Committee of Supply 2024 debate, Day 1: Chan Chun Sing on a forward-looking and future-ready Public Service
Singapore’s Public Service is increasingly being organised in a much more mission-centric and citizen-centric way to ensure it is ready for future challenges. This comes amid the rising complexity and interdependency of issues the country is facing, said Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28). He gave examples of the National Climate Change Secretariat to sharpen the focus on climate change issues across the whole of Government, as well as the Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office to better harness the potential of technology. Meanwhile, digital services have been made more intuitive, seamless and relevant for the public, he said. At the same time, walk-in physical centres are still available for those who need them and two new ones will be set up in Woodlands and Bukit Merah this year. Mr Chan elaborated on how public officers are being encouraged to cultivate different skill sets and perspectives. There was a five-fold increase in officers taking up short- and long-term attachments or job rotations between 2021 and 2023. Officers can also do stints in the private and people sectors, get time to pursue their own development opportunities and take part in exchange programmes abroad. Mr Chan addressed concerns raised by MPs about retaining public trust and maintaining a strong system of governance. He noted that in the Corruption Perceptions Index, Singapore has ranked higher in the last five years than some countries cited as having “more elaborate” rules. He emphasised that the system must be viewed holistically, looking at outcomes achieved and the scale and magnitude of the problem. “Putting in new and more rules does not necessarily solve the problems that we may not even have to start with”, he said.
Singapore’s Public Service is increasingly being organised in a much more mission-centric and citizen-centric way to ensure it is ready for future challenges. This comes amid the rising complexity and interdependency of issues the country is facing, said Minister-in-charge of the Public Service Chan Chun Sing in Parliament on Wednesday (Feb 28). He gave examples of the National Climate Change Secretariat to sharpen the focus on climate change issues across the whole of Government, as well as the Science and Technology Policy and Plans Office to better harness the potential of technology. Meanwhile, digital services have been made more intuitive, seamless and relevant for the public, he said. At the same time, walk-in physical centres are still available for those who need them and two new ones will be set up in Woodlands and Bukit Merah this year. Mr Chan elaborated on how public officers are being encouraged to cultivate different skill sets and perspectives. There was a five-fold increase in officers taking up short- and long-term attachments or job rotations between 2021 and 2023. Officers can also do stints in the private and people sectors, get time to pursue their own development opportunities and take part in exchange programmes abroad. Mr Chan addressed concerns raised by MPs about retaining public trust and maintaining a strong system of governance. He noted that in the Corruption Perceptions Index, Singapore has ranked higher in the last five years than some countries cited as having “more elaborate” rules. He emphasised that the system must be viewed holistically, looking at outcomes achieved and the scale and magnitude of the problem. “Putting in new and more rules does not necessarily solve the problems that we may not even have to start with”, he said.
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