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Honesty declaration should be expanded into declaration of ethics

I support the suggestion that civil servants sign an honesty declaration. (“Honesty declaration would have implications for civil servants”; Jan 20)

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Sum Siew Kee

I support the suggestion that civil servants sign an honesty declaration. (“Honesty declaration would have implications for civil servants”; Jan 20)

Such a declaration, or even the current practice of declaring debt liabilities, would serve to remind them of their important role in running the country.

Although people may say it is toothless, psychology research has shown that priming has influence on one’s behaviour. A declaration primes the brain to watch out for acts of dishonesty and makes people more self-conscious about dishonest behaviour. It may therefore have a positive impact on the overall integrity of the Civil Service.

I would suggest that both civil servants, who execute the law, and Members of Parliament, who are responsible for law-making, sign such a declaration.

In the United States, pork-barrel politics involving the arms industry has resulted in gun ownership laws that correlate with gun violence and deaths. Yet, there is strictly nothing wrong about keeping guns legal.

Likewise with the Brompton bicycles incident in Singapore, there was nothing wrong about arranging a tender around a festive period, when most merchants would not be looking out for tenders. However, it showed undue favour to those connected with insiders.

The honesty declaration should therefore be expanded into a declaration of ethics, which should be similar to the Google motto, “Don’t be evil”, to uphold ethics in the broadest sense.

Public servants have a duty to be honest and, in cases where no rule prohibits certain actions, to act in an upright manner.

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