Govt departments must pay on time
13 Mar 2006I refer to the letter, 'Help SMEs by ensuring prompt payment' (ST, March 10), where Mr Hong Tack Weng complained that government departments, government-linked companies (GLCs) and multinational corporations often do not pay their bills on time for goods and services they received.
We agree that government procuring agencies should always pay suppliers promptly in accordance with their contracts.
The Government Instruction Manuals require that government procuring agencies specify clearly the payment terms in their purchase orders and contracts, and that agencies are to pay suppliers promptly, within the credit period given, upon the satisfactory delivery of goods or services.
We would like to request that Mr Hong contact the undersigned at (Fong_Yong Kian@mof.gov.sg) so that we may address his concerns directly and deal with the procedural or operational shortcomings.
FONG YONG KIAN
DIRECTOR (MANAGING FOR EXCELLENCE)
MINISTRY OF FINANCE