DPM Teo chides MP Lee Bee Wah over comment that civil servants will ‘get back at her’ for criticisms

SINGAPORE – Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean has chided Member of Parliament Lee Bee Wah over her comments that civil servants will “get back at her’ for her feedback against them.

In a statement issued on Sunday (Feb 4) night, Mr Teo said that it would be improper for either MPs or public officers to “get back at” each other because of disagreements over work.

“If anyone knows of either public officers or MPs using their position or authority to act in this improper way, he or she should raise the matter with me with the facts, and I will have it investigated,” he said.

Mr Teo’s statement came after the MP said in an interview with Channel NewsAsia that certain civil servants may “get back” at her after she steps down due to her criticisms of their policies.

When asked for her views regarding the civil service, Dr Lee reportedly said that there are two kinds of civil servants. “Those who are the 'can work' types, love to work with me because I can make decisions very fast. Those who are the 'cannot work' type are very scared of me,” she remarked.

"I even have friends who tell me, 'Bee Wah, when you step down, then you will know, this civil servant will get back at you',” she added.

“So be it. If I’m afraid then there’s nothing much that I can do, right? So if you really want to serve, don’t be worried."

Dr Lee added that during her first term as MP, some ministers had complained to the Prime Minister about her.

“But I told PM that this is the feedback on the ground. Don’t you want honest feedback? Don’t your ministers want honest feedback?,” she stated.

“I think PM understands I’m just doing my work. I’m not there for a promotion. Whether you like me or not, is secondary,” she said.

She added: “If you cannot take such feedback, too bad. If you want me, I will do my very best. I will give you 101 per cent. If you don’t want me, I will just walk away.”

The MP also stated that the Government’s move towards a car-lite nation is premature. “We’re seeing some accidents on pavements, void decks and roads. We can’t share,” she said.

She recounted how when she went to Copenhagen and saw their cycling paths, people were all cycling in one direction quickly. “But they have a zebra crossing across the cycling path and they have stop signs and the cyclists really go according to rules,” she said.

“We are not there yet. The infrastructure is not ready. The mindsets of the people are also not ready.”

Mr Teo, who is also Minister In Charge of the civil service, noted in his statement that Dr Lee is passionate about serving Singaporeans and so are the vast majority of public officers.

He said that the public service has a duty to work closely with the elected government as well as with MPs for the good of Singapore and Singaporeans.

“Where the public service or individual public officers have fallen short, the public service will strive to improve and serve Singaporeans better,” he said.

He said that overall, Singapore has an excellent public service and a well-functioning Parliament.

“We should keep it that way, and work to improve on what we have.”

Mr Teo said that MPs and public officers should conduct themselves professionally and with mutual respect during their interactions with each other.

“MPs and public officers play complementary roles, and will not always see issues from the same perspective. The different perspectives may well have valid justifications – the needs of residents, resource or site constraints, or national priorities and policy,” he noted.

He also said that MPs and public officers will often encounter competing demands and priorities.

“When this happens, they should resolve whatever issues arise professionally, through reasoned discussion and objective analysis.”

He added: “The Government expects public officers and MPs alike to conduct themselves in a proper manner. One can disagree while respecting the integrity and point of view of the other party.”