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Do-it-yourself ministers gaining notice. Unannounced visits give them a better feel of the ground, they say
TAN CHUAN-JIN: The Minister of State for Manpower and National Development joined a raid on foreign worker dormitories recently, to see for himself issues faced by foreign workers, ministry officers and other people involved.
By Andrea Ong & Cai Haoxiang
In recent months, a few ministers have turned up unannounced at places where most would not expect to find them.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew went to MRT stations and rode the trains. Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing dropped in on homes for the destitute and disabled.
Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin joined an evening raid on two foreign worker dormitories.
THOUGHTS FROM THE GROUND
'Such public performances are a double-edged sword. They may win public empathy in the short term but if no concrete solutions or policy changes are implemented, the cynicism accelerates at a quicker rate.
'It is a high-risk game because one cannot control public perception and this is a game of managing perception.'
Dr Terence Chong from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
'Being seen on the ground is politically necessary but also important in showing that the Government and concerned minister are investigating the problem which is causing serious public concern.'
Dr Reuben Wong from the National University of Singapore
'If the train is packed and I see the minister on the train, I'm not going to go up to him and say 'nice to see you taking the train'.
'I would want to know what he's going to do about our crowded trains. But if the train is packed, I probably can't make my way over to him anyway.'
Marine biologist Chen Dexiang, 26, who takes the MRT to work every day and was caught in the North-South Line breakdown on Dec 15.
'It's a good thing he will be able to see what's really happening on the ground. Sometimes programmes sound good on paper, but when we are required to execute so many, it may not be physically or mentally possible...
'If he is on the ground, he can see some things can be reduced, such as... two different departments doing the same thing.'
Secondary school teacher Tan Aik Fong, 40, on Education Minister Heng Swee Keat's visits to schools
Then there were the four ministers who joined Singaporeans to walk along the Malayan Railway tracks, after it was announced that train services would halt with the relocation of Tanjong Pagar station to Woodlands.
TAN CHUAN-JIN: The Minister of State for Manpower and National Development joined a raid on foreign worker dormitories recently, to see for himself issues faced by foreign workers, ministry officers and other people involved. By Andrea Ong & Cai Haoxiang
In recent months, a few ministers have turned up unannounced at places where most would not expect to find them.
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew went to MRT stations and rode the trains. Acting Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Chan Chun Sing dropped in on homes for the destitute and disabled.
Minister of State Tan Chuan-Jin joined an evening raid on two foreign worker dormitories.
THOUGHTS FROM THE GROUND
'Such public performances are a double-edged sword. They may win public empathy in the short term but if no concrete solutions or policy changes are implemented, the cynicism accelerates at a quicker rate.
'It is a high-risk game because one cannot control public perception and this is a game of managing perception.'
Dr Terence Chong from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies
'Being seen on the ground is politically necessary but also important in showing that the Government and concerned minister are investigating the problem which is causing serious public concern.'
Dr Reuben Wong from the National University of Singapore
'If the train is packed and I see the minister on the train, I'm not going to go up to him and say 'nice to see you taking the train'.
'I would want to know what he's going to do about our crowded trains. But if the train is packed, I probably can't make my way over to him anyway.'
Marine biologist Chen Dexiang, 26, who takes the MRT to work every day and was caught in the North-South Line breakdown on Dec 15.
'It's a good thing he will be able to see what's really happening on the ground. Sometimes programmes sound good on paper, but when we are required to execute so many, it may not be physically or mentally possible...
'If he is on the ground, he can see some things can be reduced, such as... two different departments doing the same thing.'
Secondary school teacher Tan Aik Fong, 40, on Education Minister Heng Swee Keat's visits to schools
Then there were the four ministers who joined Singaporeans to walk along the Malayan Railway tracks, after it was announced that train services would halt with the relocation of Tanjong Pagar station to Woodlands.
