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Auditor-General’s report uncovers significant lapses in Singapore ministries and statutory boards

The Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) report for FY2023/2024 reveals significant lapses in financial governance across various ministries. Issues include improper contract management in MOE, inventory discrepancies in MHA, unclear RFQ criteria in MCI, tender evaluation lapses in MCCY, and contract management issues in MND and MTI.

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The Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) has published its annual report for the financial year 2023/2024, revealing substantial lapses in financial governance and compliance among various public sector entities. The audit, conducted in accordance with international standards, aims to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of public funds.

The AGO’s audit uncovered several instances of non-compliance and inefficiency across multiple ministries and statutory boards:

Ministry of Education (MOE)

  • Lapses in Contract Management: AGO identified significant issues in contract management, with approvals for 45 out of 71 contract variations obtained after the variation works had commenced or were completed. This led to potential overpayments totaling S$317,100. In one instance, payments amounting to S$49,400 were made for 900 student lockers that were not installed.
  • Long Delays in Finalisation of Accounts: The finalisation of accounts for 20 construction contracts was delayed, ranging from 2 months to more than 3 years, affecting the cash flow of contractors. These delays undermine financial discipline and the efficiency of project completions.
  • Improper Contract Management: For example, in the construction of two primary schools and a junior college, payments for works that were not carried out according to contractual requirements amounted to an estimated overpayment of S$218,400. Additionally, MOE’s failure to obtain timely approvals for contract variations resulted in a lack of transparency and oversight.

Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)

  • Weaknesses in Inventory and Records Management: AGO found discrepancies in the inventory records for Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and Singapore Police Force (SPF) equipment. There were instances where inventory belonging to SCDF could not be found or was placed incorrectly, and similar issues were noted with SPF inventory, indicating systemic weaknesses in inventory management.
  • Incorrect Payments of Performance Bonus Incentive: Payments were made incorrectly to a vendor due to errors in the bonus incentive calculation, resulting in overpayments totaling S$151,900 and underpayments totaling S$84,300 for the period from January 2020 to September 2023.
  • Inventory Management Weaknesses: The audit revealed that SCDF’s inventory records did not accurately reflect the physical inventory, leading to potential risks of mismanagement or loss of essential equipment. Similar issues were found in SPF’s inventory records, where discrepancies ranged from misplaced items to erroneous record-keeping.

Ministry of Communications and Information (MCI)

  • Lack of Clarity in Evaluation Criterion: The Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA) had unclear evaluation criteria in its Requests for Quotation (RFQ), which affected the transparency and fairness of the procurement process. In one case, the absence of clear criteria led to a vendor being awarded a contract despite not being the lowest bidder, raising concerns about the integrity of the evaluation process.
  • RFQ Evaluation Issues: In the case of IMDA, a significant contract for a study was awarded based on unclear and unpublished evaluation criteria, which undermined the principles of transparency and fair competition. This lack of clarity potentially affected the quality and cost-effectiveness of the awarded contract.

Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY)

  • Lapses in Tender Evaluation and Procurement: Sport Singapore (SportSG) showed significant lapses in tender evaluation for vending machine contracts and procurement of manpower services. SportSG also had inadequate controls over admissions to ActiveSG pools and gyms, resulting in revenue leakages due to misuse of admission passes.
  • Tender Evaluation Lapses: SportSG’s evaluation of vending machine contracts excluded several tender proposals without basis on the published criteria, leading to questions about the fairness of the process. Furthermore, admissions to ActiveSG pools and gyms were abused by members using special passes they were not eligible for, causing revenue losses.

Ministry of National Development (MND)

  • Lapses in Contract Management: The Building and Construction Authority (BCA) exhibited weak oversight over conflict of interest declarations and lapses in contract management. BCA’s failure to monitor contractor performance adequately led to poor maintenance of facilities and potential overpayments.
  • Lapses in Valuations and Payments: National Parks Board (NParks) had significant lapses in valuations and payments for works orders, including instances of duplicate payments and potential overpayments estimated at S$1.93 million.
  • Conflict of Interest Declarations: BCA failed to ensure that conflict of interest declarations were properly managed, with multiple instances of incomplete or missing declarations. This oversight risked compromising the integrity of the grant evaluation process.
  • Payment for Undone Works: NParks was found to have made full payments for works not performed as per the works orders, leading to potential overpayments estimated at S$1.93 million. These lapses indicate a need for stricter contract monitoring and evaluation processes.

Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI)

  • Lapses in Management of Vehicle Maintenance Contracts: Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) failed to ensure that vehicle maintenance was performed as scheduled. The AGO found that the contractor had created job sheets for works not performed, indicating serious lapses in contract compliance and management.
  • Vehicle Maintenance Contracts: The audit of SDC revealed that the contractor failed to perform scheduled vehicle maintenance jobs. AGO’s findings suggested that job sheets were possibly falsified, highlighting serious lapses in contract management and compliance.

The AGO report underscores the importance of stringent financial governance and effective oversight mechanisms within public sector entities. The identified lapses highlight areas for improvement to ensure the judicious use of public funds and maintain public trust in governmental operations.

The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has pledged to address these issues by enhancing training for public officers, enforcing stricter procurement guidelines, and implementing robust IT security protocols.

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After the dust settles, only the small fry will be taken to task..
The big fish will go scotfree..as always…or receive just a slap on the wrist.

Let’s play the PAP Administration psychological game :

Question – – is the PAP playing a reverse psychological game, to falsely impress Sheepaporeans gullible minds, ‘we are exposing some of Govt to the Public Service’s LAPSES, malfunctions.

And subsequently PAP can easily DISTANT themselves to PUSH blame it’s the Govt Services AND NOT they involved in.

However, with State Control Media, later they will CREATE impression they will TIGHTEN up, as ELECTORAL promiz.

Usual audit, with the all too familiar breaches but the audit opted for the term of “lapses” instead, … thus eliminating direct finger pointing leading to direct consequences !!! Instead, it allowed the Ministries involved, … to recommend further training, further familiarisation with processes and of course, further security monitoring !!! This shit, … the cycle of continuous breaches, simply continues with no specific accountability and just more training as the ultimate solution !!! Until the next breach, until the next audit, until the next bs respond, … until the cows come singing home praising the moon and the stars… Read more »

Did Acc Gen pick and chooses only to publicise some lapses? Sure or not it’s NOT DEEPER and BROADER?

The minister/s incharge of ministries with the losses, should be made to payback the amounts out of their own pockets…
No more of that “no blame culture” nonsense!
If it was us ordinary folk at work, at times making a mistake on the job, , our monthly pay incentives are cut …..but not these free riders???

“whether its water, electricity, gas, telephone, telexes, it just has to work. If it doesn’t work, I want to know why, and if I am not satisfied, and I often was not, the chief goes, and I have to find another chief. Firing the chief is very simple.”Firing the chief is very simple, getting one who will do the job better, that’s different.”
—-LKY..

Just recalling our 1st Gen leaders words…

Be *DEADLY DEAD SERIOUS* – NOT play play with SINGAPORE’s FUTURE, YOUR Own Future – HOW MANY PRECIOUS YEARS LEFT – my Own Future, YOUR CHILDREN’s and GRANDCHILDREN’s FUTUREs:

** this PAP Administration Has NO MORE TOOLS inside their Brain’s Locker TOOLBOX **

** their CONSTANT SOLE FOCUS is:
– live in Big Bungalows
– OWN FAT salaries
– OWN Banks ACCOUNTS
– CHEAP WORKERS
– RELY on CECA for MAGIC.

DIDN’T and CANNOT SEE PROOFs??

Glaring incompetence despite a bloated sgov…80+ ministars…plus mps, plus mayors, and whatnots….
Still not able to manage?
Will anyone be taken to task?
No blame culture breeds this kind of incompetent or “close one eye ” attitude..

Year after year, events of lapses again and again. What is the point of audits by AGO if you can find issues but cannot solve issues?

So many lapses were related to honesty and integrity practices. AGO, what do you wish to proof?

PM Wong, do you think the governing mechanism is corrupted or incompetent?

All the powers but without accountabilities and responsibilities, is that what this government for and is that what MOF for? And is that what elected MPs for?

Is this what we are expecting to get?

Our 1st Gen leaders will be “rolling in their graves”..

Send them for Skill Upgrade

This is the standard of our ministries under these famous ministers. And remember! They call this *Meritocracy*! Remember their names when election comes.

*MOE*: Chan Chun Sing
*MHA*: Shanmugam 
*MCI*: Josephine Teo
*MCCY*: Edwin Tong
*MND*: Desmond Lee and Indranee Rajah
*MTI*: Gan Kim Yong 

Lapses or corruption somewhere….
Too many middlemen involved ?

The catchphrase is “significant lapses* meaning a lot.

Singapore need to vote in more Opposition MP to really do thorough checks on the incumbent.

These self entitled elites are having a free reign on too many cakes while the majority of us are fighting over the little crumbs and even need to steal other’s lunch to survive

Last edited 4 months ago by Singapore Fooled Again n Again

It’s the time of the year I squirm again. This time the annual ritual is based on the same script that’s written ages ago – what’s there to warrant a citizens hope to see people taken to task?

Only thing worth my saliva is pray for Almighty to stop all these mindless accounting endeavours, destroy, this PAP who exerts unfair and unauthorised influences and control towards a supposed to be non partisan Services called Govt service to serve the people.

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