- Joined
- Apr 9, 2009
- Messages
- 3,070
- Points
- 0
FACEBOOK is fast becoming the direct platform for Singapore politicians to broadcast their messages directly. More so, after the recent General Election.
And the efforts from the politicians themselves and the interest from netizens shows no signs of abating.
As traditional media often comes with space constraints in newspapers, or time constraints on television or radio, the social nature of Facebook has allowed more awareness of issues at the ground level to be shared with the public, especially if they may not be big enough to overshadow other competing news.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Mountbatten - Lim Biow Chuan - did his own spot checks on the ground after complaints about the regularity of some bus services during the election campaign period.
He posted this on May 16 on his Facebook page at 4.48pm then: 'I received complaints about the regularity of some bus services during the campaign period. This morning, I waited at the bus stop from 8am to 9am with LTA (Land Transport Authority) officer to do an audit and was horrified at the result. Will be writing to PTC (Public Transport Council) and LTA to lodge a formal complaint about the service standards of the bus services.'
On Thursday at 2.30pm, he posted this next update on his investigations: 'Was at bus stop next to Block 56 Cassia Crescent this morning for 2nd informal audit. Results are slightly better although there is room for improvement. For service 70, a total of 8 buses came within a period of 50 mins. Service 197 need to improve. Will feedback to PTC for their follow up with SBS. Then monitor to see whether there are improvements.'
Earlier in the week, MP for Sembawang GRC (Admiralty) - Vikram Nair - posted a YouTube video of himself drinking tap water during a house visit to prove that the water in Blk 686B Woodlands Drive 73 is safe for consumption.
This was to reassure residents' concerns after the body of a dead domestic worker was earlier found in the block's water tank on May 16.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reactions from Facebook users on MP Lim Biow Chuan's page:
'Sir really appreciate your ground work. You didn't allow the LTA officer or your grassroots smoke you.' - Ong Delion
'Glad you came down to see things first hand! Great job, sir!' - Brenda Chia
'Mr Lim, thank you for your personal investigation. Service 158 is a good example. I am seeing a very positive commitment to improve the issues. If I can add, Facebook can be a good channel not to get a watered-down feedback. Of course some posting are not constructive, however like a Malay saying goes, if there's no wind the leaves will not ruffle.' - Jumali Sayuti
'Dear Sir, fyi, there are many other services which you will 'be horrified' with. Nothing beats seeing it for yrselves isn't it???? Really thumbs up for such efforts taken. Maybe you can consider checking out just how crowded our trains are also, especially the peak period.' - Jennifer Lee
'Good job. It's nice that you communicate what you are doing. Do continue. Hope you won't get the brush off from PTC/LTA. Hope they won't offer the traditional solution of tweaking the routes and increasing services as the solution will only...be stop-gap measures that do not address the root of the problem... and please tell them you won't accept them to put up more ERP gantries in your area just to 'solve' the problem.' - Serene Chew
