Serious AGO: MOM Gong Cheebye! Buy $400k IT System That Cannot Be Used!

In its audit report for Financial Year 2015/2016 published on 26 July, the Auditor-General Office (AGO) found that found that the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) bought a computer system, a Document Generator System (DGS), for a sum of $432,407 for integration with its Foreign Domestic Worker System (FDWS) only to find that it could not be integrated.

AGO states that the DGS had been left unused since November 2014, for one and a half years as at the time of audit. This has resulted in a waste of public funds, said AGO.

In its test-check on assets purchased by MOM for its FDWS (costing $27.49 million), including the DGS, AGO noted that MOM had not carried out a robust evaluation before proceeding with the procurement of the DGS.

AGO noted that MOM, in its tender evaluation in March 2014, did not evaluate whether the DGS could integrate with the FDWS which was to be developed separately.

According to MOM, it decided not to use the DGS after it found out that the DGS could not be integrated with the FDWS in November 2014 as it would not be cost effective to make the required modifications.

However, AGO noted that there was no documentary evidence that MOM had put up any plans to redeploy the unused DGS assets. There were only some working level discussions on the redeployment, which eventually did not materialise.

AGO notes that a number of the DGS assets (such as hardware servers, database licences) could have been redeployed for other uses within MOM or other government agencies. Not doing so would result in a waste of public funds as the usability of these assets would be reduced with the lapse of time, due to technology obsolescence or expiry of licences.

It is said that MOM acknowledged that its evaluation should have been more robust and that it could have taken more active steps to explore redeployment of the DGS assets to other government agencies. MOM informed AGO that it is currently exploring the redeployment of the DGS assets within MOM.

http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2016/07/ago-mom-purchases-400k-computer-system-and-left-it-unused/

What mom needs to do is deploy more teh gu to arrest illicit smokers, DUI drivers, electric cars owners, etc n summon them. Then in matter of months if not years, the cost will b recovered.
In the meantime, the name of person who make this purchase will not be named, so as not to cause public panic.

Another item for Shanmugam to comment about. This is the first time I aware of buying a half million system that cannot be integrated. For government and big companies, vendors will take back the system to save their reputation. Maybe its time to see if this another Brompton corruption case.

scroobal said:

Another item for Shanmugam to comment about. This is the first time I aware of buying a half million system that cannot be integrated. For government and big companies, vendors will take back the system to save their reputation. Maybe its time to see if this another Brompton corruption case.

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It appears that the AGO is more independent than AGC and the Courts.

This one is Lim SHit Say's ministry. Ask him to come and comment.

Why are you calling your master gcb and exposing then

Papsmearer said:

This one is Lim SHit Say's ministry. Ask him to come and comment.

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dat burger wil anyhow say dat tender was done during dat botak n dat jump q wif special privilege burgerz time ...

scroobal said:

Another item for Shanmugam to comment about.

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What's there to comment about?

True, PAP only talked about "ownself check ownself" which they did via the Auditor-General audit. But it did NOT espouse the "ownself explain ownself" theory. YOU did.

chootchiew said:

Why are you calling your master gcb and exposing then

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I am a non-partisan grassroots leader.

AGO has been doing this annually for years and nothing comes out of it in terms of political capital. Occasionally someone in the Admin Service is a delayed a year for promotion.

Give a really good example and very damaging one at that. AGO reported that Sentosa Cove was not tendered out but sold to Chua Tian Poh of Ho Bee directly. The land belonged to Sentosa Development Corporation thru one of its subsidiaries. Chua was on its board of directors and was privy to all the plans and directions of SDC. He resigned from the board before the end of his term and shortly after bought Sentosa Cove.

AGO clearly stated that it true market value could therefore not be determined.

Chua was also CCC Chairman in Braddell under Wong Kan Seng.

The best part is that foreigners who bought properties in Sentosa Cove were entitled for automatic PR under a Govt scheme to bring in the wealthy. So not only he got the land unfairly and probably cheaper he also got a boost and premium when the PR incentive was given.

ginbitchy said:

It appears that the AGO is more independent than AGC and the Courts.

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JohnTan said:

I am a non-partisan grassroots leader.

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You deserve to be a successful person.
We need more grassroots leader like you. I apologise for misunderstanding u previously.
Keep it up sir !

Papsmearer said:

This one is Lim SHit Say's ministry. Ask him to come and comment.

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Cow$8 should ask or is it tell this "chinese helicopter" to come clean & commit harakiri...whet one cannot understand is, the vendor of the system must have demonstrated that it can integrate with the existing system before they buy right? or this is another of their "kawan-ku" ex MOM people, who started a $2 company to sell, a "made in nepal" document system? or was it RSA?

Papsmearer said:

This one is Lim SHit Say's ministry. Ask him to come and comment.

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The $432 400 must be deducted from his pay!!! I hv told him that f trash IT pax stinks but he won't listen!!

Before GE every month got party with satay & ice cream.......... now see him must make appt with his secretaries!!!!!!!!!! Vote him out

ginbitchy said:

It appears that the AGO is more independent than AGC and the Courts.

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Soon many from there will be transferred and some early retirement.

Why are so many PAP foul ups being exposed

Usually the PAP does a better job of hiding these "honest mistakes".

halsey02 said:

Cow$8 should ask or is it tell this "chinese helicopter" to come clean & commit harakiri...whet one cannot understand is, the vendor of the system must have demonstrated that it can integrate with the existing system before they buy right? or this is another of their "kawan-ku" ex MOM people, who started a $2 company to sell, a "made in nepal" document system? or was it RSA?

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Definitely hanky panky going on. In real world corp. they guilty persons would have been fired, and
measures taken to recover money from the vendor. But in MOM case, nothing will be done. TAxpayer money is like water for them. Use whenever they want, no consequence.

johnny333 said:

Why are so many PAP foul ups being exposed

Usually the PAP does a better job of hiding these "honest mistakes".

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Maybe Willie wants to do a Glenn Knight ?

johnny333 said:

Why are so many PAP foul ups being exposed

Usually the PAP does a better job of hiding these "honest mistakes".

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The big question is why WP keep on voting every year in favour of a PAP budget that is obviously being abused by all these Ministries?

halsey02 said:

Cow$8 should ask or is it tell this "chinese helicopter" to come clean & commit harakiri...whet one cannot understand is, the vendor of the system must have demonstrated that it can integrate with the existing system before they buy right? or this is another of their "kawan-ku" ex MOM people, who started a $2 company to sell, a "made in nepal" document system? or was it RSA?

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Every single minister is very quiet now. How come no one post on their FB accounts?

Papsmearer said:

Definitely hanky panky going on. In real world corp. they guilty persons would have been fired, and
measures taken to recover money from the vendor. But in MOM case, nothing will be done. TAxpayer money is like water for them. Use whenever they want, no consequence.

Click to expand...

Many of us work in the private sectors all our life, if I had put in a presentation to the boss or bosses of the company with a vendor for improvement to any systems & they approved the project. If the project when tested & commissioned & is at odds with the current system & cost the company $400K....I am in charge, first, I will get f$%#$^, second, I will get investigated, if I am on the 'take' from the vendor(s) & lastly...SACKED & may face a lawsuit to recover the money for incompetency.

But in MOM case...the people, will still get their designer chairs to sit on, get the annual bonuses & could even get promoted...& you can bet those involved...may have 'faded into the woodwork'...have resigned & gone....

Where is the accountability?, transparency? or?? did anyone commit harakiri..when the AGO report came out?:roll eyes:

wait, wait....was there recently a comment on not having a culture of naming people? & not to alarm the public too?