Chan calls on Singapore civil servants to work with citizens — Channel NewsAsia
In Singapore, Coordinating Minister for Public Services and Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing called on civil servants to move from working “for” citizens to working “with” them. He said this on September 18 at the annual ceremony for public service leaders at the Marina Bay Sands convention centre, attended by about 800 officials, Channel NewsAsia reports.
Dialogue on solutions
According to Chan, the public service should not only seek agreements on individual issues, but also engage people and build a shared understanding of the broader picture. To do this, officials must bring together stakeholders, sincerely listen to their interests and honestly explain the trade-offs involved in public policy decisions.
As an example, he cited recent discussions concerning Maju Forest and Gillman Barracks. Earlier this year, housing development plans in these areas sparked dissatisfaction among residents and environmental groups, which demanded stronger environmental protection. Ultimately, the government decided to preserve more green spaces, so fewer homes are planned in these areas.
Chan noted that decisions of this kind must take into account housing needs, land use, energy, transport and even sewerage infrastructure planning. He also stressed that civil servants must clearly understand the limits of their own capabilities, identify the areas for which they are responsible and determine who is better prepared to carry out particular tasks.
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International experience
The minister said that requirements for leaders are changing because of a more complex and competitive geopolitical situation, while modern challenges are increasingly crossing the boundaries of individual institutions. Among such challenges, he named the transformation of the workforce under the influence of artificial intelligence, an ageing population and the need to sustain economic growth.
Chan urged public-sector leaders to develop international experience through exchange programmes, overseas development programmes and secondments to international organisations or government institutions in other countries. According to him, this will help them better understand Singapore’s partners and international norms, as well as build important professional connections.
He also stressed the need to create new formats of cooperation if existing mechanisms stop working. As an example, Chan mentioned the renewal of the network of free trade agreements and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement between Singapore, Chile and New Zealand.
