DPM Tharman admits gahmen procurement processes need to be stricter

[Rogue Trader]

Govt not satisfied with current state of procurement: DPM Tharman


Updated 03:00 PM Aug 12, 2012

SINGAPORE - The government is not satisfied with the current state of procurement said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Mr Tharman said the government was looking at how the process can be improved.

The deputy prime minister, who is also the Minister for Finance, said this means a constant review of the rules and guidelines.

"The rules by and large are there. They're in the right shape," Mr Tharman said. "It's compliance with the rules (that is the issue), and this is partly a matter of competence - we've got to build up the competence of procurement officers."

Independent audits and taking prompt action when there are irregularities are also critical, Mr Tharman added.

"We've got to stay alert and keep confidence in the public sector and in the way we're using our funds," he said.

"That means not just in the way we handle large-value tenders, where the checks are very stringent, but also many of the other smaller value quotations. That's got to be on the radar as well."

The government's procurement process came under the spotlight after an internal audit found discrepancies in NParks' purchase of foldable Brompton bicycles, each costing S$2,200. An NParks officer has been suspended over the case.

On the topic of Singapore's declining fertility rate, Mr Tharman said while it was not a problem unique to Singapore, it is a fundamental and serious concern.

He said the government is conducting a comprehensive review of its set of policies, adding that making family life enjoyable is part of it and that involves having community facilities.

Mr Tharman was speaking at the official opening of Singapore's only Olympic-sized ice rink at JCube shopping mall in Jurong East today. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

 

[Leongsam]

The government's procurement process came under the spotlight after an internal audit found discrepancies in NParks' purchase of foldable Brompton bicycles, each costing S$2,200. An NParks officer has been suspended over the case.[/COLOR]

That's a load of bull. There was no internal audit till a clinical and thorough expose was performed and revealed on the internet.

 

[myo539]

That's a load of bull. There was no internal audit till a clinical and thorough expose was performed and revealed on the internet.

You are an alien! There are "internal" and "external" audits in all ministries.
Singapore is not only clean; it aims to be squeaky clean.

Are you a Bangla or Indon who says :"Sir, Madam, no need to clean, there is no dust."

 

[Papsmearer]

You are an alien! There are "internal" and "external" audits in all ministries.
Singapore is not only clean; it aims to be squeaky clean.

Are you a Bangla or Indon who says :"Sir, Madam, no need to clean, there is no dust."

Well PAP cocksucker, did you read the article? Tharm himself say there is a problem, must do more, and it needs to be "improved". If everything so good like you say, no need to do anything more mah. Understand or not, stupid.

 

[Confuseous]

As usual, this Tharman bugger is trying to BS his way through. In the past 5 years, the Auditor-General's annual report has always identified incompetent procurement officers as the cause of the purchasing system. Whether these incompetents were really incompetents or testing the system, we will never know. But what we do know is that what has the government been doing about it before the recent high profile cases.

 

[BuiKia]

How can that be? The procedures are thought through by scholars, those who are paid very well by the government.

 

[Television]

 

[jw5]

The problem is probably less about the procedures and more about the people carrying them out, including the values they have learnt from their parents, grandparents, maids, leaders and/or teachers.

 

[Dreamer1]

That's a load of bull. There was no internal audit till a clinical and thorough expose was performed and revealed on the internet.

Mr Tharman, the deputy prime minister, who is also the Minister for Finance, has no where else to siam,so this is the best performance he managed,actually it is above my own expectation.

 

[Faidenk]

Eliminating corruption? just pay them more. Isn't this the time-tested way in Singapore?

 

[hurley]

nowadays, well paid is not enough. need to provide sex as well.

How can that be? The procedures are thought through by scholars, those who are paid very well by the government.

 

[enterprise2]

Its not just the procurement process but the entire purchasing process that needs to be reviewed. For starters why government building needs to be so grand?? Remember one MP described our garment buildings as the 7 wonders of the world. So specifications needs to be relooked at. Just like ergo chairs for MOH building and brompton bikes for NPB. After that we look at the tender process.

 

[streetsmart73]

That's a load of bull. There was no internal audit till a clinical and thorough expose was performed and revealed on the internet.

hi there


1. sammy, bingo!
2. not just bullshit.
3. there are tons of scholars there, multi-million salaried sheep.
4. a load of useless crap that blahs!

 

[streetsmart73]

hi there


1. my take: ic!
2. incompetent & complacent!

 

[ChaoPappyPoodle]

When SLA had its civil servants caught for corruption he said the same thing. What did they do since then? Obviously they are less concerned with issues to solve corruption problems within the civil service.