EXPENDITURE ON PROMOTION OF COURTESY

Mr J.B. Jeyaretnam asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Culture for the total expenditure incurred by his Ministry and other Ministries for the promotion of courtesy in July and whether in his Ministry's view the money was well spent.

Mr S. Dhanabalan: My Ministry has been allocated the sum of $357,500 for FY 83/84 for the courtesy campaign. Up to now we have spent $196,400. The amount incurred by other ministries is insignificant as they obtain supporting materials from the Ministry of Culture. The bulk of the expenditure was for printing materials as well as publicity over TV and Radio.

We live in an increasingly crowded nation. More than 70% of our people live in dense high-rise housing. In such a situation, courtesy is more than a smile and saying 'please' and 'thank you'. Knowing our neighbours in HDB flats and having consideration for one another in the way we conduct ourselves within our home and in public places, consideration for others on the roads and so on, are essential to lessen the frictions that are inevitable when people live in crowded conditions. The courtesy campaign is therefore necessary and the annual expenditure worthwhile.

While Government has led the campaign, the private sector has responded enthusiastically. Many companies and organisations have participated actively promoting courtesy before, during and beyond the campaign month each year.

According to four surveys - two sponsored by Nanyang Siang Pau and two by Times Organisation - Singaporeans are now more courteous than they were in 1979 when the first campaign was launched. For example, Government departments have been reported to have improved a great deal. The staff are more courteous and many departments have streamlined their work procedures to remove irritation to members of the public. As another example, respondents to the survey indicated marked improvement in the courtesy shown by bus crews and taxi drivers. We shall continue to monitor the effects of the campaign.