8/13/2013

How to keep the public service corruption free?

Actually there are a hundred and one things to do to keep corruption in govt services in check. We have the world’s most effective corruption prevention formula that may seemingly be legalising corruption by paying out front so that there is no more temptation to want to take more to risk losing everything. This formula would have removed a large chunk of those that may be tempted to corrupt, leaving only a smaller number of potential rogues in the system.

Next, our civil service was not born yesterday. It has been in operation for more than 48 years, even in colonial times, with well tested systems in place. And these systems and procedures have been constantly refined and improved to tighten up the loose ends over the years. By now, anything that can be tightened or enhanced to prevent corruption must have been worked into the system with tomes of manuals on operating procedures. It is unlikely that a mosquito could fly through the layers of mazes set up by the ministries to keep the mosquito out of the system. We have a very robust system of checks and controls. Believe me it is true.

To add to the checks and control there is the annual audit team to comb through the activities to make sure that all is in order. And the latest audit did reveal quite a number of lapses. And this is good as any discovery will mean that things can be captured and rectified.

And there is the fear CPIB to cast its shadow over anyone thinking crooked. This could be the last barrier to keep corruption out. If this fails, that nothing can hold anymore.

Chee Hean has replied to Low Thia Khiang’s queries on the recent spate of corruption involving senior govt officials, the reason for failure is never about the system but about the slack in maintaining and upholding the system. There seems to be an inability to follow standard and approved procedures or deliberately violated to abet corruption, or simply negligent on the part of the officers or their superiors. The flaws seemed to be the ease in circumventing a robust and tight systems of checks and controls. Why?

The causes of all the corruption cases are nothing sophisticated and bizarre that cannot be prevented. What could be the main contributor to the rise in corruption is lack of accountability. No heads will roll or at most a slap on the wrist would be considered the gravest punishment. How then could discipline and abiding to proper procedures be enforced when there is no fear factor? How would anyone not be tempted to take risk when the consequences are as good as no consequences?

A simple recommendation to ensure compliance to procedures is to make the officer directly accountable for his action. There can be flexibility for the officers on the ground to make exceptions but the officer must be directly responsible for his actions and be punished duly for not observing approved procedures or approving to override standard procedures. He decides and if things fall apart, his head rolls. Who ever authorises such actions, and if it leads to abuses or corruption in the system or process, shall be punished accordingly. And the minimum punishment could be demotion or if worse, dismissal and facing prosecution. When officers know that they will have to own up for their decisions, they will take more care to protect themselves and in the things they decide or approve.

The heads of dept, division or ministries must be the one ultimately responsible for the infringements and corruption appropriate to the authority he is bestowed with. When accountability and responsibility are well defined, the officers responsible would have to be very careful of their own actions and discretions. Without the will to punish anyone appropriately for corruption, it is only an open invitation for the officers to corrupt.

No matter how robust and well designed the checks and control systems are, without the will to enforce and take violators to task, it is as good as a system full of holes.

24 comments:

  1. "...without the will to enforce and take violators to task, it is as good as a system full of holes."
    RB

    But then why do Sinkies also do not have the will to form a better alternative to the PAP?

    Isn't this the root of all wills?

    To solve a problem, you must go to the root will, root cause, root whatever lah, tio bo?

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  2. Doesn't mean you have the will you will succeed.

    Don't believe, just ask Chee Soon Juan.

    Or will Chee Soon Juan be a future Sinkie "Mandela"?

    What do you think?

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  3. ....I have trust that our civil service has very robust systems......

    ....what we need to do is to hold the approving authorities along the whole chain accountable, really accountable.....

    .....they should be sacked.....not merely transfer here and there ....

    .....I know it is very cruel, but believe me, it is the only way that civil service robust systems are strictly followed and stand tall......

    ....I hope mr teo ch read this .......

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  4. It is easy to sack someone but not so easy to find an equivalent or better replacement.

    It is easy to vote out PAP but there is currently no alternative ready to be govt.

    Or else to choose them is as good or as bad as choosing me to be head of government because I am also not ready.

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  5. Will that ever happen?, holding accountability and responsibility with head of department, division or ministries, i think the word "privatise", was use for that reason. A relook at second tier management, is severly needed, it is not just with corruption as recent incidents had turn out previous mp's, drunk driving, scadal (sex) etc. The format of having the best mind and being paid the best money, do not hold up any more, the PM needs to relook within its border with a new mind set, he needs to recruit passion and drive people like aka red bean, people that has foresight rather than regret decision like, "stop at two".

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  6. Of course the politicians set the directions but you must not forget we have a very robust civil service.

    Regardless who the controlling political party, the day to day operations will go on.

    So any political party is ready .............WHY NOT READY?

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  7. ...he needs to recruit passion and drive people like aka red bean,...
    Anon August 13, 2013 9:19 am

    I thought red bean was also formerly a civil servant? And a well educated one too.

    What happened after that?

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  8. No sacking please. We are so short of talents and if we start to sack, soon there will be no talents left and we will have to replace the govt and civil service with FTs.

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  9. We have a robust system. The director was tightening the work processes and could have uncover the fraud.

    But, but, but the implementation was not done well and the fraud was not detected.

    Isn't this bird talk?

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  10. The director was tightening the work processes...
    Anon August 13, 2013 9:29 am

    Maybe on paper lah.

    Have you heard of paper Generals?

    I can also put on paper a better alternative to the PAP. And for free too.

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  11. ....I have trust that our civil service has very robust systems......

    ....what we need to do is to hold the approving authorities along the whole chain accountable, really accountable.....

    .....they should be sacked.....not merely transfer here and there ....

    .....I know it is very cruel, but believe me, it is the only way that civil service robust systems are strictly followed and stand tall......

    ....I hope mr teo ch read this .......


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  12. JOKE
    ----
    What ESM Goh said:
    ESM Goh said a resident called his town council officials to kill 2 cockroaches from the rubbish chute. "This is hardly the resilience we are advocating."

    What Sinkies are thinking:
    An old fart politician said he needed to pay his Ministers million dollar salaries or he fears they won't stay honest. "This is hardly the honest dedication we are advocating for our leaders."

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  13. There is no such thing as a "TOTALLY corruption-free" government.

    You are occasionally going to get individuals working in the government to "surrender" to their passions and compromise their honour and integrity for unjust personal gain. Human nature lah.

    The best you can do is to improve the systems of checks, verification and auditing, and hope that most of the people in the organisation are honest.

    Do the necessary due diligence. What is left is then it is a matter of luck.

    Two separate cases of "blow-jobs for contracts" doesn't make the whole government or civil service corrupt. But it sure as hell makes fun reading :-))

    Will there be another "blow-job for favours" or something in that vein?

    You can bet on it!

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  14. I still remember the old days of LKY/Goh Keng Swee and their comrades and the fierce perm secs. They struck fear in the senior officers who ever dared flirt with the idea of corruption.

    There were good and bad but it was a form of checks and balance. Today's perm secs are just too nice and no longer carry that kind of aura around them. Even CPIB is a shade of its past.

    Even Hsien Loong's style is becoming too nice and soft.

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  15. Redbean
    the issue is not "too nice and soft" versus "too nasty and hard".
    The issue is not even corruption!

    The issue is competence.
    Is the PAP government ready to govern?
    Or do they still need grooming and mentoring from an old man who is busy writing fairy tales?

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  16. You are right on this. 48 years and still needing pacifier. We used to have senior cambridge officers with very few grads and we were doing quite fine.

    Not strings of first class honours, masters, etc etc, still struggling. Funny. Only thing I can think of is heart in the wrong place.

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  17. Dear redbean.
    You are absolutely right.
    If your heart is in the right place.
    The desire to serve and do the right thing will be there.
    The ability to come up with innovative policy solutions will come naturally.
    No need million dollar salaries and a lot of degrees.

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  18. It is a case of 上梁不正下梁歪. It has nothing to do with how much they are paid, how many first class honours they obtained, how many years they have ruled. If all they need to do is to carry balls then it will be. The entire gov starting from the PM has to go for a total revamp. PM should step down and accept responsibility for his failed management. Stop being so thick skinned. He can easily retire into his luxury villa in south france.

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  19. The Sin PM has luxury villa in South France?

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  20. Yes and all on taxpayers expenses.

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  21. For investment or retirement?

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  22. Don't know whether investment or retirement.
    But unlikely for the benefit of Singaporeans.

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  23. 'How to keep the Civil Service corruption free?'.

    What a silly question!

    It was oredi hinted to YOU, LONG AGO.
    Pay me more or PAY ME WHAT WE WANT and WE MAY AVOID CORRUPTION.

    Do You understand? Sir!

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  24. When I left the civil service, in my testimonial, my integrity was rated 'excellent'.

    When my boy joined the service, the first thing I told him is to maintain a high standard of integrity. One of the things I imparted on him is that if he has to make any claims, round down the claims and not to claim a single cent more.

    Oh, for your info, a concerned citizen has written to Chee Hean with this article attached.

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