Civil service must pay attention to areas of governance: Tharman

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the civil service must pay special attention to three areas of governance if it is to retain public trust and govern well in Singapore’s new environment.

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SINGAPORE: Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the civil service must pay special attention to three areas of governance if it is to retain public trust and govern well in Singapore’s new environment.

Speaking at the Administrative Service dinner and promotion ceremony on Wednesday evening, Mr Tharman said the first is implementing policies well and making sure they work on the ground.

The second is to include the public more in working out solutions.

The third is investing in community life and the intangibles that matter to people’s sense of well-being.

Mr Tharman said: “We cannot read too much into perception surveys, or take too much comfort from them. But the broad conclusions are clear enough. We operate today from a position of broad public confidence in the government, and we have to work hard to keep this trust in the government, that has been built up over the years.”

Mr Tharman also announced the setting up a taskforce to implement the Pioneer Generation Package.

It will be co-led by Senior Minister of State for Finance Josephine Teo, and Senior Minister of State for Health Dr Amy Khor.

Some of the areas the taskforce will focus on include training volunteers for face-to-face outreach to the pioneers.

A total of 66 administrative officers were promoted this year.

There were over 300 officers in the administrative service last year, an increase of 4.5 per cent compared to 2012. 

- CNA/xq

Civil service must pay attention to areas of governance: Tharman