| The Service Improvement
Unit (SIU) held its fifth Excellence in Public
Suggestions Awards Ceremony at The JTC Summit on
28 March 2003. Five award-winning public suggestions
were chosen from an incredible pool of 57,000 suggestions
made by the public between September 2001 and October
2002.
When it comes to making suggestions, opportunities
abound. It is easy and anyone can do it, said
Dr Balaji Sadasivan, Minister of State for the
Environment and Health, and Chairman of the SIU
Political Supervisory Committee.
“An attitude of wanting to contribute and the willingness to observe are
often the only requirements we need,” said the guest of honour. He presented
plaques, certificates and monetary rewards ranging from $500 to $2,000 to the
five winners, who are
members of the public.
Good suggestions “need not be radical, sophisticated or complicated”,
he added. Instead, they can involve everyday things as is apparent by the wide
variety of suggestions made by this year’s award winners.
Furthermore, suggestions that are implemented by the Public Service benefit
everyone. “The multiplier effect of a good suggestion is far and
wide,” he said. “A proactive public officer can build upon the
initial suggestion to spark off more ideas…. Such a partnership between
engaged citizens and proactive officers promises a better quality of life for
all.”
Dr Balaji also commended the Public Service for its efforts to enhance the
partnership between active citizens and proactive officers, and cited the PS21
Cut Red Tape Movement as a positive example. |
