Governance & integrity — Topics

20 Jan 2014

Update on Little India Riot

Multiple Members of Parliament asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs about the causes, findings, and lessons from the 8 December 2013 Little India riot, including the timing and transparency of the Commission of Inquiry, public and media reactions, and measures to prevent recurrence without overreaction.
Questions focused on operational and security adjustments by law enforcement and SCDF, including the activation of the Special Operations Command, adequacy of SOC strength, and improvements to safety protocols for rescuers.
Several MPs inquired about alcohol-related policies, including restrictions, licensing, and enforcement in Little India and other areas, seeking details on violations, lessons learned, and sustainable measures to address public disorder linked to alcohol consumption.
Concerns were raised about multiracialism, the repatriation of riot-involved workers, and the objectivity of processes for deeming immigrants undesirable, alongside calls for transparency in the Committee of Inquiry’s composition and proceedings.

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11 Nov 2013

More Transparency for Government Procurement

Zaqy Mohamad asked whether the government would increase transparency in procurement by disclosing price-quality ratios in GeBiz.
Tharman Shanmugaratnam explained that construction tenders already specify price-quality ratios, but weighted criteria are not always necessary for simple, cost-driven procurements.
The Ministry of Finance is revising procurement rules to align with the WTO's revised Agreement on Government Procurement, which requires clearer disclosure of evaluation criteria and their relative importance.

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11 Nov 2013

Cases Prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act

Sylvia Lim asked if and when cases prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act will be included in the criminal case disclosure procedures under Part IX of the Criminal Procedure Code.
The Prime Minister replied that offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act are not currently listed under Part IX and are subject to ongoing monitoring by the CPIB.
The government previously stated during the COS debate that it will monitor the effectiveness of the disclosure regime before expanding it to additional offences, including those under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
This monitoring process is ongoing and applies not only to the Prevention of Corruption Act but also to other offences investigated by different agencies.

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21 Oct 2013

Expenses in Support of Singapore's Candidate for Presidency of International Olympic Committee

Sylvia Lim asked about the extent of public funds and resources used to support Singapore’s candidate for the 2013 International Olympic Committee (IOC) presidency.
Lawrence Wong clarified that the IOC is a non-governmental organization and its members are elected independently.
He stated that the candidate, Mr. Ng Ser Miang, ran as an individual IOC member and not as a government representative.
Wong confirmed that no public funds were used to support the candidate’s campaign.
The response emphasized the separation between the government and the IOC’s internal electoral processes.

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21 Oct 2013

Detention of Global Soccer Match-fixing Suspects

Ms Sylvia Lim questioned the use of the Criminal Law (Temporary Provisions) Act to detain four soccer match-fixing suspects instead of prosecuting them in court for corruption.
Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean explained that the CLTPA is used as a last resort when witnesses fear reprisal, especially in cases involving organised criminal syndicates like match-fixers.
He stated that the detentions were necessary due to the complex, cross-border nature of the crimes and the reluctance of witnesses to testify openly.
The detainees will have their cases reviewed by an independent Criminal Law Advisory Committee before the President acts on Cabinet’s advice.
The minister noted that no further details could be shared as the process was ongoing.

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21 Oct 2013

Singapore Government's Requests to Web Services Companies for User Data

Pritam Singh questioned the government on the number of requests for non-public user data made to tech companies without user knowledge, the types of information sought, reasons for requests, non-criminal matters involved, and the safeguards in place for such requests.
Teo Chee Hean explained that law enforcement agencies may request user data from internet companies during criminal investigations, with requests properly documented and companies informed of the offence being investigated.
From 2010 to 2012, agencies made about 600 requests per year to Google, Facebook, and Microsoft, primarily for non-content data like account details, with most requests related to cybercrime and other offences such as corruption and terrorism.

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21 Oct 2013

Soccer Match-fixing

Alex Yam asked when authorities became aware of match-fixing, if Singapore is a hub for syndicates, and what measures will be taken to keep the country free of such crime.
Teo Chee Hean stated that agencies have investigated 10 football corruption cases over 10 years, with six convictions and firm action against illegal betting, and highlighted penalties including fines, imprisonment, and confiscation of gains.
Investigations into recent arrests were hampered by overseas activities, but a joint team with INTERPOL and Europol led to the arrest of 14 suspects in September 2013, with some detained under temporary provisions.
Authorities work with international agencies and the Football Association of Singapore through education, polygraph testing, and cooperation to combat cross-border match-fixing.
The government affirmed continued firm action and legal enforcement to ensure Singapore remains free of match-fixing crime.

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21 Oct 2013

Issuance of Political Donation Certificates During Elections

Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene questioned why the Elections Department only reveals the number of political donation certificates issued instead of the identities of applicants, and asked if transparency would be improved by reverting to the previous practice of naming certificate recipients.
The Prime Minister’s response clarified that issuing a Political Donation Certificate is a legal requirement for candidates, and after complaints arose from the 2012 Hougang by-election when names were released, the ELD reviewed its position.
Since there is no legal obligation to disclose names, the ELD now releases only the total number of applications and certificates issued, leaving individuals to decide whether to publicly confirm their receipt of a certificate.
This policy was first applied in the 2013 Punggol East by-election and will continue for all future parliamentary elections.

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16 Sep 2013

MUIS' Administration of Haj and Korban Activities

The Minister explained that MUIS faced challenges in refunding Haj administration fees due to poor response rates from applicants to notification letters, leading to fee accumulation, and outlined new rules to streamline future refunds by allowing only one deferment.
For the Korban tender issues, MUIS acknowledged that the vendor selection in 2007 and 2010 did not fully meet mandatory criteria due to impractical requirements and limited market bids, but assured that the principles of transparency and fair competition were maintained.
MUIS has since simplified its tender requirements and strengthened its processes to address the Auditor General's findings, ensuring better management of both Haj and Korban activities.

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16 Sep 2013

Remuneration of Senior Management Staff at Town Councils

Mrs Lina Chiam asked about the average salary of the most senior management staff in Town Councils managed by MPs from the Government party.
The Senior Minister of State for National Development stated that his ministry does not regulate the employment terms of General Managers and does not collect data on their salaries.
Mrs Lina Chiam followed up by asking whether all General Managers or senior management officers are affiliated with a political party.
The Senior Minister of State responded that Town Councils typically appoint managing agents through open tender, and it is the selected agent who appoints their staff, which is done in the public interest.

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16 Sep 2013

Disclosing Identities of Applicants for Appointment as Nominated Members of Parliament

Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene asked whether the identities of applicants for Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) appointments can be disclosed, seeking reasons for non-disclosure before or after the selection process.
Dr Ng Eng Hen explained that the Constitution and past Select Committee decisions do not require public disclosure, citing concerns about embarrassment, discomfort for applicants and families, potential deterrence of future applicants, and the need to maintain an effective selection process.
Assoc Prof Tan reiterated the desire for greater transparency, suggesting that willing applicants should not fear public scrutiny, while Dr Ng Eng Hen maintained that the current confidential process has worked well and balances integrity with practical considerations.

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16 Sep 2013

Discovery of Empty Ballot Boxes

Pritam Singh raised concerns about the discovery of empty, used ballot boxes from the 2011 presidential election, asking who was responsible, if there was a breach of law, and what the Elections Department's oversight role is.
Minister Chan Chun Sing clarified that the empty boxes were non-controlled items discarded after use, and while their mishandling was an oversight by contractors, there was no breach affecting the integrity of the election process or Section 37 of the Presidential Elections Act.
The Elections Department has checked all counting centres and found similar unused boxes in five schools, which will be disposed of, and will study practical steps to prevent such incidents without adding onerous controls.
Alex Yam asked if this was the first such incident and if additional items should be included in disposal schedules; the Minister responded that previous instances are unknown and that controlled items are prioritized, with a review of processes underway.
Pritam Singh suggested making spare boxes controlled items to prevent public alarm; the Minister explained that spare boxes are not controlled items as they never enter the sealed election process, but the idea will be studied by the Elections Department.

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12 Aug 2013

Investigations into Death of Dr Shane Todd

The Singapore Police Force cooperated with the FBI during the investigation into Dr Shane Todd's death, with the FBI providing assistance on matters within its jurisdiction, but the investigation remained under Singapore's sole purview; a public Coroner's Inquiry concluded death by suicide with no foul play.
The Singapore Government assured that investigations were conducted independently without external influence, rejecting unsubstantiated media allegations and inviting a US audit of IME, which was completed without further US queries.
Minister Shanmugam confirmed that US Senator Max Baucus did not mention any intention to block funding to IME during their meeting; IME received about S$875,000 from US sources over five years, mostly for joint research projects.
The government emphasized that Singapore does not bow to external pressure, citing the US Administration's appreciation of Singapore's transparency and the strong bilateral relationship, as evidenced by recent high-level exchanges between leaders of both countries.

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12 Aug 2013

Measures to Prevent Recurrence of Lapses Cited in Auditor-General's Report

The government is enhancing internal controls and audit processes, including requiring agency heads to report annually on procurement audit findings and pre-emptive plans to MOF.
To address specific lapses like those in hospital projects and computer access controls, agencies have appointed external auditors and are working to strengthen ICT system access management with more independent audits.
The government is building procurement capabilities through a new Procurement Specialist Track and distributing checklists, while maintaining a balance between strict rules and operational efficiency to minimize lapses without overburdening the system.

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12 Aug 2013

Subsidiaries of Statutory Boards Appointed as Vendors for Government Contracts

The Singapore government has 105 subsidiaries set up by statutory boards and ministries to perform functions in areas like security, education, healthcare, R&D, and the arts, and these subsidiaries are generally divested once their objectives are met.
Over the past five years, 0.8% of public sector tenders were awarded to these subsidiaries, with less than one-fifth of those contracts awarded by their parent statutory boards or ministries, mostly for R&D and prototype studies.
The government emphasizes that procurement requires a level playing field for all bidders, with tenders evaluated and awarded based on the best value-for-money offer, and any unfair treatment is considered improper.

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12 Aug 2013

Number of Police Officers Accused of Committing Criminal Offences and Breaching Disciplinary Guidelines

Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Home Affairs for the number of regular and National Service Police officers accused of criminal offences and breaching disciplinary guidelines over the last five years.
Teo Chee Hean responded that from 2008 to 2012, an average of 17 regular officers and 23 National Service officers per year were charged in court for criminal offences.
During the same period, an average of 66 regular officers and 62 National Service officers per year were subject to disciplinary proceedings for breaching guidelines.

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12 Aug 2013

Naming Rights of Sports Hub

Assoc Prof Tan Kheng Boon Eugene questioned why the 2012 naming rights MOU with OCBC Bank was not approved, seeking better management guidelines and an update on facility naming and revenue, and asking how fair value is ensured.
Lawrence Wong explained that the Sports Hub operates under a PPP agreement where the private operator SHPL manages commercial opportunities without government approval, but requires SSC approval for individual facility names.
The Ministry and SSC rejected a proposal to sell naming rights for the entire Sports Hub, deciding to preserve it as a national icon free from commercial naming, while allowing sponsorship deals for individual facilities.
Assessments for naming rights sales involve independent valuations to determine fair value, and details for individual facility naming are still being finalized.

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12 Aug 2013

Disciplinary Procedures for Law Enforcement Officers

Sylvia Lim asked for the shortest and longest processing periods for disciplinary cases of law enforcement officers over the past five years and the circumstances under which armed officers are relieved of their firearms during pending proceedings.
Teo Chee Hean explained that disciplinary procedures follow the Civil Service framework, with two regimes: police officers below Inspector rank under the Police Force Act and senior officers under Public Service Commission regulations, with most cases concluded within months to two years depending on complexity.
For cases involving criminal charges, disciplinary processes are suspended until criminal proceedings conclude, and armed officers under investigation for criminal offences are immediately barred from carrying firearms.
Supervisors monitor armed officers undergoing disciplinary action and may bar them from carrying firearms and redeploy them to non-operational roles if they are deemed a risk to themselves or others.

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12 Aug 2013

Follow-up Actions after Death of Inmate in Prison

Deputy Prime Minister S Iswaran detailed the timeline and actions taken following the death of inmate Dinesh Raman, including independent police investigations, a Committee of Inquiry review of prison protocols, the conviction of a senior prison officer for negligence, and the initiation of disciplinary proceedings against other officers involved.
The Minister confirmed that the Government accepts liability and is discussing compensation with the inmate’s family, while noting that the Committee of Inquiry found the prison’s Control and Restraint techniques to be safe overall but identified specific procedural lapses that have since been addressed through updated training and protocols.
Multiple MPs raised concerns about the duration of the investigation, the discontinuation of the Coroner’s inquiry, the accuracy of media reports, and the safety of restraining methods, with the Minister responding that the investigation was complex, the Coroner’s decision was lawful, and the prison’s systems remain appropriate with ongoing improvements.

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12 Aug 2013

Improving Compliance with Government Procurement and Contract Management Practices

The Deputy Prime Minister outlined a multi-pronged strategy to strengthen procurement compliance, including enhanced training, the launch of a Procurement Specialist Track, stricter oversight by agency heads who must report annually to MOF, and the use of advanced analytics to detect issues pre-emptively.
While acknowledging that most lapses are due to non-compliance rather than rule gaps and that the Auditor-General’s test-check audits cannot cover all transactions, he confirmed that disciplinary actions have been taken against officers for lapses and that cases with suspected corruption are referred to CPIB, with no such evidence found in the latest report.
In response to concerns about efficiency, the government has refined rules to balance integrity with practicality, noting that while tender evaluation periods have lengthened to about three to four weeks due to more complex outcome-based specifications, this is not seen as excessive and the system aims to avoid over-burdening vendors or creating risk aversion.

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