FEEDBACK UNIT (Performance)

The following Question stood in the name of Mr Chew Heng Ching:

Mr Chew Heng Ching: To ask the Minister for Community Development if he is satisfied with the work performed by the Feedback Unit.

Mr Deputy Speaker: Mr Chew.

Encik Ibrahim Othman (Tanah Merah): Question No. 7, Sir.

The Minister for Community Development (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Sir, I am satisfied with the work of the Feedback Unit. Let me elaborate.

As Members may recall, the Feedback Unit was set up in March 1985 to provide an additional channel of communication between the people and the Government and I am pleased to say that the public has actively made use of this channel. As at 28th February, the Unit received a total of 1,538 inputs from members of the public and 2,030 inputs from grassroots organizations as well as telephone calls and personal visits. The public is primarily concerned with issues on housing, welfare and health services, issues which touch on the daily life of Singaporeans.

I had previously reported to this House that the members of the public were well aware that the Feedback Unit was not a complaints bureau and letters and inputs from them clearly indicated this understanding. Indeed, the private complaints and appeals which formed about 10-12% of the total inputs in March 1985 had dropped to 8% in December 1985 and only 2% in December 1986. The bulk of the inputs, that is about 50%, were suggestions and comments on national policies, while the remaining 48% were requests for information and clarification on policies. Suggestions and views from members of the public are channelled by the Unit to the various Ministries and departments for their consideration, and these Government Ministries and departments do take the feedback seriously. Changes and modifications have been made by the various Ministries and departments arising from the feedback given. Some examples are: giving longer grace period for late payment of fees in view of the recession and allowing owners and occupiers of acquired land to continue with their activities if there is no immediate plan for the development of the acquired land.

Ministries and departments are adopting a positive attitude to the feedback provided by the Unit and, wherever possible, they exercise flexibility within the constraints of broad policy guidelines. We should give them full credit for their support and cooperation which have made the task of Feedback Unit easier. Besides acting on views and suggestions from the public, the Unit also solicits views and comments from members of the public on national issues such as the National Agenda, independent schools and town councils. This is done through the various forums, dialogue sessions and informal discussions organized by the Unit with participation from professionals, grassroots organizations and individual members of the public. This year, the Unit will also hold regular dialogues with professional bodies, trade associations, social clubs and other private organizations. And I would like to take this opportunity to openly invite all interested parties and individuals who may wish to have dialogue with the Unit to get in touch with the Unit either by phone or in writing.