CIVIL SERVICE (Courtesy campaign)

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap asked the Minister for Finance whether he will consider conducting a further campaign to remind civil servants that courtesy and willing assistance are expected of them at all times when dealing with members of the public.

Mr Tang See Chim (for the Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1959, after the P.A.P. Government assumed office, steps were taken to ensure that civil servants deal with members of the public with courtesy.

Rudeness and discourtesy to the public were made disciplinary offences, and disciplinary regulations were amended to enable a Permanent Secretary to appoint a Division I officer to make enquiries and deal with such complaints speedily.

The statistics of the Central Complaints Bureau, which was set up in 1962, show a steady decline in the number of complaints, dropping from 1,064 cases in 1963 to 604 cases in1967. Not all of these complaints were justified. Today, it cannot be said that discourtesy among civil servants remains a major problem. In view of this, a further campaign is not deemed necessary.

Of course, isolated instances of discourtesy may still occur. To eradicate these, members of the public can do their part by giving full details of such cases to the Heads of Departments concerned or to the Central Complaints Bureau or to their respective Members of Parliament.