Thu, May 07, 2009
AsiaOne
Are Singapore civil servants inflexible?
[Top: (from left) Ms Lee Bee Wah, Mr Lee Yi Shyan and Mr Teo Ser Luck]
Are mid- and junior-level civil servants in Singapore inflexible and cut off from what is happening on the ground?
Several Members of Parliament interviewed by Shin Min Daily News said it is true that some civil servants are overly bureaucratic, but these are in the minority.
According to MP for Aljunied GRC Mdm Cynthia Phua, there are two types of civil servants: The first type will do what it can to address the requests of the people; the second will do everything by the rules and leave no room for negotiation.
Mdm Phua recalls an encounter with the latter: She once tussled with a government department for three months over partially uncovering a drain so that rain water could flow into it.
Because the offical she dealt with was inflexible, Mdm Phua had to get the official's superior to go with her for a spot check on the drain in question. It was after this that Mdm Phua got the go ahead.
MP for Marine Parade GRC Mr Lim Biow Chuan had a similar experience. "Some government departments will give you model answers in the first or second replies. But the situation usually improves after MPs speak to higher-level officials," he said.
Civil servants tell residents: MPs won't change our minds
According to MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Ms Lee Bee Wah, some residents told her there were civil servants who told them: "You can go look up your MP if you want, but our decision will not change."
Such a rigid attitude is inappropriate, said Ms Lee, who added that the tone of voice used by some of the officials who answer public queries was also not correct.
MP Mr Teo Ser Luck said he has gotten feedback that there are bureaucratic people in his two ministries. He is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
But many have also told him that government departments now are more understanding of the common people than in the past, said Mr Teo.
And with so many civil servants around, it is inevitable that there will be some people who are less flexible, he said. Also, as society's standards get higher and education levels improve, the people will demand more of government departments, explained Mr Teo.
"Officials need to follow policy guidelines, but some cases do call for more lively methods of handling. This is a problem for government departments to look into," said Mr Teo.
Minister of State for the Trade and Manpower Ministries Mr Lee Yi Shyan suggested an alternative view to the situation.
He thinks that those who approach government departments for help may already have in mind what kind of help they want. So when officials are unable to give these people exactly what they want, said Mr Lee, they may think that these officials are inflexible.
AsiaOne
Are Singapore civil servants inflexible?
[Top: (from left) Ms Lee Bee Wah, Mr Lee Yi Shyan and Mr Teo Ser Luck]
Are mid- and junior-level civil servants in Singapore inflexible and cut off from what is happening on the ground?
Several Members of Parliament interviewed by Shin Min Daily News said it is true that some civil servants are overly bureaucratic, but these are in the minority.
According to MP for Aljunied GRC Mdm Cynthia Phua, there are two types of civil servants: The first type will do what it can to address the requests of the people; the second will do everything by the rules and leave no room for negotiation.
Mdm Phua recalls an encounter with the latter: She once tussled with a government department for three months over partially uncovering a drain so that rain water could flow into it.
Because the offical she dealt with was inflexible, Mdm Phua had to get the official's superior to go with her for a spot check on the drain in question. It was after this that Mdm Phua got the go ahead.
MP for Marine Parade GRC Mr Lim Biow Chuan had a similar experience. "Some government departments will give you model answers in the first or second replies. But the situation usually improves after MPs speak to higher-level officials," he said.
Civil servants tell residents: MPs won't change our minds
According to MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Ms Lee Bee Wah, some residents told her there were civil servants who told them: "You can go look up your MP if you want, but our decision will not change."
Such a rigid attitude is inappropriate, said Ms Lee, who added that the tone of voice used by some of the officials who answer public queries was also not correct.
MP Mr Teo Ser Luck said he has gotten feedback that there are bureaucratic people in his two ministries. He is the Senior Parliamentary Secretary for the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports.
But many have also told him that government departments now are more understanding of the common people than in the past, said Mr Teo.
And with so many civil servants around, it is inevitable that there will be some people who are less flexible, he said. Also, as society's standards get higher and education levels improve, the people will demand more of government departments, explained Mr Teo.
"Officials need to follow policy guidelines, but some cases do call for more lively methods of handling. This is a problem for government departments to look into," said Mr Teo.
Minister of State for the Trade and Manpower Ministries Mr Lee Yi Shyan suggested an alternative view to the situation.
He thinks that those who approach government departments for help may already have in mind what kind of help they want. So when officials are unable to give these people exactly what they want, said Mr Lee, they may think that these officials are inflexible.
