SMU Associate Professor of Law and NMP Eugene Tan thinks that if the Ministry of National Development (MND) did not take any action after independent auditors declined to give an audit opinion on the Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council for the second year running, MND would have given the impression that it does not think the matter is of concern. The Workers’ Party response that it would co-operate with the Auditor-General’s involvement in the audit indicates it wants to reassure residents and Singaporeans that it is not engaging in anything immoral. Associate Prof Tan further commented that it may be counter-productive to extract political capital from this incident. He added that Singaporeans should not think that everything is politically motivated, but rather realise instead the importance of accounting for public funds.