In a report by Channel NewsAsia, it was revealed that the Kawasaki-Sifang (KSF) consortium which was first awarded the C151A contract in 2009 - the contract which had 26 trains with defects -- was awarded two additional contracts, C151B and C151C.

C151C was awarded in 2015, two years after defects were discovered by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) on trains from C151A.

"Highest quality score"

LTA said KSF had the "highest quality score" when assessed among other tenderers for both subsequent contracts. "We also considered that the contractor was able to quickly identify the cause of the defects, take responsibility and carry out the necessary action promptly to rectify the fault," LTA told CNA.

A spokesperson from LTA also told The Straits Times that LTA "looked at the overall quality that the contractor can deliver".

She added that the quality score is based on different aspects such as technical proposals, project management and train manufacturer competency.

"A robust and comprehensive tender process"

LTA also said it has a "robust and comprehensive tender process with strict procedures that ensure (its) procurement systems adhere to the highest and most rigorous standards."

In response to the news, Workers' Party (WP) Youth Wing president Gerald Giam responded on Facebook:

This is astonishing. So the vendor's dismal track record can become a point in their favour? And they can even end up with the "highest quality score"? Let us see the full details of that score sheet and the criteria used, please.

LTA had shared earlier that the defects found on 26 trains were not safety-critical.

Top image from Wikipedia

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