Singapore appointed 2 idiots to lead the task force.

[jw5]

Lawrence is preparing for the budget.

Lawrence Wong updated his cover photo.​

1 d ·
All of us at the Ministry of Finance (Singapore) and our colleagues from across the government are gearing up and putting in our best to prepare for the #SGBudget2023 on 14 February!
Thank you for your hard work, and let’s do our best to build a brighter and inclusive home for all.
(

: MOF Photo by Fandy Razak)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence glad to have an early celebration.

Lawrence Wong​

2 d ·
This Sunday is the 15th and final day of the Lunar New Year! Glad to have an early celebration with fellow MPs, community leaders and guests at the Chap Goh Mei dinner hosted by PM Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday.
I will also be delivering the Budget speech just over a week from now. It’s all hands on deck, as we work through this final stretch of preps. Stay tuned!
(

: MCI Photos by Liu Ying)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence poses with a few unmasked people.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence poses with 3 chiobus and 2 oldmen.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence felt great to be back with PM Lee Hsien Loong and colleagues at the Chingay Parade SG.

Lawrence Wong​

2 d · Instagram ·
Great to be back with PM Lee Hsien Loong and colleagues at the Chingay Parade SG last evening.

After two years of hybrid and digital shows, the parade has fully resumed in person — bringing together more than 10,000 participants from different backgrounds!
This year’s theme — “Embrace Tomorrow” — calls on us to look to our future with hope and confidence. With solidarity, I'm confident we can overcome any challenges and emerge stronger.
A big thank you to our diverse and multi-ethnic talent, youth and volunteers for the performance.
People's Association
(

: MCI Photos by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence wishes all those who celebrate a blessed and meaningful Thaipusam celebration.

Lawrence Wong​

1 d · Instagram ·
இனிய தைப்பூச திருநாள் நல்வாழ்த்துகள்!
After more muted celebrations due to the Covid-19 pandemic, am glad to see the foot procession and kavadis back for Thaipusam this year.
This vibrant festival is an embodiment of faith, devotion, and cultural heritage, and a time to seek blessings and give thanks for the blessings received.
Wishing all those who celebrate a blessed and meaningful Thaipusam celebration.
(

: MCI Photo by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence thanks everyone for their feedback.

Lawrence Wong​

9 h ·
A week away from #SGBudget2023!
Thank you to everyone who has given your feedback, in our engagements or online through our Ministry of Finance (Singapore) Budget website. Recently had good sessions with economists and more.
Your views help shape the future of our country, as we continue building a fairer, greener and more inclusive home.

Stay tuned.
(At one of our pre-Budget engagements with tax practitioners and professionals.

: MOF Photos by Fandy Razak)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence chairs a very important meeting.

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

DPM Lawrence Wong to deliver Budget speech at 3.30pm on Feb 14​

The statement will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV channels and radio. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
Fatimah Mujibah
UPDATED

6 FEB 2023, 5:10 PM SGT

FacebookTwitter

SINGAPORE – Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will deliver the Budget statement in Parliament at 3.30pm on Feb 14.
The Ministry of Finance (MOF), government feedback unit Reach and the People’s Association (PA) in a joint statement on Monday said the statement will be broadcast live on free-to-air TV channels and radio.
These include Channel 5, CNA, CNA938, Capital 958, the CNA website, CNA YouTube channel, CNA Facebook page, 8world News, 8world News YouTube channel, 8world News Facebook page and MediaCorp’s meWatch.

The Singapore Association for the Deaf will provide simultaneous sign language interpretation of the Budget speech on Channel 5.
A link to a live webcast will be available on the Budget website at www.singaporebudget.gov.sg
Key announcements from the Budget statement will be updated on MOF social media platforms, and readers can also get live updates at straitstimes.com


People can visit the MOF website at www.mof.gov.sg/email-subscription and subscribe to receive the full Budget statement via e-mail after it has been delivered. The service will be available for sign-up until 9am on Feb 14.


The Budget statement will also be available at www.singaporebudget.gov.sg after it has been delivered.
In the run-up to the Budget, MOF and various agencies, including Reach and PA, have since last December engaged members of the public in discussions.
People can continue to submit their views on the Budget through various feedback channels. These are:

• Singapore Budget Website www.singaporebudget.gov.sg
• Reach Budget Website www.reach.gov.sg/budget2023
• Reach Singapore Facebook www.facebook.com/REACHSingapore
• Reach Singapore Instagram www.instagram.com/reachsg
Reach will also hold two in-person Budget conversations – in English on Feb 17 and in Mandarin on Feb 20.

Participants will be able to choose the Budget-related topics they would like to discuss at these dialogues.
A series of radio talk shows and a podcast episode with Reach Advisory Panel members discussing concerns about the Budget will also be organised, and there will be physical listening points set up at popular places across Singapore to gather views on the Budget.
Details of the Reach listening points can be found on the Reach Budget 2023 microsite.
PA and its grassroots organisations will also be organising post-Budget dialogues to engage residents on Budget measures.
Residents who are interested in attending these sessions can register their interest by 2pm on Feb 28 at https://go.gov.sg/postbudget23
Watch the live stream of Mr Wong’s speech and get instant, bite-size updates from our special live coverage on The Straits Times website on Feb 14.
Receive a special-edition Budget newsletter by signing up for ST’s Evening Update at http://str.sg/newsletters

 

[jw5]

from straitstimes.com:

AGO to review nearly half of Govt’s $72.3b Covid-19 spending in annual audit​

As part of its FY2022/23 audit, the Auditor-General's Office will look at the SingapoRediscovers Vouchers scheme. PHOTO: ST FILE

Natasha Ann Zachariah
Correspondent
UPDATED

7 FEB 2023, 12:12 AM SGT

FacebookTwitter

SINGAPORE - The Auditor-General’s Office (AGO) will scrutinise some $32.3 billion spent by various agencies to fight Covid-19 as part of its annual audit of government accounts, Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong said on Monday.
Programmes being audited include the Jobs Support Scheme, Rental Relief Framework (Cash Grants), Rental Support Scheme and SingapoRediscovers Vouchers Scheme, DPM Wong said in a written reply to a parliamentary question by Mr Yip Hon Weng (Yio Chu Kang).
This is close to half of the $72.3 billion of Covid-19 spending that the Government incurred in financial years 2020 and 2021. DPM Wong’s reply came after the Public Accounts Committee called on the Government in January to conduct a comprehensive review of its pandemic-related expenditure, given the unprecedented complexity and scale of operations.

Mr Wong, who is also Finance Minister, said that more than half of the Government’s Covid-19 expenditure have been audited, including the AGO’s thematic audit of the Ministry of Manpower, the Singapore Land Authority and the Health Promotion Board in the 2021/2022 financial year.
In its report in July 2022, the AGO found that the three agencies generally had in place processes and controls to manage the different stages of procurement and contract management, but there were some lapses in evaluations of contractors’ proposals as well as tell-tale signs that some documents provided by contractors might not be authentic, among other things.
“Using a risk-based approach, AGO may choose to audit other selected areas of Covid-19 spending in their ongoing and subsequent reviews,” said Mr Wong.

Besides the AGO’s audits, public agencies have also conducted internal audits on Covid-19 spending since early 2022, said Mr Wong. These included reviews on the effectiveness of internal controls, as well as the validity and accuracy of payments.

“Findings and remedial actions from the internal audits were reported to the respective agencies’ senior management, as well as to their audit committees and boards in the case of statutory boards,” he added.
Mr Wong noted that the $72.3 billion spent went towards a broad range of areas to safeguard public health and enable safe reopening. The money also financed support measures for individuals and businesses in the form of grants, financing assistance, tax rebates and vouchers.
“The remaining audits are ongoing and are expected to be completed by the end of financial year 2024,” he said.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence will continue to keep a close watch on the situation.

Lawrence Wong​

5 h ·
We have been fighting the pandemic together for more than 3 years.
More recently the global situation has improved. Within Singapore, things have remained stable, as our population has developed a high level of hybrid immunity.
We have therefore decided to move from Dorscon yellow to green from 13 Feb, and establish a Covid endemic new norm. In particular we will step down the remaining covid measures:
- No more mask-wearing on public transport
- Step down of TraceTogether and SafeEntry
- Stand down of the Multi-Ministry Task Force. The Ministry of Health will assume management of the Covid situation, as it does for other endemic diseases
We continue to keep a close watch on the situation, both internationally and in Singapore. And we are reviewing our experiences to draw the right lessons and better prepare ourselves for the next pandemic.
Serving on the MTF has given me a front-row seat to see the best of Singaporeans at work. Thanks to everyone for your efforts and sacrifices - it is because of all of you that we have emerged from this crisis stronger as a nation. And I am confident that this Singaporean spirit of trust and solidarity, will help us overcome future challenges.
(

: MCI Photos by Ngau Kai Yan)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence pleased to make an announcement.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence and his colleagues.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence thanks everyone.

Lawrence Wong​

11 h · Instagram ·
We are at the mid-way point of the #ForwardSG exercise. Many thanks to everyone who participated and shared your feedback and views.
We are reviewing our policies to address your concerns and aspirations. So stay tuned for more updates at the #SGBudget2023 on 14th February.
In the next phase of Forward Singapore, we will delve deeper into the issues, and seek to co-create new solutions together. We aim to complete the Forward Singapore exercise in the second half of 2023.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence pleased to welcome Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh to Singapore.

Lawrence Wong​

1 d ·
Pleased to welcome Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh to Singapore. We discussed how Singapore and Vietnam can deepen cooperation in renewable energy, carbon credits and the digital economy as we seek to build more resilient and sustainable economies.
Our countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of our diplomatic relations and 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership this year. I look forward to working with PM Chinh to deepen Singapore’s relations with Vietnam in the years to come!
(

: MCI Photos by Betty Chua)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence visited Mooreast.

Lawrence Wong​

11 h ·
A visit to Mooreast, a homegrown company that provides anchoring and mooring solutions in the oil and gas industry. In fact, Mooreast is one of the top three global players in this area. And it is now applying its capabilities in the growing offshore renewable energy space.
In the coming #SGBudget2023, I will share more about how we can build our enterprise capabilities to ensure Singaporeans seize new opportunities through innovation.
(

: MCI Photos by Fyrol)

 

[jw5]

Lawrence listens to a veteran.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence pleased to see the Singapore flag.

 

[jw5]

Lawrence looks on curiously.

 

[jw5]

Lawence poses with many unmasked people.