CIVIL SERVANTS SPORTING LONG HAIR (Action against)

Mr Teong Eng Siong asked the Minister for Health and Home Affairs if he is aware that, though action has been initiated against Government servants having long hair, there are certain Government employees still sporting long hair, and what action he intends to take against such persons.

The Minister for Health and Home Affairs (Mr Chua Sian Chin): Mr Speaker, Sir, since May last year, all Government departments and statutory boards have each appointed a senior officer as Enforcement Officer to ensure that the Government's anti-long hair policy is conscientiously implemented. The Enforcement Officer checks (a) on the staff and ensures that appropriate disciplinary action is taken against those who sport long and unkempt hair; and (b) to ensure that the policy that males with long hair will be attended to last is enforced. He also submits monthly reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs, giving details of the number of male officers sporting long hair and the action taken against them.

The Ministry of Finance has also issued circulars warning male Government servants that the sporting of long hair constitutes a disciplinary offence and may result in their dismissal. Up to December of last year, more than 4,000 male officers in Government departments and statutory boards have been called up and warned for sporting long hair. Among them were three Division I officers, 25 Division II officers, and the rest were Division III and IV officers and daily-rated employees. All those who were warned did not sport long hair again, except for seven Division IV officers, five of whom were dismissed and the other two resigned.

In general, the Government's anti-long hair policy is having its intended effect. There has been a marked improvement in the hair styles of civil servants since the anti-long hair policy was introduced. However, there may be isolated cases of Government employees sporting long hair which may have escaped the attention of the Enforcement Officer. Government departments and statutory boards have been reminded to exercise continued vigilance over all their employees and to take action against them. The Member for Sembawang may rest assured that any male civil servant found sporting long hair will be appropriately dealt with.

Mr Teong Eng Siong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, I raised this question three months ago but I had no opportunity to raise any supplementary questions at all in this House. Now that three months have passed, I was hoping that the authorities concerned would pay more attention to this matter. But recently I notice that certain Government servants, particularly those in Division IV, are still sporting long hair. Even Police Inspectors are now sporting long hair. Can the Minister pay more attention to this matter?

Mr Chua Sian Chin: Sir, although the question was put in three months ago, as the Member for Sembawang has said, the figures given in my answer are up to-date. As far as those sporting long hair are concerned, as I have said, appropriate action had been and is being taken. But in the event that they have escaped the notice of the Enforcement Officer, then if the Member himself has seen any offenders, he can make a report.