Government not satisfied with current state /of procurement: DPM Tharman Shanmugaratnam

The government is not satisfied with the current state of procurement says Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

He said its looking at how the process can be improved.

Mr Tharman who's also the Finance Minister said this means a constant review of the rules and guidelines.

It also involves building up the competence of procurement officers.

Independent audits and taking prompt action when there are irregularities are also critical, said Mr Tharman

"The rules by and large are there. They're in the right shape. It's compliance with the rules. And this is partly a matter of competence. We've got to stay alert, keep confidence in the public sector. Keep confidence in the way we're using our funds. That means not just the way we handle the large value tenders, where the checks are very stringent, but also many of the other smaller value quotations. That's got 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 bicycle costs $2,200 each.

An NParks officer has been suspended over the case.

On the topic of Singapore's declining fertility rate - Mr Tharman said while it's 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.

He added that making family life enjoyable is part of it and that involves having community facilities.

Mr Tharman who's an MP for Jurong GRC was speaking at the official opening of Singapore's only Olympic sized rink at JCube shopping mall in Jurong East.

More than 80-thousand people have visited the rink since its soft launch in April.