Governance & integrity — Topics

5 Jun 2020

Government's Procurement of Goods and Services during COVID-19 Pandemic

The Government's default procurement framework uses the GeBIZ platform for open sourcing, but allows limited tenders or direct contracting for urgent needs like public health protection during emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Due to the pandemic's urgency, some contracts were issued directly outside GeBIZ to quickly secure essential supplies, with agencies required to evaluate quotes against market benchmarks, and all procurements remain subject to audit and compliance reviews.
The proportion of COVID-19 procurement by dollar value through GeBIZ versus other methods is not yet available as procurement is ongoing, but the Government intends to increase GeBIZ usage as time constraints ease.
The Government will publish summary information on COVID-19 procurement in due course to support market transparency, though the timeline is uncertain due to the evolving nature of the pandemic.
International practices, such as those in Australia, the EU, New Zealand, the UK, and the US, also permit direct contracting in emergencies, aligning with WTO standards and ensuring competitive prices and quality through evaluation processes.

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5 May 2020

Issuance of POFMA Correction Direction for Online Commentaries on Compensation of Temasek Holdings CEO

Leon Perera questioned the public interest grounds for the POFMA Correction Direction issued on false statements about the Temasek Holdings CEO’s compensation, asking how the statements harmed public interest as defined under POFMA.
The Second Minister for Finance declined to answer, citing that the issue was before the High Court due to a judicial review application by The Online Citizen, making it inappropriate to discuss the public interest grounds at that stage.
Perera raised a supplementary concern that issuing POFMA directives without disclosing the real compensation figures might erode public trust by breeding speculation, rather than reinforcing trust in institutions.
The Minister responded that the public trust issue would be determined by the Court’s independent judgment on whether the POFMA test was met, as part of the judicial review proceedings.

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4 May 2020

Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill

Ong Teng Koon argued that a strong government with a legitimate mandate is essential for effective crisis management, and this Bill ensures safe, fair elections by implementing COVID-19 precautions like staggered voting and virtual campaigning.
Anthea Ong raised concerns that the Bill could exclude quarantined, vulnerable, or overseas voters, threatening democratic integrity, and urged that the Bill be a last resort rather than a go-ahead for an early election during the pandemic.
Louis Ng Kok Kwang supported contingency planning for elections but sought clarifications on resources for special polling stations, vote secrecy, voter and agent training, polling delays, and overseas voting arrangements.
Chan Chun Sing clarified that the Bill does not remove voting rights but enables more to vote safely, addressed concerns on quarantine voters, campaigning fairness, and online voting, and emphasized that the PM decides election timing while ensuring safety through measures inspired by South Korea.

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4 May 2020

Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill

The Minister introduced the Bill to enable safe elections during the COVID-19 pandemic by allowing special voting arrangements for voters under movement control orders and permitting candidates to authorize representatives to file nomination papers if they are unable to attend due to health reasons.
Parliamentarians expressed support for the Bill but raised concerns about the lack of provisions for remote electronic voting, clarity on the commitment to facilitate voting for all quarantined voters, and the need for clear campaigning regulations to ensure public health and fairness.
The Minister emphasized that the Bill is a contingency plan and unrelated to the timing of the election, which will be decided by the Prime Minister based on the evolving COVID-19 situation.

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7 Apr 2020

Parliamentary Elections (COVID-19 Special Arrangements) Bill

The bill allows for temporary arrangements to enable voters under COVID-19 stay orders to cast their ballots outside their electoral divisions.
It permits aspiring candidates who are ill to submit nominations remotely instead of being physically present during proceedings.
The legislation introduces special steps for the polling and vote-counting process to protect public health.

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4 Mar 2020

Conduct Independent Environmental Assessments and Release Regular Reports to Public during Construction of Cross Island MRT Line

Louis Ng asked if the Ministry will conduct independent environmental assessments and release regular public reports on mitigation measures during Cross Island Line construction near the Central Catchment Nature Reserve.
Khaw Boon Wan said the Land Transport Authority will appoint a contractor to engage an environmental consultant to implement the Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan, which is part of the gazetted Environmental Impact Assessment and was developed with stakeholder input.
The LTA will involve nature group representatives in reviewing mitigation measures and will establish an Environmental Advisory Panel of experts to independently assess the consultant’s implementation of the plan.

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3 Mar 2020

Air Quality Tests Done at End of Incineration Plant Flues

Ms Anthea Ong inquired about the monitoring of air quality from incineration plant flues, the range of toxins tested, and whether test results should be published to ensure safety.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) mandates annual emissions testing by accredited laboratories for Waste-to-Energy plants to comply with standards for pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, dioxins, and furans.
Operators failing to meet standards face fines up to $20,000 for a first conviction and $50,000 for subsequent offenses, with NEA conducting biannual inspections to verify equipment maintenance.
Singapore's emission standards are publicly available and comparable to other jurisdictions, but only NEA-operated plants publish annual data on key pollutants like particulate matter and sulphur dioxide.

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28 Feb 2020

Committee of Supply – Head B (Attorney-General's Chambers)

Sylvia Lim proposed splitting the Attorney-General's dual role as Public Prosecutor and government legal advisor to enhance independence and suggested a minimum tenure for the office.
The Senior Minister of State for Law responded that Singapore's system already has robust safeguards, including constitutional provisions and a dual-key appointment process, and highlighted high public trust in the legal system.
The Minister noted that other jurisdictions have different systems and that Singapore's approach, with non-political appointees and strong removal protections, ensures independence without needing structural separation.

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28 Feb 2020

Committee of Supply – Head M (Ministry of Finance)

Members raised concerns about recurring lapses in public sector procurement and contract management, prompting questions on how MOF ensures accountability, value-for-money, and effective tracking of government spending, especially for large infrastructure projects.
The debate touched on fiscal sustainability and the use of reserves, with inquiries about the long-term viability of Net Investment Returns Contribution (NIRC) growth and the approach to debt financing for major projects.
Issues around transparency and accountability for sovereign wealth funds (GIC and Temasek) were highlighted, with calls for greater disclosure on succession planning and executive remuneration.
Several MPs advocated for tax reliefs and child benefits to be extended to single unwed parents and single fathers, arguing that current policies discriminate against them despite government statements valuing all parents equally.
The government outlined efforts to transform public service processes, including digitalisation of procurement, enhanced SME participation in government tenders, and partnerships under the SG Together movement to co-create solutions for inclusive growth and support for persons with special needs.

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4 Feb 2020

Personal Data Disclosure in the Case of Ms Sua Li Li

Ms Anthea Ong questioned the justification for disclosing Ms Sua Li Li's personal data without consent, asking why a pseudonym was not used and what the definition of "public interest" entailed in this case.
The Senior Minister of State explained that the disclosure was necessary to correct misleading statements in an article and maintain public trust, noting that Ms Sua had already revealed her identity elsewhere.
He stated that the Government's response was calibrated to the situation, and that POFMA was not used because a public clarification was deemed appropriate, while also clarifying that no mandatory justification requirement exists for such disclosures.
Ms Ong asked about the legal basis for the disclosure and whether the Government’s Instruction Manuals could be made publicly accessible, but the Minister indicated that prior parliamentary answers had addressed these issues.
The Minister emphasized that the public interest served was to prevent misinformation about government processes, particularly in social welfare and medical care, and that facts disclosed were already in the public domain.

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3 Feb 2020

Review of NUS Business School Researchers' Findings on Property Developers Exchanging Information on Government Land Sales Resulting in Imputed Losses

Assoc Prof Daniel Goh asked whether the Ministry and SLA would investigate NUS Business School researchers' findings that property developers exchanged information on Government Land Sales, leading to imputed losses of hundreds of millions from lower winning tender bids.
Lawrence Wong stated that the GLS tender process is open and transparent, with the NUS researchers withdrawing insider trading claims and noting no evidence of such activity, while MND's review of 103 tenders showed multiple bids per site and awards aligned with market value.
The Government affirmed it will take action, such as closing a tender without award or enforcing the law, if there is suspicion of collusion or freak results in the tender process.

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3 Feb 2020

Amount of Grant and Subsidies Given to PAP Community Foundation for Set-up and Operation of Childcare Centres and Kindergartens

The government provides grants to pre-school operators like the PAP Community Foundation (PCF) under schemes that require fee caps and quality improvements, with funding based on the number of places and services offered.
From 2014 to 2018, the average government grant for each Singapore Citizen child enrolled in PCF Sparkletots was about $3,500 per year, compared to an average of $4,300 across all anchor operators.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary declined to provide the total grant amount for PCF over the past five years, stating that per-child figures are more meaningful due to varying operator sizes.
A follow-up question was raised about using state-subsidised facilities for political activities like Meet-the-People sessions, but the official referred to previous discussions in Parliament for answers.

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3 Feb 2020

Collection of Carbon Tax and Release of Information for Carbon Tax Collections

Louis Ng Kok Kwang asked about the timeline for collecting carbon tax payments for 2019, the date for publishing the total collected amount, and whether a breakdown by facility would be released.
The Minister confirmed that companies must submit emissions reports by June 2020 and pay the tax by September 2020, with total collections published annually in the Budget Book, but facility-specific data cannot be disclosed due to confidentiality.
Louis Ng argued that public scrutiny of company payments could accelerate climate action, while the Minister emphasized that the carbon tax aims to provide an economy-wide price signal, not to target individual companies.
Louis Ng suggested releasing aggregated data by facility type and size to identify high-emission industries without naming companies, but the Minister noted that the small number of large emitters could make such data too revealing.
The debate centered on balancing transparency with the carbon tax's policy intent, with the government prioritizing sector-level insights over company-specific disclosure.

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6 Jan 2020

Clarification by Minister for Communications and Information

The Minister stated that every POFMA action requires verification of a falsehood, satisfaction of a public interest requirement, and a clear public explanation, with appeals and court recourse available.
He clarified that the public interest examples in the Act are illustrative, not exhaustive, and each Direction includes evidence and explanation of the public interest consideration.
The Minister emphasized that the process is proportional, fit for purpose, and actions are taken based on the specific situation, with transparency in the rationale provided.

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6 Jan 2020

Obligations Placed on Digital Advertising and Internet Intermediaries under Code of Practice for Transparency of Online Political Advertisements

The Minister explained that the Code of Practice requires digital and internet intermediaries to display disclosure notices on political ads and maintain a database, drawing from international practices to enhance transparency and accountability.
Sylvia Lim agreed with public disclosure but questioned why the Code applies to all online ads, not just potentially fake ones, and raised concerns about the POFMA Office accessing detailed ad records even if the content is not false.
The Minister clarified that the Code applies broadly under POFMA, with ad records kept by intermediaries to enable action if needed, similar to practices by platforms like Facebook, and dismissed concerns about the Office using records to uncover political strategies.

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6 Jan 2020

Measuring Public Interest Threshold and Maintaining Public Trust under Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Framework

The Minister explained that the public interest threshold under POFMA is determined by Ministers based on advice from officials, focusing on the falsehood itself and the public interest, not the identity of the person or entity spreading it, and noted that recent actions against politically affiliated individuals were coincidental and not indicative of future patterns.
The Minister emphasized that POFMA responses consider multiple factors including the virulence and impact of the falsehood, not just virality, and that alternative mechanisms like public statements or education are also used to address falsehoods proportionately.
The Minister acknowledged limited monitoring resources but confirmed some effort to track false content, primarily focusing on egregious cases, whether flagged by reports or proactive checks, and stated that actions are targeted and proportional to maintain public trust.
Anthea Ong raised concerns about the perception of partisan bias in POFMA applications and questioned why more non-partisan falsehoods in the public interest were not addressed, highlighting the need for greater transparency and a central listing of all issued directions to uphold public trust.

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6 Jan 2020

Measuring Public Interest Threshold and Maintaining Public Trust under Protection From Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA) Framework

Members of Parliament raised concerns about how the public interest threshold under POFMA is determined, whether Ministers should specify the public interest criteria met when issuing directions, and if a central listing of all POFMA directions should be created.
The Minister for Communications and Information responded that POFMA is applied proportionally to counter falsehoods that threaten public trust, with transparency through Ministry clarifications, avenues for appeal, and existing listings of directions on government websites.
Follow-up questions questioned the frequency of POFMA's use, the need for detailed public interest rationales per case, and whether the government monitors all fake news, to which the Minister emphasized the measured, situation-driven application of POFMA and limited resources for comprehensive monitoring.

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5 Nov 2019

Disbursements of Public Monies to Citizens’ Consultative Committee and Community Development and Welfare Funds in Last Three Years

Ms. Anthea Ong questioned the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth on the disbursement of public monies to Citizens’ Consultative Committees (CCCs) and Community Development and Welfare Funds (CDWFs) over the last three years, including breakdowns, eligibility criteria, assistance amounts and duration, and application processes for these and the CCC ComCare Fund (CCF).
The Minister clarified that elected MPs represent constituents in Parliament and manage town councils, while Grassroots Advisors (GRAs) are appointed by the People’s Association to guide grassroots organizations in implementing government policies and programs.
CCCs and CDWF committees, appointed by the PA, administer funds based on established criteria, with CDWF providing community bonding and welfare assistance to residents in the constituency, and CCF offering up to three months of temporary financial relief capped at $200 per month.
Residents apply for assistance at Community Centres/Clubs, and if ineligible, the CCC and CDWF committees may involve GRAs to connect them with other support; on average, PA provides about $290,000 to each CCC and $9,000 to each CDWF annually for welfare and community programs.

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5 Nov 2019

Governance of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council

Heng Swee Keat urged Workers' Party members to address integrity concerns, stating that multiple levels of responsibility had failed and calling for them to reflect and act on the motion.
The Speaker initiated a Division vote on a motion affirming the importance of MP integrity, noting a court judgment that found Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang dishonest and in breach of fiduciary duties.
The motion also noted that Lim and Low remained in their Town Council roles and called for their recusal from financial matters.
The Division resulted in 52 Ayes, 9 Noes, and 2 Abstentions, with the motion passing.
The debate underscored concerns over clean politics and accountability in the governance of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council.

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5 Nov 2019

Governance of Aljunied-Hougang Town Council

The Deputy Prime Minister moved a motion affirming the importance of integrity for MPs, citing a High Court judgment that found Workers' Party MPs Sylvia Lim and Low Thia Khiang dishonest and in breach of fiduciary duties, and calling for their recusal from financial matters at Aljunied-Hougang Town Council pending any appeal.
Workers' Party MPs, including Sylvia Lim and Pritam Singh, opposed the motion, arguing it was premature due to an ongoing appeal and denying claims of obstruction or hiding documents, while maintaining their commitment to accountability and stating the Town Council will decide on recusal.
Government ministers and MPs supporting the motion emphasized the serious findings of dishonesty and misuse of public funds, urging immediate recusal as a matter of good governance and noting that similar standards apply to all public officials regardless of party.
The debate highlighted broader principles of transparency, with government speakers asserting that MPs must be held to high standards and that the Workers' Party’s response would signal their values, while Workers' Party members defended their actions and questioned the motion’s timing and motives.
The motion’s outcome would be decided by Parliament, with government MPs pressing for action to safeguard residents’ interests and public funds, while Workers' Party members stressed due process and the need to await the appeal’s conclusion before any steps.

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