A-G says they are lax in managing public funds and opt for convenience
| By Goh Chin Lian | ||
 |  | Auditor-General Lim Soo Ping accuses civil servants of tending to opt for what is convenient administratively over financial prudence and being lax in enforcing penalties and other contractual rights. -- PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER |
THE Auditor-General (AG) has chided civil servants for being sloppy in their management of public funds. He accuses them of tending to opt for what is convenient administratively over financial prudence and being lax in enforcing penalties and other contractual rights.
They are also too ready in accepting the recommendations of consultants, added A-G Lim Soo Ping.
One government agency whose slip-ups are particularly costly is regulator Media Development Authority (MDA).
Its lapses, which filled nine pages of a 40-page report released by the A-G on Tuesday, included failing to collect an estimated $9.89 million in revenue. The sum was from 46 films in which it invested and which were screened, some as long ago as 4-1/2 years. In addition, the MDA did not review whether these projects met such objectives as creating jobs for Singaporeans.
Such shortcomings in contract management and in the procurement of goods and services formed a significant portion of the lapses uncovered in the yearly audit of government agencies, the A-G said, in his latest report for the financial year ending March 31 this year.
Mr Lim blamed the lapses partly on officers who were 'inclined towards administrative convenience with financial prudence taking a back seat'. Also, some officers were too ready to take at face value the recommendations of consultants, without giving enough thought to the financial implications. 'A small dose of scepticism is always helpful,' he said.
Contractual obligations were also not followed. For instance, at the Institute of Technical Education, a contractor underperformed for more than a year. There were delays and the landscaping work was unsatisfactory. Yet, no damages were imposed on the contractor.
Another reason for the lapses is that the approving authorities place too much trust in the proposals and recommendations submitted to them, said the A-G. They assume the officers have thoroughly considered all factors, like a fair and transparent procurement process.
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'Many lapses can be avoided if the approving authorities are more rigorous in their scrutiny and ask the pertinent, if inconvenient, questions,' the A-G said. As a result of the lapses, there is 'little or no assurance of value for money in projects carried out', said Mr Lim.
The agencies have promised the A-G to tighten their processes. MDA is, among other things, introducing a system to track revenues from film projects.
