3 women harder to build a defence than 1 woman. Unless as streetsmart73 suggested, his defence is that he paid them.
-
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Corruption in SCDF and CNB
- Thread starter makapaaa
- Start date
3 women harder to build a defence than 1 woman. Unless as streetsmart73 suggested, his defence is that he paid them.
Yes. Also, it is worth noting that NBG was already into an affair with CS way back in 2009 or thereabouts. If got to know CS and then allegedly favoured her over others coz CS 'ice creamed' him, maybe, just maybe, more difficcult to mount a defence. Btw, believable baru 'ice creamed' only? Bloody joke! Why highlight 'ice cream' and not the full act?
I don't know NBG personally but was told he was a good boss to work for.
Imo, there is something mysterious. Still cannot understand why he was charged in court. PSC could have dealt with him. There were others with more serious misconduct in the SPF but were either directed to resign or retired in public interest. Surely, as a previous Dir Manpower, NBG is au fait with these cases. And these chaps weren't your Sgts or Insps. We are talking about ranks above Assistant Commissioners. I can think of at least 2 Senior Asst Commissioners.
I feel sorry for this man who helped the authorities so loyally all this years.
I understand how he and his family feels. All the good done for nothing...
Unlike the "Famous Oriental Gentleman" NBG is a a poor man.
Brings my memory to a former veteran who once told me about an incident at a Police Road Block to tangkap Drink Driving Cases.
He had some glasses of beer with friends as it was his birthday. That too his 60 birthday... Served 33 years as a straightforward cop.
As he drove back (still sober) he was stopped at the road-block by a "bloated and ugly" (his own words) Traffic policewoman.
Stupidly (this is what he keep saying) he told her that he is an ex-cop. "So what, you should know the law better", "Step aside, I hate the smell of alcohol" (I want to keep her race a SECRET)
She demanded for a "Blow-job" as the Road Traffic Act empowers her to demand for one.
The old veteran reluctantly agreed. Never refuse a legal order / demand, etc...or more charges will be added......
After the "blow-job", the rotunda (fat and ugly) women Sgt told him that she has to arrest him.
The poor veteran felt slighted and regretted and did as ordered. On the journey to Ubi,,he regretted doing his work like her during his active service. On the ball............No chance........etc.....
He was brought to Traffic Police and later released on bail. I do no want to continue as to what happened to the case.
However until today he regrets and if the clock can turn back he would never had become an "on the ball" policeman like the Woman Sgt.
Poor Ng Boon Gay reminds me of that person. Truly sad....
So when in position of power always be humble and Never think that you are lofty for one day you will fall too.
Stalin, Napoleon, Marcos, idi Amin, Suharto and many more did not stay for long...All had their downfall.
Sooner or later the Woman Sgt will face the same predicament too.
Matter of TIME........................Akan Datang, Next Change, Opens Tomorrow.........A new day.......A new Dawn........
Kohliantye said:
LKY? Or in his absent, the famiLEE?
a TALL order.
very rich people are usually very conceit arrogant haughty.
very powerful people + very rich = exceeding arrogant conceit haughty
very powerful + very rich + very long period of be so = black heart.
very rich people are usually very conceit arrogant haughty.
very powerful people + very rich = exceeding arrogant conceit haughty
very powerful + very rich + very long period of be so = black heart.
M
Mdm Tang
Guest
.
how come NBG and PL no need to Travel ahh...
how come NBG and PL no need to Travel ahh...
M
Mdm Tang
Guest
.
The prosecution will proceed on only one out of the 10 corruption charges earlier tendered against former Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) chief Peter Lim Sin Pang.
The charge involves him obtaining sex from Nimrod Engineering's Pang Chor Mui, in exchange for advancing the business interests of her company with the SCDF.
The nine remaining charges, which involve sex with two other women, will be stood down for now.
This was revealed by Lim's lawyers Hamidul Haq and K Bala Chandran, after a pre trial conference with the prosecution on Friday.
The prosecution will proceed on only one out of the 10 corruption charges earlier tendered against former Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) chief Peter Lim Sin Pang.
The charge involves him obtaining sex from Nimrod Engineering's Pang Chor Mui, in exchange for advancing the business interests of her company with the SCDF.
The nine remaining charges, which involve sex with two other women, will be stood down for now.
This was revealed by Lim's lawyers Hamidul Haq and K Bala Chandran, after a pre trial conference with the prosecution on Friday.
Looks like a straight-forward PG case to me. If PL PG, 1 charge. If claim trial, more charges. Better for him to PG coz 1 charge is a damn good deal.
Re: Snow
11 prosecution witnesses to testify in trial involving ex-SCDF chief
By Claire Huang | Posted: 21 September 2012 1433 hrs
SINGAPORE: Eleven prosecution witnesses will be produced in court when an eight-day trial involving former Singapore Civil Defence Force chief Peter Lim Sin Pang begins in January.
They include SCDF officers and one of three women at the centre of the sex-for-IT-contracts case.
The prosecution said it would proceed with just one of the 10 corruption charges that Lim is accused of.
Speaking to the media after a pre-trial conference on Friday, Lim's lawyers -- Mr Hamidul Haq and Mr Bala Chandran -- said the charge relates to Lim obtaining oral sex from Ms Pang Chor Mui in May 2010 in exchange for advancing her company's business interests with the SCDF.
Ms Pang is the General Manager of Nimrod Engineering and the firm was one of SCDF's vendors.
Friday's decision in court meant the other nine charges would be stood down, for now.
The other corruption charges involve Ms Lee Wei Hoon, director of Singapore Radiation Centre, and Ms Esther Goh Tok Mui, who was a business-development director at NCS when the alleged dealings took place, but has since left the company.
While 11 prosecution witnesses have been lined up, the defence counsel have yet to decide on their witness list.
They said they were waiting for further information to be provided over the next two weeks.
The case will be mentioned again on November 2.
- CNA/al
11 prosecution witnesses to testify in trial involving ex-SCDF chief
By Claire Huang | Posted: 21 September 2012 1433 hrs
SINGAPORE: Eleven prosecution witnesses will be produced in court when an eight-day trial involving former Singapore Civil Defence Force chief Peter Lim Sin Pang begins in January.
They include SCDF officers and one of three women at the centre of the sex-for-IT-contracts case.
The prosecution said it would proceed with just one of the 10 corruption charges that Lim is accused of.
Speaking to the media after a pre-trial conference on Friday, Lim's lawyers -- Mr Hamidul Haq and Mr Bala Chandran -- said the charge relates to Lim obtaining oral sex from Ms Pang Chor Mui in May 2010 in exchange for advancing her company's business interests with the SCDF.
Ms Pang is the General Manager of Nimrod Engineering and the firm was one of SCDF's vendors.
Friday's decision in court meant the other nine charges would be stood down, for now.
The other corruption charges involve Ms Lee Wei Hoon, director of Singapore Radiation Centre, and Ms Esther Goh Tok Mui, who was a business-development director at NCS when the alleged dealings took place, but has since left the company.
While 11 prosecution witnesses have been lined up, the defence counsel have yet to decide on their witness list.
They said they were waiting for further information to be provided over the next two weeks.
The case will be mentioned again on November 2.
- CNA/al
Re: Snow
Getting my coke and pop corn ready for the show.
Getting my coke and pop corn ready for the show.
M
Mdm Tang
Guest
No idea mdm. Just guessing - 6 months? If PL PG, I don't think prosecution will press for deterrent sentence. His lawyers will know how to mitigate for him.
I assume that PL, after much consideration and deliberation, as well as discussions with his legal counsel, agreed to plead guilty, to spare the agony and embarassment of a lengthy trial, and consequential publication of dirty linen.
Perhaps, it is preferable to PG, and move on in life.
I wonder how is NBG's considerations.
Have GUN will travel or man with a Golden GUN!!
does this mean that if you want to commit a crime you might as well go on a spree.
if you kills one person , might as well kill ten
if you robs a person , might as well rob many.
if you cheats one , might as well cheat many.
the law makes no sense.
i thought law is fair. if you do wrong you will be punished for all the wrongs that you did.
if you kills one person , might as well kill ten
if you robs a person , might as well rob many.
if you cheats one , might as well cheat many.
the law makes no sense.
i thought law is fair. if you do wrong you will be punished for all the wrongs that you did.
M
Mdm Tang
Guest
Ex PUB Mr Choy got 14 years :
.
What was missing in MHA’s statement on CPIB probe into two former chiefs
Peter Benedict Lim and Ng Boon Gay
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Tuesday evening (24th Jan) released a short statement to the media, confirming that former Commissioner Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Mr Peter Benedict Lim Sin Pang and former Director of the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) Mr Ng Boon Gay are currently assisting the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB) in its investigations into allegations of “serious personal misconduct”.
The short statement by MHA however, did not include the fact that both men*were actually arrested by CPIB and subsequently released on bail. They were not just merely*”assisting in an investigation”.
CPIB confirmed today that both Peter Benedict Lim Sin Pang*and Ng Boon Gay were arrested on separate occasions under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Mr Ng Boon Gay was arrested on 19th Dec 2011 while Mr Peter Benedict Lim Sin Pang was arrested on 4th Jan 2012. Both were released on bail pending further investigations.
The CPIB spokesperson said:*”Singapore adopts a zero tolerance approach to corruption. The CPIB will investigate any allegations of corruption without fear or favour and will not hesitate to bring those who have breached our tough anti-corruption laws to task.”
Although CPIB did not release further details on the investigations, TR Emeritus (TRE) learnt from reliable sources that both men were allegedly involved with a senior woman executive from a local GLC electronic company who had arranged for and/or*offered “sexual favours” in return for the two former chiefs to “assist in awarding” SCDF and CNB tenders to the electronics company.
The senior woman executive was reportedly on “very close terms” with Mr Peter Benedict Lim and Mr Ng but both men were unaware that she knew each other.
Due to the “sexual favours” arranged by the woman, both men allegedly circumvented protocols and awarded IT deals to the electronics company she works for. It is not known if she is still working in the*electronics company*after CPIB arrested the two former chiefs.
The sources also confirmed to some certainty of TRE’s early*suspicion that no monies were involved but merely “dinner, wine and sex”, which may explain why*MHA chose to use “serious personal misconduct”*as opposed to outright “corruption” in its earlier statement.
This is one of the highest-level probes involving senior public servants since former Commercial Affairs Department director Glenn Knight was convicted of graft in 1992 and 1998. He was debarred from practising law in 1994 and was reinstated in 2007.
In 1995, the former deputy chief executive of national water agency PUB, Mr Choy Hon Tim, was jailed 14 years for taking close to $14 million in bribes for giving out privileged information about PUB tenders to contractors when he was a Chief Electrical Engineer of PUB.
.
Editor’s note: A number of details not yet covered on any media were intentionally left out as TRE was unable to verify the information at press time. Once verifications and due diligence have been done, we will keep our readers updated. Thank you for your patience.
M
Mdm Tang
Guest
SPEECH BY PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG AT CPIB'S 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS
.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew
ESM Goh Chok Tong
Mr Eric Tan
Director of CPIB
Ladies and gentlemen
INTRODUCTION
1. I am very happy to be here to celebrate CPIB’s 60th Anniversary.
2. Singapore is well recognised to be a clean and incorrupt system and country. Our international rankings in this respect are high, whether it is with Transparency International, the Political & Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) or the World Bank.
3. But beyond the rankings, incorruptibility has become ingrained into the Singaporean psyche and into our culture. Singaporeans expect to see, and demand to be delivered, a clean system. Unlike in some other countries, they will not give or accept any “social lubricants” to get things done, not even small ones. And they will sound the alarm once they sense that something is wrong – indeed, many of CPIB’s tip-offs come from members of the public, including whistleblowers. And they expect to see all cases thoroughly investigated, and the culprits, if found guilty, strictly punished.
4. Singapore has greatly benefited from this. Our people and our companies have a reputation for honesty, reliability and trust-worthiness. Our overall system functions properly because policies are developed for the public good rather than private or vested interests. And therefore in Singapore we can do things which others cannot do. For example, we can have entrepreneurs register businesses in 15 minutes online, without paying any “fees” and competing fairly and squarely for business. We can have public officers entrusted to manage multi-million dollar projects in the national interest and not for personal gain. And Singaporeans know that they can make it if they work hard, whatever their family backgrounds and regardless of their personal connections.
OUR FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
5. The CPIB has played a major part in this success. It has enforced our anti-corruption laws impartially and vigorously. It has investigated cases thoroughly, and brought offenders to justice, big and small. It has established a reputation as a formidable agency, thorough and fearless, able to detect any whiff of corruption and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The credit should go to the past Directors of CPIB, including Mr Evan Yeo, Mr Chua Cher Yak and Mr Soh Kee Hean who are with us today; to the officers who have toiled silently behind the scenes, sometimes despite risks to themselves and their families. The 60th Anniversary book captures many of these successes and milestones of the organisation. I hope that it will also help the public to better appreciate CPIB’s importance and its many achievements.
6. CPIB has been able to do its work because it belongs to a larger political and government system which emphasises integrity and incorruptibility.
7. First, strong political leadership, beginning in 1959, when the newly-elected PAP government started to build a clean and incorrupt Singapore. The PAP decided to fight to win the general election that year and to form the first government of self-governing Singapore, instead of just aiming to be a strong Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Not because conditions were propitious, but to ensure that corruption did not set in after British handed over and become a problem that would be impossible to eradicate afterwards. The PAP government was determined to build an honest public service that would serve the people of Singapore, and not a public service that would take care of itself at the expense of public interest. It believed in meritocracy, where people succeed through their own efforts and ability, not by wealth, status or ill-gotten gains. Since then, successive Governments have backed the CPIB fully – with funding, with people, with the mandate to investigate where it needed to, with the legal powers to do its work. We have set high standards of integrity – not flinching wherever the investigations led, even if ministers are implicated, like Wee Toon Boon, Phey Yew Kok – not a minister but a high-profile case, and Teh Cheang Wan. It established proper systems to “guard the guards”, in other words, to put right any instances of wrongdoing in the enforcement agencies, whether it be in the Police Force, whether it be in the CPIB itself. If something is not proper, it will be found out and investigated and put right. For this, we have to thank the former-Prime Ministers Mr Lee Kuan Yew and ESM Goh Chok Tong for their leadership and resolve which led a national effort which made it possible.
8. Beyond the political leadership, we also enacted tough laws and enforced them vigorously. The Prevention of Corruption Act has a wide scope which covers both the public and private sectors, which applied to persons who give or receive bribes, and everybody in between, and which put the burden of proof on the accused to show how he legally acquired his wealth, so that if he has unexplained wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income, that is considered as corroboration of graft. We have made the CPIB a strictly independent agency – the Director appointed by the President, acting in his discretion; and the Director CPIB reporting to the Prime Minister, but having a second path for approval: if the Prime Minister refuses permission for an investigation, then the Director CPIB can go to the President and obtain from the President the permission to proceed.
9. Thirdly, we have kept in Singapore, money out of politics. In many countries, whether developing or developed, corruption and vote-buying pervades politics. Candidates spend large sums on their campaigns, and rely heavily on donors for financing. And very often, the donors finance both sides to buy insurance. After the elections, the candidates as well as their donors expect to reap a return on their investment, on what they have spent to get elected. Singapore, in contrast, has vigorously eschewed money politics. We have capped election spending by candidates by law, so that elected leaders are not beholden to anyone and can do the right thing by voters.
10. Fourthly, we have paid public officers properly, commensurate with their job scope, in line with private sector earnings. Therefore, we have been able to insist on high standards of integrity and performance and avoided the problems of other countries which pay officials unrealistically low wages, resulting in endemic corruption at all levels.
KEEPING SINGAPORE CORRUPTION-FREE
11. This is how we have kept the system clean, but a clean system is not a natural state of affairs. Corruption ultimately comes from weaknesses of human nature – greed, temptation, the desire to enrich oneself or to obtain business through unfair means. Even with harsh penalties and certain penalties, there will still be some who will try to break the rules, and will be caught and punished from time to time. If the penalties are not rigorously enforced, or if such behaviour becomes socially acceptable, then we are headed down a slippery slope. Because ultimately, the price of corruption is not just the dollar amount of the bribes, but the cost to society of the bad decisions and the malfunctioning systems which far exceeds the money which is exchanged.
12. Therefore we can never be complacent in the fight against corruption.
13. The figures show that corruption is well under control in Singapore, thanks in large part to the CPIB's relentless and unremitting efforts. The number of complaints and cases registered has steadily decreased in recent years. The number of cases taken to court has also fallen. And the cases involving the government or involving public officers form only a small proportion of total cases, and these are not increasing either.
14. But unfortunately, in recent months, there have been a spate of cases involving public officers. The cases are not related to one another. Several involve senior officers. Many of them are still being investigated or tried, so I cannot comment on them individually. But I can say that it is bad that some officers have not lived up to the high standards which the civil service, and the people of Singapore, expect of public servants.
15. I am confident that these lapses are not typical of the public service. The overwhelming majority of officers are upright and trustworthy, and the cases which have come up reflect our determination to clamp down on corruption and wrongdoing even when it is awkward or embarrassing for the Government.
16. Let me be quite clear: We will never tolerate corruption. We will not accept any slackening or lowering of standards. Anyone who breaks the rules will be caught and punished. No cover ups will be allowed, no matter how senior the officer or how embarrassing it may be. It is far better to suffer the embarrassment and to keep the system clean for the long term, than to pretend that nothing has gone wrong and to let the rot spread.
17. We are reviewing and tightening the system, in light of these cases, to maintain our high standards of honesty, for example, with stricter procurement rules, and we are reviewing approving authorities and spending limits. But we have to balance between instituting more safeguards and burdening the system with too many checks. Because ultimately, no system can completely stop a determined cheat and part of the solution has to be that if you do it, we will catch you and punish you.
18. But another very important part of the solution has to be that our officers are imbued with the right values, to understand the ethos of public service, to know that you occupy positions of public responsibility and trust and must serve with integrity and propriety. Never let the public down. The civil service will reward you for ability and performance, but also expect and demand of you good character and moral stewardship. The Head of Civil Service and the Permanent Secretaries have all clearly reminded their officers in all the ministries and statutory boards of their duties and we expect no less from every single public officer.
19. But keeping Singapore clean goes beyond the civil service. The political leaders have to continue to set high standards of honesty and integrity; the society must continue to reject corruption, not just because of the rules and penalties, but because this reflects the society we want to live in, and the values we uphold and hold ourselves to. Then we can keep Singapore special and a home which we will continue to be proud of.
CONCLUSION
20. I congratulate the CPIB on its milestone, and I wish it every success for many years ahead. Thank you very much.
.
Mr Lee Kuan Yew
ESM Goh Chok Tong
Mr Eric Tan
Director of CPIB
Ladies and gentlemen
INTRODUCTION
1. I am very happy to be here to celebrate CPIB’s 60th Anniversary.
2. Singapore is well recognised to be a clean and incorrupt system and country. Our international rankings in this respect are high, whether it is with Transparency International, the Political & Economic Risk Consultancy (PERC) or the World Bank.
3. But beyond the rankings, incorruptibility has become ingrained into the Singaporean psyche and into our culture. Singaporeans expect to see, and demand to be delivered, a clean system. Unlike in some other countries, they will not give or accept any “social lubricants” to get things done, not even small ones. And they will sound the alarm once they sense that something is wrong – indeed, many of CPIB’s tip-offs come from members of the public, including whistleblowers. And they expect to see all cases thoroughly investigated, and the culprits, if found guilty, strictly punished.
4. Singapore has greatly benefited from this. Our people and our companies have a reputation for honesty, reliability and trust-worthiness. Our overall system functions properly because policies are developed for the public good rather than private or vested interests. And therefore in Singapore we can do things which others cannot do. For example, we can have entrepreneurs register businesses in 15 minutes online, without paying any “fees” and competing fairly and squarely for business. We can have public officers entrusted to manage multi-million dollar projects in the national interest and not for personal gain. And Singaporeans know that they can make it if they work hard, whatever their family backgrounds and regardless of their personal connections.
OUR FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION
5. The CPIB has played a major part in this success. It has enforced our anti-corruption laws impartially and vigorously. It has investigated cases thoroughly, and brought offenders to justice, big and small. It has established a reputation as a formidable agency, thorough and fearless, able to detect any whiff of corruption and to bring the perpetrators to justice. The credit should go to the past Directors of CPIB, including Mr Evan Yeo, Mr Chua Cher Yak and Mr Soh Kee Hean who are with us today; to the officers who have toiled silently behind the scenes, sometimes despite risks to themselves and their families. The 60th Anniversary book captures many of these successes and milestones of the organisation. I hope that it will also help the public to better appreciate CPIB’s importance and its many achievements.
6. CPIB has been able to do its work because it belongs to a larger political and government system which emphasises integrity and incorruptibility.
7. First, strong political leadership, beginning in 1959, when the newly-elected PAP government started to build a clean and incorrupt Singapore. The PAP decided to fight to win the general election that year and to form the first government of self-governing Singapore, instead of just aiming to be a strong Opposition in the Legislative Assembly. Not because conditions were propitious, but to ensure that corruption did not set in after British handed over and become a problem that would be impossible to eradicate afterwards. The PAP government was determined to build an honest public service that would serve the people of Singapore, and not a public service that would take care of itself at the expense of public interest. It believed in meritocracy, where people succeed through their own efforts and ability, not by wealth, status or ill-gotten gains. Since then, successive Governments have backed the CPIB fully – with funding, with people, with the mandate to investigate where it needed to, with the legal powers to do its work. We have set high standards of integrity – not flinching wherever the investigations led, even if ministers are implicated, like Wee Toon Boon, Phey Yew Kok – not a minister but a high-profile case, and Teh Cheang Wan. It established proper systems to “guard the guards”, in other words, to put right any instances of wrongdoing in the enforcement agencies, whether it be in the Police Force, whether it be in the CPIB itself. If something is not proper, it will be found out and investigated and put right. For this, we have to thank the former-Prime Ministers Mr Lee Kuan Yew and ESM Goh Chok Tong for their leadership and resolve which led a national effort which made it possible.
8. Beyond the political leadership, we also enacted tough laws and enforced them vigorously. The Prevention of Corruption Act has a wide scope which covers both the public and private sectors, which applied to persons who give or receive bribes, and everybody in between, and which put the burden of proof on the accused to show how he legally acquired his wealth, so that if he has unexplained wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income, that is considered as corroboration of graft. We have made the CPIB a strictly independent agency – the Director appointed by the President, acting in his discretion; and the Director CPIB reporting to the Prime Minister, but having a second path for approval: if the Prime Minister refuses permission for an investigation, then the Director CPIB can go to the President and obtain from the President the permission to proceed.
9. Thirdly, we have kept in Singapore, money out of politics. In many countries, whether developing or developed, corruption and vote-buying pervades politics. Candidates spend large sums on their campaigns, and rely heavily on donors for financing. And very often, the donors finance both sides to buy insurance. After the elections, the candidates as well as their donors expect to reap a return on their investment, on what they have spent to get elected. Singapore, in contrast, has vigorously eschewed money politics. We have capped election spending by candidates by law, so that elected leaders are not beholden to anyone and can do the right thing by voters.
10. Fourthly, we have paid public officers properly, commensurate with their job scope, in line with private sector earnings. Therefore, we have been able to insist on high standards of integrity and performance and avoided the problems of other countries which pay officials unrealistically low wages, resulting in endemic corruption at all levels.
KEEPING SINGAPORE CORRUPTION-FREE
11. This is how we have kept the system clean, but a clean system is not a natural state of affairs. Corruption ultimately comes from weaknesses of human nature – greed, temptation, the desire to enrich oneself or to obtain business through unfair means. Even with harsh penalties and certain penalties, there will still be some who will try to break the rules, and will be caught and punished from time to time. If the penalties are not rigorously enforced, or if such behaviour becomes socially acceptable, then we are headed down a slippery slope. Because ultimately, the price of corruption is not just the dollar amount of the bribes, but the cost to society of the bad decisions and the malfunctioning systems which far exceeds the money which is exchanged.
12. Therefore we can never be complacent in the fight against corruption.
13. The figures show that corruption is well under control in Singapore, thanks in large part to the CPIB's relentless and unremitting efforts. The number of complaints and cases registered has steadily decreased in recent years. The number of cases taken to court has also fallen. And the cases involving the government or involving public officers form only a small proportion of total cases, and these are not increasing either.
14. But unfortunately, in recent months, there have been a spate of cases involving public officers. The cases are not related to one another. Several involve senior officers. Many of them are still being investigated or tried, so I cannot comment on them individually. But I can say that it is bad that some officers have not lived up to the high standards which the civil service, and the people of Singapore, expect of public servants.
15. I am confident that these lapses are not typical of the public service. The overwhelming majority of officers are upright and trustworthy, and the cases which have come up reflect our determination to clamp down on corruption and wrongdoing even when it is awkward or embarrassing for the Government.
16. Let me be quite clear: We will never tolerate corruption. We will not accept any slackening or lowering of standards. Anyone who breaks the rules will be caught and punished. No cover ups will be allowed, no matter how senior the officer or how embarrassing it may be. It is far better to suffer the embarrassment and to keep the system clean for the long term, than to pretend that nothing has gone wrong and to let the rot spread.
17. We are reviewing and tightening the system, in light of these cases, to maintain our high standards of honesty, for example, with stricter procurement rules, and we are reviewing approving authorities and spending limits. But we have to balance between instituting more safeguards and burdening the system with too many checks. Because ultimately, no system can completely stop a determined cheat and part of the solution has to be that if you do it, we will catch you and punish you.
18. But another very important part of the solution has to be that our officers are imbued with the right values, to understand the ethos of public service, to know that you occupy positions of public responsibility and trust and must serve with integrity and propriety. Never let the public down. The civil service will reward you for ability and performance, but also expect and demand of you good character and moral stewardship. The Head of Civil Service and the Permanent Secretaries have all clearly reminded their officers in all the ministries and statutory boards of their duties and we expect no less from every single public officer.
19. But keeping Singapore clean goes beyond the civil service. The political leaders have to continue to set high standards of honesty and integrity; the society must continue to reject corruption, not just because of the rules and penalties, but because this reflects the society we want to live in, and the values we uphold and hold ourselves to. Then we can keep Singapore special and a home which we will continue to be proud of.
CONCLUSION
20. I congratulate the CPIB on its milestone, and I wish it every success for many years ahead. Thank you very much.
M
Mdm Tang
Guest
.
Govt determined to weed out corruption: PM Lee
.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120918-372379.html
Govt determined to weed out corruption: PM Lee
.
http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest+News/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120918-372379.html
'Dinner, wine and sex' versus 14 million. More of misconduct versus clear-cut corruption. Facts of case very different.
