their contributions the day after the trial, and NKF's headquarters was vandalised with graffiti. Following questions about Durai's pay, Tan Choo Leng, wife of Senior Minister (SM) Goh Chok Tong and patron of the NKF, defended Durai, commenting that "for a person who runs a big million-dollar charitable organisation, with a few hundred million in reserves, S$600,000 a year is peanuts", much to the indignation of Singaporeans. The statement was taken as an insult by many, who earn much less a year or even struggle for a living. Blogs and online message boards were quickly flooded with angry comments, and a second online petition requesting Mrs Goh to apologise was started. Jokes on the issue were later circulated, in particular, local satirical website TalkingCock.com published a post featuring a parody 1 peanut bill with a value equivalent to S$600,000. On 16 July 2005, SM Goh said that Mrs Goh regretted the statement. He also said to have explained and shown her several e-mails and letters he had received after the remark was made. In what SM Goh claims to be a separate matter, Mrs Goh has also resigned as patron of the NKF, despite an earlier announcement to remain on the board. Government response On 14 July 2005, after a meeting with Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan, TT Durai and the NKF board resigned en masse. An interim board was appointed by the government to keep the organisation going and begin the task of restoring public confidence. Gerard Ee was appointed by Khaw as interim chairman to oversee the restructuring of the NKF, and Goh Chee Leok took over the post as interim CEO. Independent investigation In July 2005, KPMG was commissioned by the new NKF board to study past practices. KPMG published its report in December 2005, with key findings including: The Board delegated its authority to the Executive Committee, and the Executive Committee in turn delegated its authority to Durai. NKF awarded contracts worth $3 million to Forte Systems and $4 million to Protonweb, second one run by Pharis Aboobacker, a close friend of Durai. Neither project was successfully completed, but no action was taken against the companies. In KPMG's judgment, the terms of the contracts were "unusual" and the ExCo's disregard of the lack of performance was "extraordinary". In 1995, Durai's pay was increased from S$12,000 to S$18,000. The promotion