Minister Khaw blogs

QX179R SG

HEALTH Minister Khaw Boon Wan devoted his first post on the Health Ministry's new blog to explaining how parents can get a pneumococcal vaccine for their babies under the childhood immunisation programme.

He had announced the move in Parliament on Tuesday, in response to a request by MP Fatimah Lateef to include the vaccine in the schedule, but could not expand on it as he was not asked any questions.

He wrote on the blog at mohsingapore. blogspot.com: 'Dr Fatimah Lateef and Dr Lam Pin Min told me, during tea break, that they had not expected a positive reply and were too shocked to ask supplementary questions.' Asked by e-mail if not being allowed to elaborate was his reason for blogging, the minister replied: 'Ha! You saw the disappointment on my face :( '

Mr Khaw joins other ministers and MPs like Foreign Minister George Yeo and Senior Parliamentary Secretary Teo Ser Luck who have started blogging to engage the public in a more personal way.

He said he wants to use such online platforms to share the Ministry of Health's (MOH) plans, get feedback and suggestions and 'forge consensus'.

He added: 'I hope to anchor in this platform a large constituency of Singaporeans who are interested in health matters, whom we can directly engage through this medium.'

Mr Khaw said he hoped to be open with the workings of the ministry through the blog, which was set up earlier this month and is not a personal one. 'Every health policy should be based on sound arguments and we do not monopolise wisdom,' he wrote. 'If our policy is flawed and can be enhanced, we welcome comments and will adopt practical suggestions.'

He has also encouraged other ministry officials to use MOH's Facebook page, also set up recently, to post their blogs.

Mr Khaw said he might post frequently, given the many health issues, adding that on Thursday he 'may blog about workplace health screening after the event and before I go for my gym exercise at lunch time'. The event at Chai Chee will see the launch of mobile health screening.

Next on the agenda: Twitter.

--ST

charlize SG

I don't think ministers should blog.

It makes them seem like they are very free and have nothing to do.

deepak.c SG

I don't think ministers should blog.

It makes them seem like they are very free and have nothing to do.

What do you mean "seem like they are free and have nothing to do"?

They really have nothing much to do apart from the parliaments, meet the people session and party meetings. Someone told me before, they usually play golf during working hours and they are seldom in their Ministry's office.

angel3070 SG

wayang wayang wayang. look busy. look busy.

pay me millions. pay me millions.

vote me. vote me.

charlize SG

What do you mean "seem like they are free and have nothing to do"?

Even if nothing to do at least surf the net in the office for things related to your ministry mah or get a feel for the ground by visiting some of these socio political blogs.

How can go for golf during office hours?

eagle SG

scared after Malaysian elections?

deepak.c SG

Even if nothing to do at least surf the net in the office for things related to your ministry mah or get a feel for the ground by visiting some of these socio political blogs.

How can go for golf during office hours?

One of my friends from elite school told me, his classmate (dad is an MP) told him so, said his dad goes out for golf and is hardly in his Ministry during office hours.

But you should know this, folks in the upper management don't keep to office hours.

charlize SG

scared after Malaysian elections?

Seriously, what can they achieve even if they blog?

They will just be repeating the official stand over and over again. They can't do otherwise.

If they start penning their personal thoughts that differ from their ministries or from official policy, they will be get flak from the PM.

This is an exercise in futility.

QX179R SG

Minister Khaw's blog on frontline H1N1 staff at F1 race

The organisers of this year's Singapore F1 race have allocated 60 free tickets to the front line staff working in the trenches against the H1N1 flu.

And Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan says it's a great gesture to honour these wonderful fighters for their bravery and dedication to their fellow human beings.

In a posting on the Health Ministry's blog today, Mr Khaw says not everyone could be invited to the race, but the gesture was well appreciated by the front line staff.

He adds that they've ensured that every institution would be represented, and not just those from hospitals or clinics.

For instance, invitations were extended to some who measured temperatures at the borders, and some who work in the Aloha Chalets.

Some GPs manning the flu clinics were also invited to the race.

Mr Khaw says he looks forward to meeting up with fellow H1N1 fighters, on a different track, under different circumstances.

He adds that there'll be two reasons for him to feel proud at the race tonight.

One is Singapore's successful hosting of the F1 event despite the global recession.

And the other is the H1N1 fighters who keep Singapore safe.

Minister Khaw says that if H1N1 had gone out of control, the F1 event would not have been the only casualty.

--938Live