PM Lee directs MND to fully review AIM transaction

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has asked the Ministry of National Development (MND) to fully review the transaction of PAP Town Council’s management software to Action Information Management (AIM) in 2010.

In a media statement, Mr Lee said he is calling for the review in the interest of transparency and maintaining trust in the system, for MND to "satisfy itself that public funds were safeguarded and residents’ interests were not compromised".

He said MND will take a broad—based approach, including re—examining the fundamental nature of town councils, with a view to ensuring high overall standards of their corporate governance.

Mr Lee said last week, Mayor Teo Ho Pin had explained the circumstances of the sale of PAP Town Council management software in an open tender to AIM.

He noted that the transaction was not raised as an issue by any of the external auditors who audited the FY2010 accounts of these town councils.

He said MND has begun the review, which is expected to take a month or two.

The Ministry of National Development said its Town Council Review Team is led by its Deputy Secretary Tay Kim Poh.

The team will report to the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary.

Planning had begun last week and field activities should start soon, and the team looks forward to the cooperation of all town councils.

Town Councils are autonomous bodies managed by elected Members of Parliament and governed by the Town Councils Act which the Ministry of National Development administers.

Workers’ Party Chairman Sylvia Lim has filed an adjournment motion for next Monday’s Parliamentary sitting, titled "Safeguarding the Public Interest in Town Council Management".

— CNA/de