IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT (Public relations)

Dr Tan Eng Liang asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs if he will look into the cultivation of proper attitudes of the staff of the Immigration Department in their dealings with the public.

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Mr Speaker, Sir, all Immigration staff on recruitment undergo training for a period ranging from one to four weeks before they are deployed at the various offices and check-points. During the training they are instructed among other things to be courteous and helpful to members of the public, as they are working in a department which has constant dealings with the public.

Serving members of the Immigration staff are regularly reminded to be courteous and polite in dealing with the public. Departmental circulars on courtesy and correct attitude towards the public have been issued from time to time. Since June last year, seven such circulars were issued and the latest one was issued on the 18th October, 1972. Further, senior officers of the Department from time to time give lectures and briefings to the staff that their rudeness to the public will not be tolerated. There were occasions when disciplinary action was taken against members of the staff for being discourteous to the public. A Deputy Assistant Controller of Immigration, a Division II officer, was dismissed in 1969 for being rude to a member of the public.

Members of the public who know of specific instances of discourtesy or rudeness by any of the Immigration staff are invited to write to my Ministry, giving details. Immediate investigations will be instituted and appropriate action taken, including dismissal wherever necessary. However, general allegations of discourtesy without giving specific details will not be helpful.