-
In light of the large amounts of claims made to the former CCC Chairman, will there be a full audit of all payments made by the CCC to the said CCC Chairman?
-
What was the exact nature of the “claims” made? Why was there a need to incur such large “claims” in relation to voluntary work on behalf of the CCC?
-
What was the total amount of “claims” made by the CCC to the CCC Chairman, and what were these “claims” for?
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...tem-in-mindef/
AGO: “Overpayment of grass-cutting fees” and “significant weaknesses” in Electronic Procurement System in MINDEF
Published on 2018-07-18 by The Online Citizen
In a report dated 3 July this year, the Auditor-General has revealed lapses in the spending of several ministries and government agencies, including, but not limited to, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), the Ministry of Education (MoE), and the People’s Association.
Among the lapses that were uncovered in MINDEF’s spending were “significant weaknesses in the management of rights” granted to users of the Ministry’s Electronic Procurement System (ePS), according to the report.
It was found that the “system owner and all of the five units audited” had failed to conduct “periodic reviews” on user access rights as stipulated by the “Government Instruction Manuals” and MINDEF’s internal instructions, and that MINDEF had delayed removing access rights that are not required for 41 of 219 user roles that were inspected.
The Auditor-General warned that such weaknesses have the potential to compromise the security and safety of the system, and will in turn increase “the risk of unauthorised procurement activities”, on top of putting the integrity and confidentiality of data contained in the ePS at stake.
Additionally, such weaknesses makes it “difficult to pinpoint who had performed a particular activity” and to subsequently “hold the person accountable for the activities” that had taken place, on top of opening the possibility for users of those accounts to “circumvent” certain regulations, such as the roles between “the requestor and approver of purchase”, and “the approver of purchase and the approver of the receipt of goods”.
MINDEF has noted that disciplinary actions have been taken against three of the four users, while the fourth user had left the service.
Additionally, MINDEF has also told the Auditor-General that it will “continue to educate and emphasise to users the importance of safeguarding IT accounts” and take “disciplinary actions for non-compliance”.
MINDEF will also enhance the system to prevent sharing of accounts, according to the report.
On top of the above, MINDEF has also been flagged with “overpayments of grass-cutting fees” over the period of six years, as a part of the management of a contract involving integrated buildings and infrastructure maintenance.
According to the report, the total overpayment was “approximately $0.2million […] of $0.7million.
MINDEF’s facilities management agent (FMA) and MINDEF’s contract manager, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), which was responsible for ensuring that the services have been carried out and to ensure that accurate reports were made before payment was made to the contractor, had failed to detect the repeated monthly overpayment.
“The repeated failures to detect the errors made by the contractor cast doubts on whether the FMA and DSTA had carried out their duties diligently,” the report said.
The ministry has informed AGO that the overpayment will be recovered from the contractor after the amount has been determined. Contractual penalties will also be imposed on the contractor for over-claiming and the FMA for failing to check the claims, according to Channel NewsAsia.
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...or-since-2014/
AGO: Grassroots organization unfairly awards contracts to a foreign contractor since 2014
Published on 2018-07-18 by Correspondent
The People Association (PA) and one of its Grassroots Organizations (GRO) have been questioned by the Auditor-General Office (AGO) in its report released yesterday (17 Jul) over 2 tenders whose contract value totaled $500,000 for the Mid-Autumn Festival 2016 and Chinese New Year 2017 events.
AGO found that the GRO responsible for calling the 2 tenders had used the same foreign contractor for the manufacturing of the street light-up decorative items. In fact, the same foreign contractor had been awarded contracts for the annual Mid-Autumn Festival and CNY events since 2014.
AGO observed that the GRO was bias and had not evaluated the proposals from the other tenderers on the same basis. “Besides the issue of fairness, there was also no assurance that the contract was awarded to the tenderer which could provide the best value,” AGO noted.
Furthermore, the foreign contractor who was awarded the contract was from overseas and it required the GRO to bear additional obligations which included accommodation cost for its workers during their stay in Singapore, transportation charges for materials and provision of a site for assembling lanterns.
“These additional costs, on top of the tender price, were not considered by the GRO in its tender evaluation for price comparison. There was also no mention of these additional obligations in the tender evaluation report and tender recommendation report for the tender approving authority to make an informed decision,” AGO said.
The other question, of course, is whether these workers who came from overseas to assemble the lanterns for the events had the right permits to work here, even if they were supposed to be working temporarily for the projects.
GRO accepts tender proposal from sole foreign tenderer after tender closed
In the case of CNY 2017 event, the same foreign contractor was the sole bidder and had also stated in its proposal additional items which the GRO had to bear under the contract. Again, the additional costs were not mentioned in the tender evaluation report and tender recommendation report.
For the CNY 2017 tender, AGO noted that the GRO had accepted the tender proposal of this sole foreign tenderer after the tender was closed.
“The GRO had also allowed the tenderer to submit two revised tender proposals mainly to revise the quantity and lighting effects on the lanterns and consequently, the bid price after the tender had closed,” AGO said.
“Accepting late submission of tender proposal and allowing the tenderer to amend its tender proposals and bid price after the tender had closed went against the principles of open and fair competition, and transparency. Such lapses could lead to allegations of unfair practice.”
To further complicate matters, AGO observed that the contracts signed with the foreign tenderer were not based on the laws of Singapore but those of the tenderer’s country. So, any unresolved disputes would be filed for litigation in the courts of the tenderer’s country, even though the work is done in Singapore and for Singapore.
“Such provisions in the contracts might not safeguard the interest of PA and its GRO,” AGO said.
AGO did not mention the name of the GRO nor the name of the foreign contractor.
PA explained that the contracts were prepared by the foreign tenderer and the GRO did not seek the advice of PA’s legal department before signing the contracts. Moving forward, the GRO would prepare the contract, PA said.
PA also informed AGO that the procurement lapses were largely attributed to the procuring team having inadequate understanding of Government procurement guidelines and operating under time constraints. PA said it would take measures to improve staff understanding and compliance with Government procurement requirements as well as ensure proper contract management documentation.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kuasimi
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/gove...ty-bonding-lim
Higher budget estimates for People’s Association is to help community bonding: Lim Swee Say
The 2015 budget estimates allocated to The People’s Association (PA) reflect a higher level of commitment by the government towards promoting social cohesion and racial harmony, Lim Swee Say, Singapore’s Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, said on Monday.
In a written reply to queries over the 51.3 per cent jump in the PA’s expenditure estimates to more than S$1 billion for FY2015, Mr Lim said the PA “promotes community bonding in Singapore”.
Of the S$339.6 million or 51.3 per cent increase in the estimated Financial Year (FY) 2015 expenditure of the PA, S$239.3 million (70.5 per cent) is for the development of facilities for residents’ use.
These include the building of the Tampines Town Hub, construction of nine new community centres (CCs) and two Water-Venture outlets as well as the upgrading of 28 existing CCs under its 15-year upgrading cycle.
Mr Lim added that the increase of S$100.3 million, or 29.5 per cent, in operating expenditure will go into implementing the Pioneer Generation Ambassador programme.
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...view_id=138425
13 of 18 grassroots organizations checked by AGO found to have recurring problems in award of contracts
Published on 2018-07-17 by Correspondent
The Auditor General Office (AGO) released its auditing report for the FY2017/18 on government ministries and statutory boards today (17 Jul).
One of the statutory boards audited was People’s Association (PA), which the late Lee Kuan Yew once made a comment about its close relationship with the PAP.
At a public forum, Mr Lee once commented on what some PRC officials had observed when they were visiting Singapore. He said, “They (PRCs) discover that the People’s Action Party (PAP) has only a small office in Bedok. But everywhere they go, they see the PAP – in the RCs (residents’ committees), CCCs (citizens’ consultative committees), and the CCs (community clubs).”
All these grassroots organizations (GROs), of course, fall under the purview of PA.
In any case, in its report, AGO censured PA for not obtaining proper approvals for award of contracts and variation.
It said that it has test checked 189 purchases amounting to $6.03 million made by PA’s 18 GROs during this audit. Out of the 18 GROs, 13 (or 72%) were found not to have obtained proper approvals for award of contracts and variation for some 25 purchases totalling $619,900.
Some of the lapses highlighted by AGO were as follows:
a. 19 purchases (totalling $497,400) made by 10 GROs without approval, with only verbal approvals, or with approvals obtained only after goods and services had been delivered.
b. 6 purchases (totalling $122,500) made by five GROs with approvals for award of contracts and variation obtained from the wrong parties. The approving parties were either not authorised or had lower approval limits.
“Not obtaining approvals from the appropriate authorities before awarding the contracts would undermine the role of the approving authorities and the award of contracts would not be subject to the scrutiny of the relevant authorities,” AGO said.
“Delays in seeking approval indicate laxity in controls over the award of contracts. Retrospective approvals weaken the controls put in place to ensure that contracts are properly considered by the approving authorities before they are awarded.”
“Recurring lapse” on the part of PA
AGO also noted that failure to obtain proper approvals for award of contracts is a “recurring lapse”. A similar observation was raised in the Report of the Auditor-General for the financial year 2014/15, three years ago.
PA explained that some of the lapses pointed out by AGO resulted from “unexpected requirements” that arose at short notice. Nevertheless, PA acknowledged that proper approvals should have been sought for award of the contracts and that it would review its financial procedures and strengthen the approval processes to cater for contingency scenarios and ensure that proper approvals from the appropriate authorities were sought.
PA also said it would step up training on procurement for the GROs.
Just the tip of the iceberg?
According to PA’s website, it has some 1,800 GROs reporting to PA.
The Auditor-General notes in the report, “As audits are conducted on a test check basis, they do not reveal all irregularities and weaknesses.”
This means not all 1800 GROs are checked.
In the annual audit for 2014/15, AGO found lapses in the management of tenancy contracts in 35 community club/centre management committees (CCMCs) and common procurement irregularities among the GROs.
In total, the AGO test-checked 115 GROs and many were found to have financial lapses.
Many of which are staffed by members of PAP, and it remains a question as to how many of those amongst the unchecked 1,667 GROs would have problems with their award of contracts to vendors and contractors.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
kuasimi
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...s-association/
High time to audit the books of the People’s Association
By Jeannette Chong-Aruldoss
The People’s Association (“PA”) is an organ heavily funded by taxpayers’ money.
For FY 2012 and FY 2013, it received S$399 million and S$540 million in Government grants respectively. [1]
Earlier this year, the Government increased by 51.3 percent the estimated expenditure of the PA, and allocated the PA over S$1 billion from the public coffers to fund its activities for FY 2015. [2]
On Wednesday (15 July 2015), the Auditor-General’s Office (“AGO”) published its Report for the Financial Year 2014/15 which revealed troubling lapses in PA governance, suggesting that taxpayers’ money granted to PA is not being wisely and accountably spent.
The AGO revealed that 35 Community Club/Centre Management Committees (“CCMCs”) had awarded S$17.78 million worth of tenancy contracts without proper approval.
More surprisingly, it was revealed that Admiralty CCC’s Chairman had approved claims to himself amounting to S$114,767 via seven payments. Conflicts of interest were also discovered in the approving of two contracts totalling $32,000.
By any standards, S$114,767 is a significant amount of claims to request reimbursement for.
This is especially so in the context of a volunteer organization like a CCC.
MPs for Sembawang GRC Mr Khaw Boon Wan and Mr Vikram Nair were quick to highlight that there was “no evidence of dishonesty”.
That is beside the point, and in any case a very low threshold to cross.
The specific questions Minister Khaw and Mr Nair should answer, in relation to Admiralty CCC, are:
A much more significant point of concern is this: the AGO audits are conducted on a test check basis, they do not reveal all irregularities and weaknesses (see page 2 of the AGO Report [3]). In other words, the full extent of the lapses in PA finances and processes highlighted by the AGO Report remains to be ascertained.
Huge amounts of public funds are granted to PA every year. This year, the PA was allocated an unprecedented amount for its expenditure. The worrying lapses revealed by the AGO call for decisive action – the immediate appointment of independent auditors to conduct a full and thorough account of all public funds disbursed by PA. The public has to be assured that the lapses are not endemic. The PA has to be held accountable for how it has deployed our money.
The PA was historically created to help the ruling PAP control the grassroots. [4] It is an organ of the ruling party. The PA’s Chairman is the Prime Minister. It is not politically neutral. Only PAP MPs can be appointed as PA Grassroots Advisers, opposition MPs cannot.
It is also high time to ask if the PA, a politically compromised, heavy user of public funds, should even continue to exist at all. A taxpayer-funded mass movement arm set up to benefit the ruling party has no place in a fair, just and democratic Singapore.
[1] The People’s Association 2013/2014 Annual report
[2]
http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/gove...ty-bonding-lim
[3]
http://www.ago.gov.sg/docs/default-s...52ec114080.pdf
[4]
http://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infoped...83012.html#Fn5
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...ion-last-year/
NTUC Fairprice: From preventing profiteering to making $380 million last year
Published on 2018-07-16 by Correspondent
According to information from NTUC Fairprice website, it was setup in 1973 (then called NTUC Welcome) to “help stabilize the cost of living and prevent profiteering”. At the time, the global oil crisis triggered rising food prices, raising the cost of living in Singapore.
Former Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew once praised NTUC Fairprice:
NTUC Welcome was born during the oil crisis when there was high inflation. In the 1970s, rising oil prices were threatening the basic right of ordinary Singaporeans to decent standards of living. The Co-operative fought resolutely against profiteering to ensure that ordinary Singaporeans would have access to low-cost daily necessities.
Despite razor-thin profits and the struggle to gain suppliers’ trust, it overcame all odds to enable families to enjoy certainty for their basic needs in our early days of nation building.
Today, it said that its mission is to continue to “moderate the cost of living in Singapore”:
However, its profits are no longer “razor-thin”. According to its annual report published online, NTUC FairPrice Group made $380 million last year.
NTUC CEO: Eating in is a lot cheaper than eating out
And speaking of moderating the rising cost of living in Singapore, Seah Kian Peng, CEO of NTUC Fairprice as well as MP of Marine Parade GRC, gave a “useful tip” to Parliament last week (10 Jul), telling everyone that “eating in is a lot cheaper than eating out”.
He said, “I think all of us know that eating in is a lot cheaper than eating out wherever you may go. So things like that may be simple tips but I think it’s useful tips which I think could be incorporated within the eight tips that you (Minister Chan) have.”
Seah has been with NTUC FairPrice since January 2001.
Minister Chan Chun Sing said at the end of his reply to Mr Seah: “We thank NTUC’s enterprises for continuing to show leadership in the pricing of its many products and services beyond groceries, today including, healthcare, eldercare and also childcare.”
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...view_id=138410
Bloomberg: Singapore’s economic lead over Malaysia is Shrinking
Published on 2018-07-18 by Kwok Fangjie
In an article on Tuesday (17 Jul), Bloomberg noted that the economic gap between Singapore and its Northern neighbour is set to shrink over the next year.
The author noted that after trailing for a third consecutive year, Malaysia “is inching closer to regaining its lead over Singapore’s economy”.
Malaysia’s GDP in 2017 was $314.5 billion, which is approximately $9.4 billion less than Singapore’s $323.9 billion”
However, Malaysia’s faster economic growth will mean that the gap is closing.
Based on median estimates of economists surveyed by Bloomberg, Malaysia’s economy will expand by about 5.5% in 2018 as compared to 3.1% for Singapore. In other words, the deficit will shrink to just over $2 billion next year.
Businesses in Malaysia are more confident with the Pakatan Harapan coalition government
A news report from Malaysia’s New Straits Times (21 May) said that the appointment of Billionaire Robert Kuok as part of the Council of Elders (CoE) will enhance confidence in the stock market and local government.
Malaysian Industrial Development Finance research head Redza Rahman felt that Kuok’s experience is dealing with the Chinese and Hong Kong governments would be extremely useful to ensure that Malaysia’s relationship with its biggest trading partner continued to be on cordial basis.
Agreeing, Maybank’s Head of Research Wong Chew Hann added that the CoE “comprises very experienced and well-respected names in the investment community.” Amongst others, committee members include former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and former Central Bank governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.
More recently (28 Jun), China’s Xin Hua news reported that Malaysian businesses were more optimistic about the new Pakatan Harapan government. Surveying close to 3,500 SMEs and corporates, the survey said that business outlook in the near term remains upbeat with expected improvements in both turnover and profitability.
What do you think?
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...-organization/
AGO found groceries meant for distribution to needy residents went missing in grassroots organization
Published on 2018-07-17 by Correspondent
The Auditor-General Office (AGO) released its auditing report on government ministries and statutory boards for the Financial Year 2017/18 today (17 Jul).
In its report, AGO pointed out that groceries purchased for needy residents by some grassroots organizations (GROs) were not in accordance with the stipulated contracts and that some of the groceries even went missing.
People’s Association (PA) is the statutory board responsible for all the GROs in Singapore. Some 1,800 GROs report to PA.
Groceries Purchased Not in Accordance with Contracts and Unaccounted For
AGO said it test checked groceries purchased (totaling $169,000) for distribution to needy residents at 2 GROs and found that the type of groceries purchased and prices paid by one GRO were not in accordance with those stated in the contracts with a vendor. As for the other GRO, AGO found that some of the groceries purchased could not be accounted for. In other words, the groceries had gone missing.
AGO test-checked the purchase of 66 types of groceries at the first GRO and found that it had paid prices higher than the contract rates for 9 of them. Another 25 types of groceries purchased were not provided for in the contracts. It did not name the GRC nor the vendor involved.
At the second GRO, AGO found that 12 types of groceries purchased (totaling $2,800) were not in the packing lists for distribution to the residents for 3 of the 5 months test-checked. The GRO also did not maintain records to track the groceries purchased and distributed. Hence, there was no assurance that all groceries purchased were distributed to the needy residents and properly accounted for.
AGO did not say if any Police reports were lodged for the missing groceries. It also did not name the GRO.
PA informed AGO that it would ensure that proper procurement procedures are observed. It would also strengthen its procedures on the stock-taking, packing and distribution of groceries.
Close relationship between PA and PAP
The relationship between PA and the ruling People’s Action Party is a close one. In fact, many of the Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) chairmen are also PAP branch chairmen.
One such CCC chairman who wears both CCC and PAP hats is Mr Victor Lye Thiam Fatt. He is the CCC chairman of Bedok Reservoir-Punggol CCC and also PAP branch chairman. He was part of the PAP team which tried to wrest Aljunied GRC from the WP in the last GE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OngKeKiang
Yes he will fuck Sillypore again .
You saying that the entire highest paid in the world present Singapore leadership cannot handle a 93 years old frail Mahathir?
https://www.theonlinecitizen.com/201...-organization/
AGO found groceries meant for distribution to needy residents went missing in grassroots organization
Published on 2018-07-17 by Correspondent
The Auditor-General Office (AGO) released its auditing report on government ministries and statutory boards for the Financial Year 2017/18 today (17 Jul).
In its report, AGO pointed out that groceries purchased for needy residents by some grassroots organizations (GROs) were not in accordance with the stipulated contracts and that some of the groceries even went missing.
People’s Association (PA) is the statutory board responsible for all the GROs in Singapore. Some 1,800 GROs report to PA.
Groceries Purchased Not in Accordance with Contracts and Unaccounted For
AGO said it test checked groceries purchased (totaling $169,000) for distribution to needy residents at 2 GROs and found that the type of groceries purchased and prices paid by one GRO were not in accordance with those stated in the contracts with a vendor. As for the other GRO, AGO found that some of the groceries purchased could not be accounted for. In other words, the groceries had gone missing.
AGO test-checked the purchase of 66 types of groceries at the first GRO and found that it had paid prices higher than the contract rates for 9 of them. Another 25 types of groceries purchased were not provided for in the contracts. It did not name the GRC nor the vendor involved.
At the second GRO, AGO found that 12 types of groceries purchased (totaling $2,800) were not in the packing lists for distribution to the residents for 3 of the 5 months test-checked. The GRO also did not maintain records to track the groceries purchased and distributed. Hence, there was no assurance that all groceries purchased were distributed to the needy residents and properly accounted for.
AGO did not say if any Police reports were lodged for the missing groceries. It also did not name the GRO.
PA informed AGO that it would ensure that proper procurement procedures are observed. It would also strengthen its procedures on the stock-taking, packing and distribution of groceries.
Close relationship between PA and PAP
The relationship between PA and the ruling People’s Action Party is a close one. In fact, many of the Citizens Consultative Committee (CCC) chairmen are also PAP branch chairmen.
One such CCC chairman who wears both CCC and PAP hats is Mr Victor Lye Thiam Fatt. He is the CCC chairman of Bedok Reservoir-Punggol CCC and also PAP branch chairman. He was part of the PAP team which tried to wrest Aljunied GRC from the WP in the last GE.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OngKeKiang
Yes he will fuck Sillypore again .
You saying that the entire highest paid in the world present Singapore leadership cannot handle a 93 years old frail Mahathir?
http://theindependent.sg/netizen-all...or-membership/
Netizen alleges that PAP MPs drive luxury cars and play golf at Yishun country club without paying for membership
By Jewel Stolarchuk - July 19, 20184776
Facebook user Liew has alleged that he frequently sees a group of ruling party parliamentarians playing golf at the Orchid Country Club in Yishun, even though he believes these politicians are not members of the club.
Liew further shared a video of several luxury cars, such as a McLaren and a Bentley that cost millions, parked at the club’s carpark and alleged that the vehicles are driven by People’s Action Party (PAP) MPs. Liew alleged that the white Bentley captured in the video belongs to a Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC MP and claimed:
“Every Wednesday morning a bunch of PAP MP will play golf at Orchid country club. I am a paying member there and I am very sure they are not member. I am wondering is this perks make known to the public? Is it in line with what they so call clean wages.
“I have taken a Video in the car park. They are all driving luxury car like Mclaren, Bentley that cost more than 1 m. Singapore now has no more civil servant, but only civil boss, that’s why they are driving bigger cars and living in bigger houses than us. We voted them to control us, sound very stupid hoh. The white Bentley SKK 418 R is own by Bishan MP”
https://www.facebook.com/donald.liew...6528811779686/
Liew’s video has garnered over 12.000 views and more than 300 shares since he published it on his Facebook wall earlier today.
Meanwhile, another netizen alleged that ruling party politicians frequently asked him for free upgrades to first class, when he was apparently working with Singapore Airlines.
The netizen, Facebook user David Lam Kiap Tan, further claimed that when he began working with teleservices operator M1, PAP MPs would seek “free exchanges for new phones”:
While several netizens responding to Liew’s claims have responded by urging others to vote these MPs out at the next General Election, several others have expressed doubts at the veracity of Liew’s allegations and have opined that this may just be “fake news”.
One such netizen, Facebook user Terence Tan, pointed out that even if the MPs are not members of the country club, they may have been signed in by their friends who are members:
