MY VIEW ON THE TOWN COUNCIL MANAGEMENT REPORT

By : Seow Hwee

I am not surprised with the overwhelming public questioning on the objectivity and results of the recent Town Council management report (TCMR). After-all, when the idea was first mooted, it had already attracted different responses from a wide spectrum of people, including MPs from the ruling and the opposition parties. While I think that there are some fine-tunings required (eg the selection of indicators and the assessment process), I am also of the view that the initiative is refreshing with a good intention of providing some form of benchmarking for Town Council performance.

To give an analogy, the TCMR is similar to the annual appraisal system that I have to go through every year. As a working adult in a Multinational company, I am used to the various open appraisal systems such as peer appraisal and open-book appraisal with my superior. My company is even moving towards 360 degrees appraisal system adopted by many international MNCs. During performance appraisal exercise, I am not too interested to hear my peers or superior talk too much about my strength. I know where my strong points are. Instead I am more interested to find out about my weaknesses and welcome suggestions on how I can overcome my shortcomings. I think constructive feedback on my limitations would help me move forward as an individual and as a professional.

Similarly, therefore, I am of the view that Town Councils (and the MPs incharge) should look at the results of the assessment objectively and constructively. Town Councils which had done well should not become complacent. Conversely, Town Councils which did not do well should not become too defensive too quickly and start detailing a list of reasons why their Town Councils do not do well or worst still, blaming the report as unfair.

Some people are questioning if the TCMR is a political ploy used by the ruling party to discredit the opposition parties especially since it is rumored that the General Election is around the corner. Well, I think there is never a good time for any new initiative, especially one that is controversial, to be implemented. Moreover, as a voter, my vote is not so easily swayed by the TCMR alone. I am also of the view that it does not necessarily mean that the results of the TCMR would definitely discredit the opposition parties. For example the two opposition party leaders have pointed out that the high service and conservancy charges arrears is one indicator that their wards had not done well. In my opinion, if the residents or the supporters in their wards are satisfied with the general cleanliness and maintenance of the estates, the fact on the high SCC can infact buy sympathy votes for the opposition leaders.

Hence there is no need to become overly defensive and start questioning the objectivity of the TCMR. I hope that most Singaporeans would give the new idea a chance to work out so that we Singaporeans can be better informed on how our Town Councils manage our estate.