Governance & integrity — Topics

8 Jan 2018

Measures to Prevent Further Fraudulent Claims for SkillsFuture

The Minister for Education addressed two separate fraudulent claims cases, detailing that over 4,400 individuals made false claims totaling over $2 million under SkillsFuture Credit, while a criminal syndicate orchestrated $40 million in fraudulent claims under the Skills Development Fund.
Counter-measures include stopping direct reimbursement to individuals for SkillsFuture Credit, instead paying training providers directly to reduce fraud risk, and forming an Interagency Task Force to review and strengthen fraud detection systems using data analytics with help from GovTech and private consultants.
The government emphasized balancing fraud prevention with maintaining the ease of use for genuine employers, aiming to avoid overburdening them while ensuring public funds are protected and perpetrators face legal consequences.

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7 Nov 2017

Clarification by Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information

Mr. Chee Hong Tat clarified that Mediacorp's truncation of a parliamentary debate footage was due to a technical error fixed before Mr. Perera's email, and that the policy is to upload full debates verbatim, with rearrangements by speaker for viewer convenience.
Mr. Perera confirmed his recollection of the exchange with Mediacorp and accepted the assurance that video footage is not edited as a matter of policy, except for technical glitches.
Mr. Chee asked Mr. Perera to declare any interests regarding his support for e-cigarettes during the Tobacco Bill debate, noting his role as CEO of Spire Group.
Mr. Perera stated his comments were not motivated by financial gain, that Spire Group does not serve tobacco clients, and strongly objected to any insinuation of commercial motivation.
Mr. Chee further inquired if Henkel, a manufacturer for cigarettes, was a client of Spire Group; Mr. Perera acknowledged Henkel was a small past client but reaffirmed no current ties to tobacco companies and reiterated his objection to any commercial insinuation.

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7 Nov 2017

7 October 2017 SMRT Flooding Incident and Related Issues

The Minister explained that the 7 October 2017 flooding at Bishan MRT was due to maintenance neglect and falsified records by SMRT staff, while a separate electrical arcing incident occurred concurrently, causing service disruptions.
SMRT management accepted responsibility, suspended involved staff and supervisors, and announced immediate corrective measures including increased maintenance frequency, technology upgrades, and an independent review by Taipei Metro experts.
LTA and SMRT will form a Joint Readiness Inspection team, while the government emphasized the need for a collaborative regulator-operator relationship to improve rail reliability and asset renewal, despite challenges like limited engineering hours.

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7 Nov 2017

Video Recordings of Parliamentary Proceedings

Leon Perera questioned the ownership of copyright for parliamentary video recordings and suggested removing copyright to make them freely available, citing practices in other developed countries.
The Senior Minister of State clarified that the government owns the copyright, commissions Mediacorp to broadcast proceedings, and that the current arrangement works well with free access for personal use.
Perera raised concerns about corporate control over editing and archiving, proposing an alternative funding model, while the minister defended the editing as only for organization and denied any removal of content.
The minister emphasized low demand for live streaming and argued against changing a functional system without a proven problem, referencing prior discussions in Parliament.
The debate highlighted differing views on transparency, public access, and the role of private entities versus government in managing parliamentary recordings.

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6 Nov 2017

Review of MOT and LTA Senior Staff Remuneration and Bonuses

Leon Perera questioned whether the MRT tunnel flooding incident would affect the compensation of senior staff at the Ministry of Transport and LTA, given the impact on operator maintenance team bonuses.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that rail maintenance responsibility lies with operators, while LTA sets standards and conducts audits, prioritizing high-risk areas.
LTA highlighted the importance of pump maintenance to SMRT in September 2017, but the flooding occurred before replacement actions were completed.
Khaw affirmed there was no evidence of regulatory oversight shortcomings by LTA or Ministry staff.
The debate focused on accountability in senior staff remuneration linked to operational incidents versus regulatory roles.

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6 Nov 2017

Charities (Amendment) Bill

The bill aims to amend the Charities Act to enhance governance and transparency in the charity sector.
It introduces measures to streamline reporting requirements and improve accountability for charitable organizations.
The amendment seeks to align charity regulations with international standards and best practices.
The bill was presented by Senior Minister of State Ms Sim Ann on behalf of the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth.

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3 Oct 2017

Counting from President Wee Kim Wee or President Ong Teng Cheong for Reserved Presidential Election − Policy Decision or Legal Question?

Sylvia Lim accused the government of misleading Parliament by claiming the decision to count reserved presidential elections from President Wee Kim Wee was based on legal advice, when it was actually a policy decision made by the government itself.
Minister K Shanmugam countered that the government was clear from the start that counting was a policy matter for Parliament, and that seeking legal advice was standard procedure to ensure there were no legal impediments.
The debate highlighted conflicting statements from government ministers and the Attorney-General's Chambers, with the AGC later stating in court that its advice was irrelevant to the constitutional question.

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2 Oct 2017

Audit (Amendment) Bill

The Audit (Amendment) Bill seeks to enhance the Auditor-General's powers to conduct "follow-the-dollar" audits on non-government entities that receive public funds, ensuring these funds are used according to specified terms and conditions.
The amendments introduce explicit provisions to exclude the common law privilege against self-incrimination during audits, aiming to improve efficiency while maintaining safeguards that such information cannot be used in civil or criminal proceedings except for specific offenses.
The Bill balances accountability with practical concerns, as the Finance Minister's approval is required for audits based on public interest, and the scope is limited to funding compliance to avoid excessive regulatory burden on entities.

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2 Oct 2017

Declarations by Town Councils of Secretaries who Fall under New Disqualification Criteria

Sylvia Lim asked the Minister for National Development how many Town Councils had declared their secretaries or key officers fell under new disqualification criteria under sections 20(1A) and 20(3) of the Town Councils Act, and which Town Councils made such declarations.
The Second Minister for National Development explained that amendments to the Act disqualify Managing Agents and auditors from key Town Council roles to reduce conflict of interest risks, with the criteria applying to auditors, owners, substantial shareholders, or executive decision-makers of the Managing Agent firm.
The Ministry of National Development requested in May 2017 that all Town Councils inform it if any existing key appointment holders met the new disqualification criteria, and all Town Councils responded that none of their key appointment holders fell within the criteria.

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2 Oct 2017

Findings on Improper Payments in Auditor-General's Report

Mr Png Eng Huat questioned whether all entities named in the Auditor-General's Report would investigate improper payments and recover funds, and raised concerns that the report's language might wrongly imply no fraud was present.
Senior Minister of State Indranee Rajah clarified that the audit found no fraud or dishonesty, with lapses due to human error or procedural non-compliance, and agencies are already taking corrective actions to recover overpayments.
She explained that audits are sample-based and not forensic, so they cannot prove the absence of fraud, but they highlight lapses that may or may not require further investigation based on their nature.
Mr Png argued that ministries should not assume no fraud exists simply because the audit did not find evidence, and criticized MOH for stating that the report indicated no fraud, which he felt was an overinterpretation.
Ms Rajah responded that forensic investigation is triggered only by specific red flags like conflict of interest, and since the lapses here were procedural and not indicative of systemic issues, no further forensic inquiry was warranted.

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11 Sep 2017

Accountability Review of Government Officers Following Lapses in Controls

Ms Foo Mee Har inquired if there will be an accountability review of government officers following financial control lapses in grants, projects, and IT governance as reported by the Auditor-General for FY2016/17.
Minister Heng Swee Keat stated that agency heads are responsible for investigating lapses, rectifying issues, and taking appropriate disciplinary actions based on individual culpability and severity.
He noted the lapses were due to individual negligence or procedural non-compliance, with no evidence of systemic weaknesses, and that rectification for most cases is on track to be completed by October 2017.
The Minister emphasized that officers will be held accountable through disciplinary actions and performance appraisals, with follow-up ensured by the Auditor-General's Office and accountability to the Public Accounts Committee.

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1 Aug 2017

Guidelines and Avenues for Political Appointees to Address Allegations Publicly

Chen Show Mao asked the Prime Minister about the rules and norms for Ministers or political appointees to defend their reputation in court or publicly address allegations, such as in Parliament.
Lee Hsien Loong stated that Ministers accused of improper conduct must clear their names publicly to prevent harm to the Government's reputation, as outlined in his 2017 Ministerial Statement.
For serious allegations, Ministers should typically pursue defamation in court unless special considerations apply and may also need to address the matter in Parliament if it concerns public duties and interest.
These actions—court action and parliamentary accountability—are not mutually exclusive, and public accounting is always required.

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1 Aug 2017

Foreign Interference in Singapore Elections

The Government outlined existing measures to combat foreign interference, including laws prohibiting foreign participation and funding, cybersecurity protections for IT systems, and regulations on foreign ownership of media.
Ministers emphasized that Singaporeans themselves are the best defense, requiring a vigilant and discerning electorate to recognize and resist foreign influence campaigns, especially through social media.
For the upcoming Presidential Election, existing measures remain in place, with continued public education on fake news and cooperation with social media companies to address malicious content.

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4 Jul 2017

38 Oxley Road

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong strongly refuted allegations of abuse of power, stating that all government processes regarding 38 Oxley Road were proper and no evidence of misconduct was presented during the debate.
The government explained that the Ministerial Committee was a normal, coordinated effort to consider public interest and heritage options for the property, denying any conflict of interest or improper influence, while acknowledging the emotional family context.
Both leaders expressed hope for family reconciliation and urged focus on national priorities, stating that no further action such as a commission of inquiry or legal proceedings is warranted based on the current unsubstantiated allegations.

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4 Jul 2017

38 Oxley Road

Multiple Members of Parliament expressed concern that the public dispute between the Prime Minister and his siblings over 38 Oxley Road, and the allegations of abuse of power, have damaged Singapore's reputation and distracted the government from key national issues, while also calling for a resolution to restore public trust and confidence in the system.
Several speakers defended the Prime Minister and the government, stating that no evidence of abuse of power was presented and that the formation of the Ministerial Committee and the Prime Minister's recusal were proper procedures, with some urging the siblings to reconcile privately and avoid further public damage to the Lee family legacy.
Questions were raised about the processes involving the Deed of Gift for artefacts from the house, the potential conflict of interest in negotiations, and the need for transparency, with the Minister for National Development clarifying the circumstances and committing to strengthen internal processes to prevent similar issues.

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4 Jul 2017

Information on Public Sector Corruption Cases in 2016

In 2016, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau registered 118 cases for investigation, with 15% from the public sector, and the total bribe amount for prosecuted public servants was $24,800.
Of the 92 cases carried forward from 2015, 13 took more than two years to investigate, and the breakdown of cases alerted by internal staff was three and by external sources was one.
Out of 18 public sector cases investigated, four were prosecuted in court while the rest received warnings or departmental actions, with decisions based on evidence strength, case severity, and complexity.

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3 Jul 2017

Penalty for HDB's Home Improvement Programme Contractors Due to Service or Quality Lapses

Dennis Tan asked whether HDB publishes the names of contractors penalised for service or quality lapses under the Home Improvement Programme and how many penalised contractors were re-awarded contracts between 2012 and 2016.
Lawrence Wong responded that HDB does not publish the names of penalised contractors but takes strict enforcement actions, including demerit points and administrative charges.
Between 2012 and 2016, 22 contractors were penalised, with four restricted from tendering for HDB projects.
After showing improvements, three of the restricted contractors were later successful in tendering for further HIP projects.

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3 Jul 2017

38 Oxley Road

The Senior Minister of State argued that the Ministerial Committee is studying intermediate options for 38 Oxley Road, which aligns with the stated wishes of both Deputy PM Teo and Mr Lee Hsien Yang, and that the allegations against the Committee are unsubstantiated.
She addressed concerns about the will's drafting, stating that while the Committee reviewed it to understand Mr Lee Kuan Yew's wishes, it is not for them to decide on its validity, and highlighted the legal requirement for independent advice when a lawyer drafts a will for a relative.
The Minister defended the appointments of the Attorney-General and Deputy AG, asserting that conflict of interest rules are being observed, they are not advising on matters they previously handled, and their quality and integrity are paramount.
During clarifications, she stated that the AG and Deputy AG are not advising the Government on the Lee estate matters, that lawyers recuse themselves from conflicts, and that concerns about the appearance of distance are addressed by their professional duty to act independently without fear or favour.

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3 Jul 2017

38 Oxley Road

The Prime Minister and government ministers defended their handling of the 38 Oxley Road dispute, stating that the Ministerial Committee was established to explore future options for the property in line with due process, while asserting that the Prime Minister had recused himself from all decisions and that no abuse of power occurred.
Minister Lawrence Wong clarified the unusual Deed of Gift between the National Heritage Board and the executors of Lee Kuan Yew's estate, explaining the circumstances and noting that the Prime Minister’s consent as a beneficiary was not initially sought but was later obtained, allowing the exhibition to proceed.
Several MPs expressed concern over the public nature of the family dispute and its impact on Singapore’s reputation, with some calling for the matter to be resolved privately or through the courts, while others urged for transparency and a clear separation between private and public matters.
The debate highlighted broader questions about the independence of state institutions, potential conflicts of interest involving senior officials, and the appropriate forum for addressing serious allegations of abuse of power, with some MPs proposing a parliamentary select committee for further investigation.

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3 Jul 2017

Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road

The Ministerial Committee on 38 Oxley Road was formed to prepare possible options for the property’s future, considering its historical significance and Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s wishes, but it does not make decisions while Dr Lee Wei Ling resides there.
The government emphasises its adherence to strict codes of conduct and due process, including the Prime Minister’s recusal due to conflict of interest, and refutes allegations of secrecy or abuse of power, stating the Committee’s work is transparent and normal.
The Committee is studying a range of intermediate options for the property, such as preserving the basement dining room with a heritage centre, and will consult the public in due course, while no immediate decision is required.

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