Among the lapses the Auditor-General’s Office report highlighted

These included the following areas:

Laxity in monitoring and collection of debts

As at July 19 last year, the Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (MUIS) had S$24.68 million of debts owed to it. Of the amount, S$22.27 million was outstanding for more than 90 days, with some dating back as far back as 1998. The majority of these cases were loans and advances given to wakafs, mosques, madrasahs and MUIS’ subsidiaries. The MUIS said it has started putting in procedures to improve its controls and documentation over debt management.

Lapses in administration of film distribution and exhibition licensing

Inadequate efforts were made by the Media Development Authority (MDA) to refund security deposits in 23 instances totalling S$350,000, even though licenses given to carry out the business of importing, making or exhibiting films under the Films Act had expired for between more than two months and almost 14 years. The MDA said steps have been taken to refund security deposits not required, and new measures would be implemented to prevent future lapses.

Inadequate oversight over project to enhance fitness corners

The Defence Ministry (MINDEF) had tasked the SAFRA National Service Association to enhance existing fitness corners in public housing estates, in an effort to make physical fitness training facilities more accessible to National Servicemen. The approved budget for the project was S$4.42 million for works to be carried out at 50 sites, but the number of fitness corners eventually enhanced by SAFRA exceeded MINDEF’s requirements by 58 sites and at an additional cost of S$2.03 million. MINDEF had explained that the project was a SAFRA initiative funded by a MINDEF grant, with the evaluation and award of tender executed by SAFRA with oversight by a committee appointed by SAFRA Management Committee.

Wastage from software not installed after purchases of licenses

The Auditor-General’s Office noticed wastage for nine types of software licences, which were purchased by the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board for a project. The installation of software was not carried out for 55 of the 180 licences purchased between one and three-and-a-half years ago as at January this year. They cost S$0.99 million. The CPF Board said 12 licenses — amounting to S$0.3 million — were no longer required due to changes in project scope. For the remaining 43, the CPF Board would be assessing these licences for potential redeployment.