Governance & integrity — Topics

13 Feb 2015

Auditor-General's Report on the Audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC)

The debate centered on the Auditor-General's findings of serious deficiencies in AHPETC's financial management, including weak accounting systems, unreliable accounts, lack of oversight on related-party transactions, and risks to public funds.
Ministers and PAP MPs criticized AHPETC for systemic governance failures, citing examples like overpayments to its managing agent and improper use of sinking funds, while WP MPs acknowledged lapses but attributed some to transition challenges and defended their actions.
The motion called for higher standards across all town councils and strengthened legislation to ensure accountability, with WP supporting it while disputing some allegations and committing to improve processes.

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12 Feb 2015

Auditor-General's Report on Audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC)

The Minister for Law accused the AHPETC Town Councillors of serious fiduciary breaches, including unlawful payments to a related party, FMSS, without transparency and at inflated rates, resulting in significant financial loss to residents.
In response, the Workers' Party MPs rejected these allegations, defended their actions, and challenged the accuracy of the data presented, while committing to answer residents' questions during house visits.
The debate highlighted unresolved issues regarding the disclosure of conflicts of interest, the approval process for contracts, and the reliability of the Town Council's financial records, with calls for a forensic audit to determine the exact loss.

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12 Feb 2015

Auditor-General's Report on Audit of Aljunied Hougang Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC)

The Workers' Party MPs acknowledged the audit findings and outlined corrective actions, such as rectifying Sinking Fund transfers and improving oversight of related-party transactions, while emphasizing no evidence of deliberate malpractice or loss of public funds.
They detailed specific lapses, including errors in the EMSU contract due to urgency and calculation mistakes, and clarified that most payments to the Managing Agent were pre-approved contract sums, with segregation of duties later implemented.
The debate highlighted tensions between the government and opposition, with the Minister criticizing AHPETC's governance and conflicts of interest, while WP MPs defended their transparency and commitment to addressing the issues raised.

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12 Feb 2015

Auditor-General's Report on Audit of Aljunied-Hougang-Punggol East Town Council (AHPETC)

The Minister for National Development highlighted severe financial mismanagement at AHPETC, including failures in accounting systems, lack of oversight on related-party transactions, and improper use of public funds, as detailed in the Auditor-General's report.
The Workers' Party acknowledged the findings and committed to addressing the issues, but pointed out challenges in attracting managing agents due to political bias and called for a depoliticized transition process for opposition-run town councils.
The Minister announced plans to amend the Town Councils Act to strengthen accountability, impose stricter penalties, and enhance regulatory oversight to prevent similar issues in the future.

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20 Jan 2015

Extradition of Singapore-based Chinese Nationals Suspected of Corruption in China

MP Gan Thiam Poh asked the Foreign Affairs Minister whether China has requested Singapore’s assistance in extraditing Chinese nationals suspected of corruption and recovering illicit gains since 2014, and how many cases exist.
The Minister replied that Singapore does not comment on specific foreign legal assistance or extradition requests, in line with international practice, but affirmed China’s anti-corruption efforts are welcomed by foreign investors.
The Minister highlighted Singapore’s strong stance against corruption, its enhancements to mutual legal assistance laws in 2014, and its active role in international anti-corruption cooperation forums like APEC.
The Minister stated Singapore is prepared to study any foreign request for assistance, including asset recovery, based on the merits and in accordance with domestic laws and international obligations.

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20 Jan 2015

Implementation of Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption

Singapore, as part of the Beijing Declaration on Fighting Corruption, is committed to international cooperation through mutual legal assistance, exchanges of best practices, and capacity-building with APEC members.
Singapore has a legal framework, including the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act (MACMA), to support transnational anti-corruption efforts while safeguarding its legal integrity and sovereignty.
Singapore actively participates in the APEC Network of Anti-Corruption Authorities and Law Enforcement Agencies (ACT-NET) to share information and best practices, with the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) involved in key meetings and workshops.
The CPIB will continue to provide cooperation and assistance, such as training and study visits, to anti-corruption counterparts in the Asia-Pacific region to strengthen collective efforts.

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19 Jan 2015

Findings of Infiltrations at SMRT's Bishan Train Depot

David Ong inquired about the findings of investigations into the infiltrations at SMRT's Bishan train depot and the measures implemented to prevent future incidents.
Lui Tuck Yew responded by directing Ong to a prior answer given to Lim Biow Chuan's related question, which covers both the investigation findings and preventive measures.
The debate centers on ensuring transparency regarding the security breach and the effectiveness of countermeasures to safeguard critical rail infrastructure.
No additional details were provided in this exchange, with the response relying on an existing parliamentary answer for clarification.

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8 Sep 2014

Declaration by Board Members of Charities

Lim Biow Chuan questioned why board members of new charities must declare they have no criminal convictions when the Charities Act only disqualifies those convicted of offences involving dishonesty or deception, and whether this requirement prejudices volunteers with minor or spent offences.
Lawrence Wong explained that charities are public interest entities requiring high integrity from board members, with the Charities Act intended to protect charities from individuals who may not act in their best interests.
He noted that Section 27(1)(a) of the Charities Act disqualifies individuals convicted of offences involving dishonesty or deception, and Section 25(4) allows removal for such convictions or those involving moral turpitude.
Wong acknowledged the current declaration on the Charity Portal is broader than the Act's provisions and has asked the Commissioner of Charities' Office to review the wording to align it more accurately with the Act's intent.

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5 Aug 2014

Erroneous Payment of Financial Assistance to Persons after Death

The Ministry of Health acknowledged an Auditor-General finding that $64,000 was erroneously paid to 99 deceased individuals under the IDAPE due to an IT system migration error, which has since been rectified with system enhancements and a requirement for the external administrator to reimburse the over-payments.
The Minister stated that MOH has instituted new operating procedures and Standard Operating Procedures to prevent similar mistakes, while also seeking to strengthen its overall outsourcing framework for compliance and governance.
In response to a supplementary question, the Minister noted that MOH outsources extensively, including hospital and nursing home services, but does not have the exact quantity on hand and agreed to continue improving the management of outsourced services.

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4 Aug 2014

Nominal Rental for Sublet of Land to MINDEF's Contractor

Mr Png Eng Huat questioned the Ministry for Defence regarding a land sublet at below market value, asking about the duration of nominal rental and whether there was any attempt to clawback rental from the privatised company.
The Minister for Defence, Ng Eng Hen, explained that the company was government-owned until 2000 and did not pay rent as it supported MINDEF and the SAF; after privatisation, it continued to primarily serve MINDEF, making exact savings from nominal rent difficult to compute.
MINDEF regularised the rent based on market value for the commercial portion of the land, coordinating with PUB to update lease details, and apologised for the lapse in settling the process expeditiously.
The main licence agreement with PUB was finalised in June 2014, leading to the land being leased at market value, and MINDEF is reviewing other sub-lease contracts to ensure good governance compliance.

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4 Aug 2014

Addressing Lapses in the Auditor-General's Report for FY 2013/2014

Seah Kian Peng asked what steps are being taken by the Civil Service and Statutory Boards to address lapses highlighted in the Auditor-General's Report for FY 2013/2014.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam outlined the existing audit framework, including the Auditor-General's Office and internal/external auditors, and emphasized that top management is held responsible for rectifying lapses and preventing recurrences.
Specific follow-up actions include enhancing tracking for hawker stall tenancy conditions at NEA, reviewing under-utilised assets at AVA, and strengthening procurement rules since 2012 to reduce single-bid quotations.
The Ministry of Finance has introduced new requirements for agencies to report internal control measures and provided tools for better oversight, reinforcing governance while acknowledging that zero lapses are not possible in a large organization.

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7 Jul 2014

Use of Town Councils' Sinking Fund for Commercial Properties

Sitoh Yih Pin asked if Town Councils could use reserves from commercial property sinking funds for residential property.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that Town Councils must maintain separate sinking funds for residential and commercial properties under the law.
The Minister stated that this separation ensures accountability and safeguards the funds, so commercial sinking funds cannot be used for residential properties.

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7 Jul 2014

Impact of Personal Data Protection Act on Information Released by ACRA

Mary Liew questioned whether the Ministry would limit the data disclosed by ACRA on company directors to protect their personal information under the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA).
Tharman Shanmugaratnam explained that sector-specific laws like the ACRA Act take precedence over the PDPA, requiring public disclosure of director information to promote corporate transparency and accountability.
The Ministry of Finance plans to amend the Companies Act to allow alternate addresses for directors in public records, with safeguards against fraudulent reporting.
The Government will continue reviewing the extent of company information made publicly available in the public interest.

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7 Jul 2014

Changes in Processes to Prevent Misuse of Discarded Ballot Boxes

Pritam Singh questioned whether all ballot boxes should be treated as controlled items until destruction and what changes the Elections Department has made to prevent misuse after unused boxes were found improperly disposed of after a presidential election.
Chan Chun Sing responded that the discovered boxes were used and empty, with no impact on vote secrecy or election integrity, and that the Elections Department has tightened processes to ensure all used and empty boxes are accounted for and disposed of with other debris.
He clarified that ballot boxes are only treated as controlled items when in use with proper seals, but not when unused and unsealed.

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30 May 2014

Indonesian Fugitives in Singapore

Mrs Lina Chiam asked about the presence of corrupt Indonesian fugitives in Singapore from 2007 to 2013 and the measures to prevent them from residing or seeking refuge in the country.
Teo Chee Hean stated Singapore's zero-tolerance policy on corruption, supported by the CPIB and CDSA, and noted strict immigration rules that deny entry to or remove known fugitives.
He mentioned that Singapore and Indonesia signed an extradition treaty and defence cooperation agreement in 2007, which are pending ratification, but cooperation continues through mutual legal assistance.
The public is encouraged to report information on corrupt activities or fugitives to the CPIB or police for investigation.

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28 May 2014

Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) (Amendment) Bill

The bill aims to amend the Corruption, Drug Trafficking and Other Serious Crimes (Confiscation of Benefits) Act to strengthen legal measures against serious crimes.
It was presented by the Second Minister for Home Affairs, Mr S Iswaran, and received its First Reading in Parliament.
The bill is scheduled for its Second Reading at the next available parliamentary sitting and will be printed for further review.

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12 Mar 2014

Estimates of Expenditure for the Financial Year 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015

The Parliament convened a Committee of Supply session to examine and approve the expenditure estimates for the financial year 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.
The debate focused on reviewing the government's proposed budget allocations and spending plans for the upcoming fiscal year.
Members were expected to scrutinize the details of the expenditure estimates and raise questions or concerns about specific allocations.
The session aimed to ensure transparency and accountability in the government's financial planning and resource distribution.

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3 Mar 2014

Measures to Protect Interests of Residents of Town Councils

Alvin Yeo asked the Minister for National Development what measures are available to protect residents' interests when Town Councils fail in good corporate governance and responsible accounting.
The Minister explained that Town Councils were established to give MPs authority and accountability for estate management, with limited legal offences and penalties for misuse of funds or non-compliance.
The Minister noted that the Ministry can intervene in extreme cases to protect residents, and that Town Councils are required to keep audited accounts submitted to Parliament, with performance reports made public for resident accountability.
The Minister stated that while the Town Councils Act has limited enforcement, individual officials remain subject to general criminal and civil laws, and the Ministry is reviewing the framework to better protect public funds.

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17 Feb 2014

Oversight of Singapore's Defence Budget

Dr Lim Wee Kiak questioned the robustness of Singapore's defence budget oversight and procurement processes, citing Transparency International's poor anti-corruption rating.
Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen strongly defended Singapore's procurement integrity, noting its high global rankings and rejecting TI's methodology as flawed and unsubstantiated.
Dr Lim sought clarification on whether the government was consulted before TI's report and asked about efforts to improve perceptions of transparency.
Dr Ng confirmed TI had engaged with the government but sometimes declined information, stressing that full transparency could compromise national security.
The minister emphasized that while Singapore shares broad defence plans, it does not disclose detailed expenditures to maintain operational security.

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20 Jan 2014

Disciplinary Action against Prison Officers in Death of Inmate Case

Pritam Singh inquired about internal disciplinary actions taken against prison officers involved in the death of inmate Dinesh Raman.
Teo Chee Hean declined to answer due to ongoing litigation related to the case.
He suggested that the question could be re-submitted after court cases conclude for a response.

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