Public officers urged to anticipate the future and to be
prepared for surprises
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid | Posted: 24 July 2010 1635 hrs
SINGAPORE: Singapore must continue to have public officers
who can anticipate the future and be prepared for surprises.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister-in-Charge of the Civil Service,
Teo Chee Hean said, that's because many of today's challenges are
now globalised in nature.
Mr Teo was speaking at the Public Service Commission's Scholarships
Presentation Ceremony on Saturday.
As 70 Public Service Commission scholars take the vow to serve
their fellow Singaporeans, they have already been posed with a
challenge.
Mr Teo said: "We need people who are curious and bold to explore
new ideas. We must have officers and institutions that are nimble
and adaptable to changing circumstances. We require officers who
are in touch with what is happening around us, in the capitals of
the world, and in the heartlands of Singapore."
Mr Teo added that traditionally, public officers are trained to be
great problem solvers. But in future, they must also be able to
identify and seize opportunities for the long-term interest of
Singapore.
That's because issues to be tackled will no longer just be
localised ones, like the recent Icelandic volcanic ash which
disrupted air travel worldwide.
Mr Teo said: "For example, the recent Icelandic volcanic ash
problem did not just cause chaos in many cities in the path of the
ash, but also massive disruption to air travel and air freight
worldwide.
“There are many more examples like these, some immediate and
dramatic, others longer term but more insidious, be it climate
change, global economic meltdown, terrorism and so on."
And although Singapore's Public Service has received accolades, Mr
Teo said success and reputation cannot be taken for granted.
A point the scholars agreed with.
Tan Jun Liang, PSC scholar, said: "In order to stay relevant in an
ever-changing world, it is very necessary for us as a government to
change according to the needs of the people and to the needs of the
economy."
Nicholas Tan, PSC scholar, said: "The best policy might not be one
which is popular, so for that, you have to be bold to push your
idea out and get the superiors to vet it, so that in the end it is
the public that benefits the most."
37 of the scholars will pursue studies in the United Kingdom, 22 in
the United States, eight in Singapore and three in China.
The PSC received more than 2,000 applications this year with more
coming from a wider range of educational backgrounds.
The applicants come from a wider range of junior colleges, schools
and polytechnics.
PSC chairman, Eddie Teo said this showed that Singapore's
educational system has been evolving to cater to different talents
and interests, offering a richer and more diverse pool from which
to select our scholarship recipients. - CNA/vm
