Dr Goh Keng Swee Should Pay Mr Khaw Boon Wan A Visit

Dr Goh Keng Swee famously chose to walk rather than take a cab to save money. Today, that ethos of thrift and prudent expenditure is but only a distant memory it seems. More details of NParks spendthrift ways came to light in today's report of their purchase of bicycles costing S$2200 apiece for their staff.

Apparently NParks approved the purchase because only one tender submission was received. And Mr Khaw was satisfied with that reason! Has neither Mr Khaw or NParks heard of the concept of a failed tender? Bicycles are not such an exotic product that there is only one supplier available. The correct procedure would have been to call for a re-tender and making sure that at least several potential suppliers are directly informed of the tender.

NParks had given the excuse that a foldable bike would eliminate the need for a van to transport the bikes and staff on their rounds. Are we to understand that with a foldable bike, staff would transport themselves and the bike? How so?

This is an example of when heads should roll. Someone should be fired for mishandling this tender. What next? The traffic police tender for patrol cars has only one tender response proposing the Buggatti Veyron for several million dollars a piece and it will be approved? Because you know, with the proliferation of Ferrari cars and the now updated need to tougher on traffic violation by such vehicles, the police need faster cars to keep up? Really?

PM Lee, you have a problem. One of your ministers has a tendency of not only shooting himself in the foot, his stray shots will start hitting yours as well. From prioritizing "protecting our babies" from wild boar attacks instead of focusing on upgrading the standard of their education to saying that HDB flats have not shrunk in size and now his acceptance of an obviously flawed purchasing decision, his is not only a deadweight your administration is dragging around, but it is actually pulling it in the opposite direction.

The PAP might have a mole in the WP. but you have in your cabinet a minister who could not have done a better job of sabotaging its credibility than if he had been planted there by the opposition. I do not see WHY the public should continue to fund his million plus salary till the next GE when it could be better spend on someone else more competent. Surely you can find someone else more suitable in the 80 plus other MPs in your party.

This minister is likely unelectable. As PM, you need to exercise your leadership role and do the right thing. Far be it for me to tell you what needs to be done and to who but to maintain the status quo would endanger your and the rest of the governments already shaky standing with the electorate.