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19 Nov 2019
National Parks Board
Feedback View - 8
Stray dogs at Pasir Ris Park a worry

My wife and I were at Pasir Ris Park one evening for our regular jog. As the school holidays had begun, there were more than the usual number of people there, including families with children, as well as people walking their pet dogs. As we ran across the bridge leading from Area 2 to Area 1, a pack of six dogs emerged from the bushes and ran along the grassland fronting the beach. Their sudden appearance startled people, who took care to keep their distance from th......



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19 Nov 2019
National Environment Agency
Feedback View - 2
More transparency needed in funeral business

The National Environmental Agency (NEA) should be commended for putting up useful public information about post-death matters to better guide the public. On its website, it lists down undertakers and embalmers who have undergone Basic Infection Control Training conducted by the Ministry of Health. However, this list has not been updated since October 2016. A quick check with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority on the business profiles of the list of 86......



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19 Nov 2019
Ministry of Law
Reply View - 51
Verification, checks had to be conducted before CPF money processed

We thank Mr Benjamin Chiang for his feedback (Claiming CPF monies with no nomination a frustrating experience, Nov 8). Mr Chiang's case involved the distribution of monies to several beneficiaries who were related to the deceased Central Provident Fund (CPF) member across generations. The Public Trustee had to confirm the identities of all lawfully entitled beneficiaries, establish if they remained alive, and work out the division of the claims. If so......



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19 Nov 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Suggestion View - 2
Ready-made solution to foreign worker quota cuts

MPs have raised concerns over the cut in the proportion of foreigners on work permits or S Passes that a firm can employ, from 40 per cent to 38 per cent next year, and to 35 per cent in 2021 (Firms in service sector need a complete rethink as foreign worker quotas cut further, say MPs, Feb 26). It was said that the new foreign worker ceiling will likely hit the hospitality, food and beverage (F&B), arts, entertainment and other lifestyle sectors most. However, ......



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19 Nov 2019
Out of the box
Suggestion View - 205
Why a Singaporean First policy is beneficial

I read a statement from a PAP minister reported in the Straits Times five years back. The minister stated that a "Singaporean First" policy is bad for the economy. I disagree.  Let me first define what is a "Singaporean First" policy. It implies that the government has a responsibility to ensure that Singaporeans have a good job that pays a remuneration that is adequate to meet the cost of living. How can the government achieve this responsibilit......



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19 Nov 2019
ACRA
Negative View - 40
A badly designed and confusing website

ACRA has a badly designed and confusing website. They have hundreds of forms which are organized in a hierarchy. To get the right form, the user needs to know the hierarchy and to navigate through many layers of the form.  ACRA probably thinks that this is a good method of organization. They are mistaken. An easier method is to allow the user to use a word search, e.g. "reduction of share capital". This should give a link to the right form.......



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19 Nov 2019
IRAS
Negative View - 55
Unable to retrieve my past filings

I went to the IRAS website to retrieve my past income tax filings. It was not available. I did not keep a copy as the submission was done online.  I wonder why IRAS refused to let a tax payer access his own past filings. It was most inconsiderate of them. IRAS asked for feedback about their website. I gave them a poor score on all of the categories. They have to be more friendly to the taxpayer. They should not create unnecessary stress and troub......



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19 Nov 2019
OCBC Bank
Negative View - 73
Difficult to upload document

I found it difficult to upload documents to the OCBC website using the link provided by OCBC. I encountered the following problems: a) The website returned an error. The link was correct. I tried many times. Finally, it went through. b) I found it difficult to upload two documents. I got the impression, from the design of the website, that I have to Upload each document separately.  c) I almost forget to click on the Submit button,......



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18 Nov 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Reply View - 1
Medisave cap, automatic funds transfer designed to boost CPF retirement savings

We thank Mr Chan Swee Wing for his letter (Why make self-employed top up shortfall CPF Board is creating?, Nov 11). The Basic Healthcare Sum (BHS) is an estimate of the savings that Singaporeans will need for their basic subsidised healthcare expenses in old age, including large inpatient bills, selected outpatient treatments, long-term care and MediShield Life premiums. The BHS is a cap on the Medisave Account, and not a minimum amount members need to have. ......



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18 Nov 2019
URA
Suggestion View - 4
Stop treating green spaces as land banks

In Singapore, the fate of green spaces has always been decided by their economic value rather than their environmental benefits. Economic development has triumphed over conservation here ever since the early years of Singapore's history. Even with the apparent diminishing of natural green spaces, deforestation is still happening to make way for economic progress. With the recent launch of Tengah Forest Town, 700ha of secondary forest is to be cleared ......



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18 Nov 2019
National Environment Agency
Suggestion View - 3
NEA needs to give useful info on haze

The days of haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia are gone with the change in wind conditions. However, the air quality has not improved. It is of grave concern to note that the National Environment Agency (NEA), in a Facebook post, attributed the current haze to an "accumulation of particulate matter". It added that it is monitoring the situation and that meantime expect rain and wind to clear the haze. Such general statements are not very reassur......



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16 Nov 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Feedback View - 6
Labour survey leaves retiree perplexed

On Nov 5, I received a "On government service" letter addressed to "the resident". It was for a labour force survey conducted by the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to be done online by Nov 10. It also stated that it was compulsory to do the survey, according to the Statistics Act. That clause gave me stress and anxiety as it gave me the impression that if I were to ignore it I might be penalised in some way. So I called the number on the letter and asked if the survey could be deferre......



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16 Nov 2019
Energy Market Authority (EMA)
Feedback View - 4
Smart meters really the smart solution?

Environment Correspondent Audrey Tan explained the benefits of replacing the analog meters with advanced meters (Smart meters to help more homes go green, Nov 6). This is a brilliant initiative to get users to reduce their energy consumption. However, it does come with its downside. The report suggests that this initiative will be made mandatory. Not all homes contribute to high energy consumption, so consumers should be allowed to opt out. Also, there is little inf......



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16 Nov 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Suggestion View - 3
Make two days rest per work week official

Recently, Microsoft Japan experimented with a four-day work week and the results were extraordinary, with an increase in productivity of up to 40 per cent. Yet, in Singapore, we are still instituting an official six-day work week in some organisations, with only one official day of rest per week. Granted almost all office workers are now working a five-day work week, but many shift workers and retail frontline staff are still on a six-day work week, with only four d......



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16 Nov 2019
National Heritage Board
Reply View - 1
Designs capture vision, design intent of Founders' Memorial

We thank Mr Toh Cheng Seong for his views on the shortlisted designs for the Founders' Memorial (Shortlisted designs for Founders' Memorial uninspiring, Nov 13). The brief for the Founders' Memorial and desired visitor experience was shaped by more than 32,000 Singaporeans over several rounds of public engagement. They told us that they would like it to be accessible, and facilitate learning experiences and reflection. It is the reason the memorial is......



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15 Nov 2019
Energy Market Authority (EMA)
Suggestion View - 2
Extend smart meter initiative to schools, new homes

I am pleased to hear about the new smart meter initiative as it provides home owners more information on their energy use (Smart meters to help more homes go green, Nov 6). This is a step towards more sustainable energy consumption as it empowers them to take charge of their own energy use. It would be good to extend this initiative to schools, as well as make it a standard feature in future homes. Having smart meters in schools would be a good learni......



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15 Nov 2019
Ministry of Manpower
Feedback View - 3
Social media checks for hiring purposes worrying

I was shocked to learn from a job recruiter friend that he uses social media to screen job candidates at the request of clients, the employers. This practice must stop as profiles created on social media like Twitter and Facebook could be for personal use only. These are platforms where people express themselves freely. Many use social networking sites to connect with others and recruiters are using these sites as a source of background information on applicants to ......



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15 Nov 2019
Land Transport Authority
Feedback View - 3
Remove barriers to switch to electric vehicles in Singapore

Recently, the Government announced that the Vehicular Emissions Scheme (VES) would be extended in the hope that car buyers would be encouraged to purchase cleaner car models (VES extended by a year in push for cleaner cars, Oct 31). The outcome of the scheme has been rather disappointing thus far and I believe it is clear as to why - VES rebates are not sufficient to nudge consumers away from regular cars. The VES needs to be further revised; otherwise, the Governme......



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15 Nov 2019
Movement for change
Suggestion View - 208
We need to think of the social good

The future for Singapore is bleak.  On one hand, we have a PAP govt that implement policies that are bad for ordinary people. They add to the cost of living, depressed wages and give a poor return on their investments. On the other hand, we have the majority of people who think only of their selfish interest. If they have a job, they do not care about other people who lost their jobs due to factors beyond their control.  In the recent episod......



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14 Nov 2019
Insurance
Suggestion View - 2
Impose cap on how much insurers can raise premiums

I purchased two insurance policies from an insurance company some time back. My premiums for both policies doubled to over $700 last year when I was 42 years old. This year, it cost me a total of $1,367, though I have never utilised either policy. According to the insurance company, the adjustment is necessary to keep up with the latest claims experience and medical inflation and that "the claim experience has seen an increase of 22 per cent per annum......



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14 Nov 2019
Ministry of Social & Family Dev
Suggestion View - 2
Change law to help non-parent caregivers of children in need

In my line of work as a lawyer, I've spoken to social workers who have encountered many cases of children whose biological parents are uninvolved in their lives and who are being cared for and raised by other families instead. Such "non-parents" do not have any legal relationship with the child and they inevitably face problems in making decisions on behalf of the child, such as in registering for primary school or applying for certain financial assistance schemes. ......



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14 Nov 2019
SMRT
Reply View - 1
Two lifts at MRT stations where possible

We thank Mr Tony Wee Gim Leong for his feedback on lift service at MRT stations (Seniors struggle when lifts at train stations don't work, Nov 4). We agree that lifts in MRT stations are important to the elderly and those with mobility issues. On Mr Wee's suggestion to have more than one lift in each station, the Land Transport Authority has provided for two lifts for future lines, where technically possible. The lift at Bukit Batok station was put ou......



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14 Nov 2019
Land Transport Authority
Suggestion View - 645
Is there a need to ban PMDs on pavements?

I wish to give my views on the decision to ban PMDs from using the pavements. I think it is a wrong decision. We can find a better solution to meet the need for safety for pedestrians and the need for riders to use PMDs for mobility or to make a living.  This is how it can be done. We have to recognize that PMDs are small and light and are the most convenient devices for food delivery. The alternative is to use motor cycles but they are bigger an......



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13 Nov 2019
Housing Development Board
Feedback View - 2
Review how Goodwill Repair Assistance scheme deals with leaks

For a water leak to occur on a Housing Board flat ceiling (typically toilet or kitchen), there must be a fault with a path of least resistance that allows the water to flow from a high point to low point. The construction of an HDB flat toilet floor consists of the floor tiles on top of concrete, followed by a waterproof membrane and another layer of concrete that forms the ceiling of the flat below. When a water leak occurs, which party, the upper floor flat owner ......



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13 Nov 2019
Singapore Police Force
Reply View - 2
Technology complements daily patrols to nab errant motorists on roads

We thank Mr Tony Lim Thiam Poh for his feedback (More Traffic Police presence needed on roads, Oct 29). The Traffic Police (TP) takes strict enforcement action against errant motorists. It conducts both overt patrols and covert operations daily to deter and detect irresponsible motoring. To complement these enforcement efforts, it leverages technology, including cameras at traffic light junctions and fixed speed cameras and mobile speed cameras at tra......



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13 Nov 2019
Cyber Security Agency
Suggestion View - 1
Robust cyber security needed for autonomous vehicles

With autonomous buses and cars on the horizon, I sincerely hope that government agencies keep a tight rein on service providers to ensure cyber-security robustness and identify security weaknesses or vulnerabilities before vehicles are deployed (Most hackers are not hoodie-wearing crooks in dark rooms, Nov 9). It is also critical to know how to manage things should autonomous buses go rogue and affect the transport system. Autonomous vehicles take on more importance......



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12 Nov 2019
Land Transport Authority
Feedback View - 4
E-scooter trade-in grant the wrong way to address situation

I see the $7 million e-scooter Trade-in Grant as part of a very disturbing trend in policymaking ($7m fund to help delivery riders switch from e-scooters, Nov 9). Taxpayers' money has been called upon again, as in the earlier incentive for early disposal of non-UL2272 certified e-scooter ($100 incentive for early disposal of e-scooters that fail safety standards, Sept 21). The plight of food delivery riders deserves to be addressed but I feel this is the wrong way to do it. The da......



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12 Nov 2019
Land Transport Authority
Suggestion View - 1
Grant conditional exception to food delivery riders

The ban of electric scooters came too suddenly, even though I agree it is necessary for the sake of pedestrian safety. It caught many off guard leaving them with no time to make adjustments. Food delivery riders have voiced their frustrations to ministers and their reactions are understandable as the ban deeply impacts their livelihood (Food delivery riders' concerns will be looked into: Minister, Nov 8). I propose that they be granted a conditional exception to the......



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12 Nov 2019
Land Transport Authority
Suggestion View - 2
Don't budge on e-scooter footpath ban

Following the ban on e-scooters on footpaths, several food delivery riders went to meet ministers to voice their concerns (Food delivery riders' concerns will be looked into: Minister, Nov 8; Food delivery riders voice concerns to Shanmugam, Nov 7). I urge the Government and relevant authorities to remain firm on the ban and not to compromise. The ban is long-awaited and necessary as the lives and safety of pedestrians are at stake and must remain paramount. ......



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12 Nov 2019
Out of the box
Suggestion View - 145
A platform for official messages

We need a platform for official messages from govt agencies and businesses. It has to be a separate platform from the social media. Let me illustrate the problem and what should be done to address it. I saw this message from the Singapore Armed Forces. They sent SMS to their serviceman and had to clarify that the message is genuine. It seems that the message could be forwarded by the recipients and modified causing unclarity on the authenticity of the messages.br /......



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