Technology can make public services more responsive, says Balakrishnan

SINGAPORE — If technology is appropriately tapped, public services can be more citizen-centric and responsive to people’s needs, said Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan yesterday.

He was giving his thoughts on the President’s Address during the opening of the second session of the 12th Parliament on Friday, when President Tony Tan flagged the better use of technology to improve lives as one of the objectives for the Government.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a community event in Woodlands yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan stressed that it was not about using technology for its own sake, but using it in ways “so people will realise their needs are recognised and anticipated”, without elaborating.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also touched on the topic of utilising technology for public services on his Facebook page yesterday.

Referring to a service in the United States that allows text messages, instead of phone calls, to be made to emergency services — something that is also available here — Mr Lee said: “We should make the most of technology to improve our lives and especially (those) of people with special needs.”

Yesterday, Dr Balakrishnan also said President Tan’s list of to-dos for the Government can be broadly summarised under three themes: Building stronger social safety nets, providing opportunities for all and creating a better quality of life for Singaporeans.

As Singapore’s population ages, the Government has to do more than providing help to meet healthcare costs, said Dr Balakrishnan, as there is the “anxiety of making sure we have enough in our golden years”.

The education system also needs to be made more flexible and there must be more training opportunities, so people will receive second or more chances to take on new jobs of the future, he added.

“(This is to) make sure that everyone, no matter how late a start you have in life, will have a chance to get ahead,” he said, reiterating the importance of ensuring such social mobility as the Republic goes through economic restructuring.

On providing a higher quality of life for Singaporeans, Dr Balakrishnan said Singapore should be seen as a home and not only a hotel or port of call. It has to be a place where Singaporeans can raise families, he reiterated, citing the provision of urban amenities such as parks and nature walkways that can help enhance people’s quality of life.

Dr Balakrishnan was speaking to reporters at a walkathon involving 3,000 PAP Community Foundation pre-schoolers and their parents at Admiralty Park.

The event, which was attended by several other Members of Parliament and National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan, is part of a fundraising drive for charitable organisations in the North West District.

Dr Teo Ho Pin, Mayor of North West District, said S$75,000 was collected at the event and the target is to raise more than S$500,000 by year-end.