REJECTIONS/DECISIONS ON CITIZEN'S RIGHTS

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Prime Minister whether he will consider directing all Ministries that where they reject any application from a citizen or make any decision which impinges on the rights of the citizen they should give detailed reasons for their rejection or decision.

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, all Ministers and Government Ministries have made it a practice to explain their policies clearly so that people know the reasons for the rules which apply to their particular cases. Every major policy change is explained at length in Parliament, in the press and TV, in dialogues direct with voters in Meet-the-People sessions and through grassroots organizations. This is especially so when the policy affects large numbers of the public, such as housing, education, health, citizenship, entry permits or PUB rates. Every MP knows from his Meet-the-People sessions that voters seek his help not because they do not understand the reasons for the rejections of their applications or the decisions against them, but because they want to be made the exceptions to the rule, or to be able to jump a queue. They invariably believe that because of their special circumstances or because of their MP's pressure or the Minister's special connections, the rules could be bent for them.

The Government's duty is to patiently but firmly convince such people that because the rules are not bent for anyone, all are better off. There is no failure of communication. The failure is in the human refusal to accept that they cannot be made exceptions to the rule.

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam (Anson): Mr Speaker, Sir, whilst it is accepted that Ministers have explained their policies, would the Hon. Prime Minister accept that one of the fundamental principles of accountability to every citizen is that the Government explains in each particular case why it is unable to accept his application or makes a decision that may adversely affect his livelihood? For example, why his case does not come within the policy laid down by the Government?

The Prime Minister: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Anson assumes that we have just started the science of government day before yesterday. The business of government has begun since the earliest tribes foregathered, and the business of representative government in Singapore has evolved since 1955 when I was first elected to this Chamber. There has been no government that has been more strenuous in its efforts in making the mass of the people understand why rules and regulations have been made and are applied fairly, equitably and impartially on everyone.

The Member has been an MP for a year. He has met many of his constituents. He has written thousands of letters. Is there any particular policy he does not understand? If so, I am prepared to explain to him now all those aspects in relation to my Ministry, or he can put Questions to any Minister on what he does not understand. The policy is well understood. What he does not understand and will never understand is that the policy will not be bent.

Mr Jeyaretnam: Mr Speaker, Sir, I was not asking for the policy of the Government to be explained again and again and again. What I am saying is this: that a citizen must be told why his particular case does not fit in with the Government's policy. I have had letters from Ministries with one short sentence, "It is regretted that the application cannot be granted." Why not? As far as I could see, it came within the policy of the Government.

The Prime Minister: When the Member receives such a letter and if he genuinely and sincerely does not understand, come to this House and he will be told in great detail, "why not." I suspect he does know and I suspect his constituent also does know. And if he comes here, he will be demolished.