Financial lapse of public funds found in ministries
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Lapses & weaknesses in management of public funds in some ministries, govt agencies
SINGAPORE : Lapses and weaknesses in the internal controls over the management of public funds have been found in several ministries and government agencies. This was revealed in the Auditor-General's report for the financial year 2009/2010 released on Tuesday.
The report also showed the need for greater vigilance in the area of IT security.
But the lapses were not as severe as those highlighted in last year's report, which involved millions of dollars that could have been spent more prudently.
Some of the areas that came under scrutiny were how well finances were managed and how efficiently resources were used.
One ministry that did not fare well in financial management was Community Development, Youth and Sports.
Managing agents of three welfare homes transferred donations of S$34,907 to the accounts of voluntary welfare organisations (VWOS) - when the money should have gone to the homes.
At one welfare home, valuables and nearly S$13,000 cash belonging to residents were kept in cardboard boxes and shopping bags in the Superintendent's office.
The misuse of government payouts meant for patients was also uncovered under the Ministry of Finance accounts.
Test checks at six nursing homes showed that between 2005 and 2009, as estimated S$1.19 million in government payouts was cashed by the homes on behalf of patients. But one home treated the money as its revenue, while the other five used it to pay for medical treatment and charges incurred by the respective patients, without their authorisation.
One of the homes also used the money to buy general supplies and equipment such as wheelchairs and safety vests.
Wastage of public funds was another issue. Here, the Ministry of Defence did not fare well. Checks on two camps revealed lapses in the way meals were accounted for - there were 63 instances of excess meal orders. These were covered up by personnel managing the cookhouses or servicemen who falsified the records. That resulted in unnecessary expenditure of about S$22,000. The report stated that MINDEF has taken disciplinary action against the personnel involved in the falsification of records.
There was also an instance when revenue due to the government was not collected.
The Singapore Police Force lost S$648,000 in revenue; for more than 10 years, it did not charge town councils and statutory boards a fee of S$25 for every Warrant of Arrest enforced.
This happened between 1997 and 2009 for several prosecuting agencies.
As for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it had over 50 cases of overpayment of salaries, bonuses, overtime claims, medical and dental subsidies to the mission staff, as well as double payment of medical expenses. These amounted to at least $5,800.
Other lapses observed include non-compliance with government instructions and guidelines such as an officer certifying his own claims.
The report said that although the amount of repayments observed from the test checks is not significant, the control lapses need to be rectified so that the system of internal controls is rigorous enough to ensure that payments made are correct and for valid purposes.
In the area of IT, security lapses were found in the government accounting system "NFS@Gov", administered by the Accountant-General's Department.
Over 640 end-user accounts were wrongly given access rights to an application designer tool. Some of the accounts would allow users to modify programs or records in the system.
There was also an unauthorised testing of a computer system at the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority that saw two invoices generated with incorrect amounts.
The report stated that the lapses should not be seen as reflecting the general quality of the internal controls in the bodies concerned, but they do point to the need for greater vigilance, especially in IT security as government ministries and statutory boards are extensively computerised.
A horizontal audit across statutory boards to identify gaps and shortcomings in governance framework and practices was also conducted. And it was observed that in general, statutory boards had in place systems and processes for governance.
The report will be deliberated by the Public Accounts Committee and where necessary, particular ministries would have to account for the lapses reported.- CNA/ms
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e cookhouse one is so funny..
wastage ask ppl sign 1206, now AG go do audit 'top up' also tio for wasting taxpayers $$$
wat e scholars want?
I forgot, 1 is finance ministry scholar, the other is atas defence scholar.
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would this be proof of corruption in incorruptible singapore?
just joking.
but then there must be political motives for the sudden audits.. what's going on nowadays? its so different from when the old man was still in absolute power.. back then life went on without ever hearing of political waves.
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Just find out which stat boards have departments which organise the most number of buffet lunches per annum, and you got your answer.
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wastage of public funds - mindef... is that news?
"At one welfare home, valuables and nearly S$13,000 cash belonging to residents were kept in cardboard boxes and shopping bags in the Superintendent's office."
LOL
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I know for one thing the cookhouse issue is real, i did BOS duty once and in my camp the BOS have to check that the coys scanned out their indent for meals. Sometimes you get 1-10 deficit thats no problem cos you can justify it by scanning them as out ration. But what happens when 135 people didnt consume lunch?
This idiot 2IC indented lunch when the coy is supposed to book out before lunch. So he told his COS to scan out 135 people as out ration. Unfortunately for him i stopped him from doing so saying its fraud. COS relented cos i told him i sort it out.
Monday morning, the 2IC and the cookhouse supervisor call me up and saying i had to pay for the meals cos it wasnt scanned. I wasnt having any of it and i am not going answer for people's error or stupidity. So i told them i am not paying and they threaten with charges blah blah. So i said go ahead, i even willing to face the CO and go court martial for it. In the end the 2IC paid for it. all $600+ worth.
I don't know how they do it nowdays but this was like 4 years ago and the 2IC was a WO in a training school. He totally hated me with a vengeance after that..I can say its the first time the system was on my side.
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Too Much Food - ST 4/8/10
A check on 2 SAF camps found 63 instances of excessive meal orders.
The extra meals, between June and August 2008, were covered up by staff managing the cookhouse or by serviceman through falsification of records.
In all, the food wastage was amounted to $22, 231.
This was due to inadequate controls over meal indents and recording of meal consumption, according to the latest report by the Auditor - General.
Following the findings, the MINDEF convened a higher board of inquiry to investigate the matter. The board has recommended tightening controls to ensure accurate and prudent meal orders.
MINDEF has also conducted checks at other SAF camps, and taken disciplinary action against personnel involved in the falsification of records. - ST 4/8/10 Pg A5.
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That is why we need responsibility, accountability and liability. Such miss management of public funds give public service a bad name. Reduces public confidence.
Good to shame them!
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Well i dun think all are lapses? Maybe some of it is corruption......or what they call lapses...a more apt term lol.
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aiya..last time i also like to siam cookhouse...cookhouse fug up...go canteen eat better.
n IC r obliged to indent fr cookhouse....
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is it still under SFI? The cookhouse food. I remember their wet chicken cutlets during my time at NDP 2000 lol. All wet because too much heat in the styrofoam lunchboxes.
And SFI comes under Temasek. All in the family :)
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Yes, its still under Singapore Fark Institute.
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some of these lapses go unaccounted for more than 10 years. Who checks on them? This is what happens if we have a lack of opposition in parliament. And I don't believe that ST has reported the worst incidents.
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Originally posted by sbst275:
Too Much Food - ST 4/8/10
A check on 2 SAF camps found 63 instances of excessive meal orders.
The extra meals, between June and August 2008, were covered up by staff managing the cookhouse or by serviceman through falsification of records.
In all, the food wastage was amounted to $22, 231.
This was due to inadequate controls over meal indents and recording of meal consumption, according to the latest report by the Auditor - General.
Following the findings, the MINDEF convened a higher board of inquiry to investigate the matter. The board has recommended tightening controls to ensure accurate and prudent meal orders.
MINDEF has also conducted checks at other SAF camps, and taken disciplinary action against personnel involved in the falsification of records. - ST 4/8/10 Pg A5.
Seriously, it is only 22k only. What is the issue about it?
I always have this question in mind. The last time when I indent rations, it cost around $4.5 for breakfast, $5-6 for lunch and dinner etc. But seriously, when we, NSF/NSmen eat these meals, does it really worth that much? I can get a better meal with $2.50 at hawker center.
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Originally posted by Lokey:
Seriously, it is only 22k only. What is the issue about it?
I always have this question in mind. The last time when I indent rations, it cost around $4.5 for breakfast, $5-6 for lunch and dinner etc. But seriously, when we, NSF/NSmen eat these meals, does it really worth that much? I can get a better meal with $2.50 at hawker center.
I read thru the papers in the evening, it is 22k for just the 2 randomly selected camps under audit.
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Originally posted by Lokey:
Seriously, it is only 22k only. What is the issue about it?
I always have this question in mind. The last time when I indent rations, it cost around $4.5 for breakfast, $5-6 for lunch and dinner etc. But seriously, when we, NSF/NSmen eat these meals, does it really worth that much? I can get a better meal with $2.50 at hawker center.
Seriously $22k isn't lots but it can provide bursaries to dunno how many needy students in sec sch.. maybe 2 or 3 in e polys.
go figure they are required to provide fruits n more importantly food warmer - something ppl outside wun even use.e food warmer is jiak liao dian, heard is DSTA req for food hygiene. Dunno, but if there's really a war, for being so clean, ppl kachiow your food supply.. either no food or diahorrea - Singapore can't even fight a war.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
is it still under SFI? The cookhouse food. I remember their wet chicken cutlets during my time at NDP 2000 lol. All wet because too much heat in the styrofoam lunchboxes.
And SFI comes under Temasek. All in the family :)
SFI recently sort of sold to SATS...yeah, they're e ones cooking meals for YOG athletics.
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Originally posted by Man!x:
I know for one thing the cookhouse issue is real, i did BOS duty once and in my camp the BOS have to check that the coys scanned out their indent for meals. Sometimes you get 1-10 deficit thats no problem cos you can justify it by scanning them as out ration. But what happens when 135 people didnt consume lunch?
This idiot 2IC indented lunch when the coy is supposed to book out before lunch. So he told his COS to scan out 135 people as out ration. Unfortunately for him i stopped him from doing so saying its fraud. COS relented cos i told him i sort it out.
Monday morning, the 2IC and the cookhouse supervisor call me up and saying i had to pay for the meals cos it wasnt scanned. I wasnt having any of it and i am not going answer for people's error or stupidity. So i told them i am not paying and they threaten with charges blah blah. So i said go ahead, i even willing to face the CO and go court martial for it. In the end the 2IC paid for it. all $600+ worth.
I don't know how they do it nowdays but this was like 4 years ago and the 2IC was a WO in a training school. He totally hated me with a vengeance after that..I can say its the first time the system was on my side.
Haha, Good Job.
I always think thought thats the way to go, but most people just go with the path of least resistance.