SINGAPORE: The government is not satisfied with the current state of procurement, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said.
Mr Tharman said the government is 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 but most important is
compliance with the rules.
The rules by and large are there.
Mr
Tharman said: "It's compliance with the rules (that is the issue). This
is partly a matter of competence -- we've got to build up the
competence of procurement officers. That means not just the way we
handle large-value tenders, where the checks are very stringent, but
also the other smaller value quotations. The small transactions have to
be on the radar screen 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 is 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
recreation facilities all around the island.
Mr Tharman was
speaking at the official opening of Singapore's only Olympic-sized ice
rink at JCube shopping mall in Jurong East on Sunday.
- CNA/wm/ck