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29 Jan 2020
Police
Negative View - 1
Poor decision to close Chinatown overhead bridges on eve of CNY

The police closed two overhead bridges in Eu Tong Sen Street and North Bridge Road on Chinese New Year's Eve, causing a lot of inconvenience to pedestrians. A policeman told me that the closure was needed to prevent a repeat of past incidents where objects were thrown from the bridges. This was a rather lopsided decision that solved an issue at the expense of the convenience of hundreds, if not thousands, of pedestrians. While security is paramount, t......



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29 Jan 2020
National Environment Agency
Suggestion View - 1
Any safety measures being taken for Chingay parade?

Chingay 2020 will be staged on Friday and Saturday with thousands of participants, including many young children, involved. With the increasing concerns about the Wuhan virus, I would like to hear from the organisers their plans to ensure the safety of participants. Of course, there will also be crowds gathering to watch the parade. As much as we do not want to be alarmist about the situation, there are still people who have been in close contact with......



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29 Jan 2020
Ministry of Education
Feedback View - 2
Challenges in smart makeovers for school buses

The idea of having school buses equipped with smart technology is very good, especially if it helps to improve communication between parents and operators, as well as the efficiency of school bus services (School buses to get smart makeovers, Jan 23). But there are three challenges. One is for the bus operators to keep fares affordable, especially for low-income families. This needs to be addressed carefully as the capital expenditure is not low and the recurrent cost of updating ......



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29 Jan 2020
Out of the box
Suggestion View - 59
Make it easy for customers to give feedback

Most organizations in Singapore adopt a crazy way for customers to give feedback.  They make it very difficult. They discourage online feedback and ask many unnecessary and troublesome questions. And they follow up with an automatic acknowledgement stating that the customer will get a reply within several days.  In most cases, the customer was not able to give detail of the problem. So, the delayed reply would be useless.  If the c......



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28 Jan 2020
Sing Tel
Negative View - 122
SingTel makes it impossible for me to report a line fault

I have just experienced the terrible service standard of SingTel. My home fixed line, that I had for 24 years and hardly used, just got into trouble. The incoming call is very soft. I tried with 2 phone and it did not work. I suspect it is a line fault. I had a difficult time to search for a number to call. I tried their number 1608 but was directed all over the place. Finally, they asked for my mobile number and sent me a SMS to connect to WhatsApp.br da......



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28 Jan 2020
National Environment Agency
Feedback View - 1
Review impact of mosquito control operations on water supply

I refer to the recent incident where the water supply from water tanks at a Housing Board block in Ang Mo Kio was found to have trace amounts of hydrocarbon (Water tank not tampered with, but probe ongoing, Jan 21). Dengue preventive measures such as fogging and spraying of anti-mosquito oil into drains are conducted regularly in Singapore. While it has been suggested that the authorities review the piping system to the water tanks, one cannot help but wonder why th......



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28 Jan 2020
SMRT
Suggestion View - 2
Designate MRT carriages for specific groups of commuters

Given recent molestation cases (Man, 55, jailed for rubbing against woman on MRT train, ST Online, Jan 21; and Man arrested for allegedly molesting 13-year-old girl on MRT train, ST Online, Oct 2, 2019) and unhappiness over prams in MRT trains, perhaps the rail operators should ask the public to suggest innovative ways to ensure security and convenience during rides. One suggestion would be to designate carriages for specific groups of passengers. For instance, carriages for women......



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28 Jan 2020
Ministry of Transport
Suggestion View - 2
Public buses and trains need to be thoroughly disinfected

The report about Singapore's fourth confirmed case of the Wuhan virus infection said that the man had taken public transport during his stay here (No new confirmed cases of virus in S'pore after fourth patient, Jan 27). The authorities have said the "risk of infection from transient contact, such as on public transport or in public spaces, is assessed to be low". The Wuhan outbreak has reached a critical stage and there is growing evidence of the virus' spread throu......



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27 Jan 2020
Sing Post
Negative View - 5
Delivery address

To use vPost, I have to get the vendor to send the products to a virtual address in the respective country. vPost gives me the address in China in several lines, as shown in the screen shot below.  I have to click on "copy" for each line. This might work if I have to enter the address in this manner in the online website to make a purchase. However, in placing my order, I can send the full address to the vendor in an email.  W......



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27 Jan 2020
Singapore Post
Negative View - 10
Looking for an agent

I log into the Sing Post website to have a chat with an agent. I need to ask two questions. The website said that an agent will be available in 1 second and the usual waiting time is 7 second. I am the first customer in the queue. I did not get any agent for two minutes. I left the website.  Why is Sing Post so bad? Apparently, nobody uses the chat and they do not have any agent to respond to a request. Yet they say that it takes only 7 seco......



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27 Jan 2020
Political systems
Suggestion View - 106
A democracy tends to favor the rich and the cronies

Singaporeans are very smart. They want to have a democratic govt that takes care of the people. They know how to choose. Where can you find such a govt? Which country has this kind of govt? Most of the democratic countries end up being corrupt. They take care of the rich and the cronies. Why is this the case? It is in the nature of the democratic process. Under a democr......



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27 Jan 2020
National Library Board
Reply View - 1
Making libraries inclusive and conducive for all

We thank Ms Kok Mei Hui, Ms Thahira Begum, Mr Christony Lau Pet Keong, Ms Dorothea Lim Hua-Fern and Mr Simon Foo for their feedback and suggestions (Making our libraries a second home for all; Encouraging a generation to read, both Jan 15; Stop treating libraries as playgrounds; Situate libraries with hospitals, Jan 22; and Enforce silence at library, Jan 24). The National Library Board (NLB) works closely with the community and partners to co-create programmes and services that m......



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25 Jan 2020
Changi Airport
Suggestion View - 6
Shouldn't Hong Kong passengers be screened at airport?

The Straits Times reported that, as of Thursday, temperature checks would be carried out on all passengers on inbound flights from China (S'pore sets up task force to deal with Wuhan virus, Jan 23). I applaud these measures. Given the global scale of the virus, it was only a matter of time before cases were going to show up in Singapore. However, I was on an inbound flight from Hong Kong on Thursday evening, and noted with some surprise the lack of temperature check......



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25 Jan 2020
Immigration and Checkpoint Authority
Feedback View - 3
Worried about carbon monoxide levels at Woodlands Checkpoint

I think it is time the relevant authorities install carbon monoxide detectors at key spots at the Woodlands Checkpoint. There were several instances when I felt nauseous when I got out of my car to assist the security officers to check the vehicle's boot at the Causeway. I wonder how these security officers feel about being subjected to such an environment continuously for hours every day. Carbon monoxide is a toxic gas that kills humans and animals b......



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25 Jan 2020
National Environment Agency
Feedback View - 2
Relocate designated smoking area outside cafe

I strongly urge the relevant authorities to reconsider the designated smoking zone outside Crossroads Cafe at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel and relocate it elsewhere (Orchard Road smoking ban: Over 4,000 tickets issued last year, Jan 18). This designated smoking area is barely 5m away from the pedestrian walkway, which is one of the busiest stretches in Orchard Road. It is also the only pedestrian walkway between the start of Tang Plaza and the other end of it......



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25 Jan 2020
Singapore General Hospital
Reply View - 1
Prescription wrongly keyed into patient's record

We thank Mr Ong Kok Lam for his feedback (More checks and controls needed in healthcare, Jan 22). We are sorry for the anxiety we caused Mr Ong and his wife. When Mrs Ong presented her prescription at the pharmacy after her procedure, the pharmacist noted that the system showed two different prescriptions in her name. As part of our safety practice, our pharmacists will review all prescriptions and promptly intervene to ensure accuracy before dispensi......



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24 Jan 2020
PAP
Suggestion View - 3
Govt agencies yet to catch up to 4G leaders' vision

I am heartened to note that our 4G leaders have on numerous occasions expressed their desire to engage Singaporeans in policy formulation (4G leaders to offer S'poreans more say in shaping policy, Jan 21). However, my recent encounters with the public sector make me feel that the government ministries and relevant agencies have a long way to go to support this new style of governance. Let me cite two encounters to show that government officials at the working level ......



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24 Jan 2020
National Heritage Board
Reply View - 1
Community contributions enrich Singapore's history

We thank Mr Edwin Pang for his feedback (Restore newly discovered istanas in Singapore, Jan 17). Such research is important to us as it enriches our understanding of Singapore's history at different levels. The work of heritage researcher Sarafian Salleh is also a good example of how Singaporeans can be involved in, and contribute to, our heritage. Through the documentation and findings of Mr Sarafian's research project on the locations of 20 former istanas in Singapore, we are no......



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24 Jan 2020
Ministry of Education
Reply View - 1
Range of support measures in place for needy students

We thank Mr Sean Lim Wei Xin for his feedback (Did needy student fall through the cracks?, Jan 18). There are various initiatives in place to support students in financial need. Singaporean students in government and government-aided schools can apply for the Ministry of Education (MOE) Financial Assistance Scheme (MOE FAS) to help manage their education expenses. Students who do not qualify for MOE FAS can apply for school-based financial assistance,......



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23 Jan 2020
Out of the box
Suggestion View - 142
Difficult to change legacy system

My friend said that it is when the traditional manufacturers like GM, Ford, Toyota, BMW starts to manufacture electric cars, Tesla will face strong competition. He thinks that Tesla will not be profitable.  I disagree.  I told him that it is difficult for the traditional manufacturers to change the legacy systems. Their management and workers are already indoctrinated on the combustion engine car. They will not be able to change their mindset to accept the......



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23 Jan 2020
Jurong Town Corporation
Negative View - 113
Provide direction signs to main entrance

I attended a presentation at Pixel building in One North. I checked Singapore map and found the building. It is a JTC building. There was no indication on the map where the entrance is. There was also no sign on the site. It was a strange building. I walked round the building. I could not find the entrance. I walked again. I finally saw it near the car park. If someone drives into the car park, they c......



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23 Jan 2020
Housing Development Board
Feedback View - 1
HDB requirement on signing document was difficult for elderly parents

I was fortunate enough to secure a queue number for a Build-To-Order (BTO) project under the Married Child Priority Scheme (MCPS). One of the requirements is that my parents have to go to a Housing Board office and sign an undertaking not to sell the place or move out of it for a period of time. My parents are both in their 80s and have difficulty moving around - my father was even admitted to hospital recently for an operation. But even under such ci......



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23 Jan 2020
Land Transport Authority
Suggestion View - 2
Is there a pattern behind road accidents in recent years?

After the dreadful accident involving an SBS Transit bus, a lorry and a car at the junction of Braddell Road and Bishan Road (Two taken to hospital after three-vehicle accident, Jan 17), many people, clearly working on anecdotal evidence, posted on social media that an increase in foreign drivers on Singapore roads has made the roads more dangerous. To make such preconceived notions go away, the Land Transport Authority should analyse road accident data in recent years to see if t......



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23 Jan 2020
Ministry of Manpower
Feedback View - 2
Tafep job application guidelines are unrealistic

With the Tripartite Alliance for Fair and Progressive Employment Practices (Tafep) guidelines requiring fields on age, gender, race, religion, marital status, NRIC number and national service liability to be removed from job application forms, why not remove the field of name too (Mental health declaration for job applicants discriminatory, Jan 20)? After all, a name can be used to infer an applicant's gender, race or even religion, can't it? But seriously, how many......



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22 Jan 2020
Monetary Authority of Singapore
Suggestion View - 4
Banks should do more to protect customers from scammers

There have been too many instances of innocent hard-working people falling prey to scammers, especially with the advent of online banking. Aside from the usual reminders to people not to reveal their PIN and confidential data to anyone, what else can banks do to protect their customers? It appears that banks are pushing the onus and responsibility onto their customers, when they should be the ones actively working with the authorities and security companies to provide cust......



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22 Jan 2020
Immigration and Checkpoint Authority
Feedback View - 5
Have more stringent tests to pick out those suitable for S'pore citizenship

I applaud the initiative by the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth to let Singaporeans have a say in the mandatory induction programme for new citizens (Call for views on norms for new citizens, Jan 17). While I generally think it is a good idea to have a platform for Singaporeans to voice out what they think are the norms and values in Singapore, and which new citizen......



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22 Jan 2020
National Library Board
Feedback View - 5
Stop treating libraries as playgrounds

A library should offer an environment conducive for learning and expanding one's mind (Making our libraries a second home for all, Jan 15). The shocking misbehaviour of some children who treat the library as a playground reflects badly on their parents. A library is a public place and users must show due consideration and respect for others. Parents are res......



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22 Jan 2020
Movement for change
Suggestion View - 493
Will Singapore do well under a non PAP govt?

I will be frank.  There will be good and bad points. What are the good points that come from a new govt? Bad policies and practice will be changed. For example: a) The cost of govt will come down with lower salaries for ministers, top civil servants and heads of govt agencies and linked companies, b)  Families members heading top agencies with be replaced. c)  Crony capitalism will be stopped d) Stop  wasting g......



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21 Jan 2020
National University Hospital
Feedback View - 4
Remind public hospitals to do what's best for patients

The pertinent questions raised by Straits Times senior health correspondent Salma Khalik (More clarity needed on polyclinic referrals and accessing subsidised care, Jan 16) can help the public to navigate the increasingly expensive healthcare system that they have no choice but to enter at some point in their lives. But I feel that it will be difficult to cover all of the possible questions and scenarios a patient may face during hospital treatment. Even if that is achieved, new q......



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21 Jan 2020
National University Hospital
Feedback View - 1
There's no winning when it comes to medical cases

Ms Salma Khalik's opinion piece (More clarity needed on polyclinic referrals and accessing subsidised care, Jan 16) highlights a worrying trend that besets healthcare workers - that of cynicism towards their actions when providing exemplary patient care. She excoriated a hospital for offering private care to a subsidised patient referred by a polyclinic. To her, one could safely presume that the patient would have wanted to continue with subsidised care, and that of......



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