The following is a tongue-in-cheek (maybe) idea from Jack Sim, founder and director of the World Toilet Organisation, on how to “facilitate innovative suggestions and avoid any misunderstanding with the Government”. Jack Sim reportedly once said: “We need to make toilets and sanitation sexy.” http://www.irc.nl/page/37356
Each time a citizen wants to suggest a new way of improving any aspect of Singapore society, he runs the risk of being accused of:
1. Not appreciating the overall government good work since 1965.
2. Being ungrateful and always complaining.
3. The bureaucrats tend to use such accusations to turn the table on the complainant and make him feel like he is in the wrong to suggest improvements.
4. After all, this is the best run country in the world and there is no perfect government in the world.In order to facilitate innovative suggestion and avoid any misunderstanding with the government, I suggest you print Suggestions Pads with the first paragraph pre-printed as follows:
Dear …….,
I appreciate many things in Singapore; the low crime, the non-corrupt culture, the efficient government, and having freshly cooked meals for just $3.
In order to continue our tradition of excellence, I’d like to make the following proposal:
——–
About Jack Sim
From Wikipedia
After attaining financial independence at the age of 40, Jack decided to devote the rest of his life to social work. He established the Restroom Association of Singapore (RAS) in 1998 to break the taboo of toilet and sanitation and legitimize it for mainstream culture. In 2001, Jack created the World Toilet Organization (WTO) as a global network and service platform wherein the various toilet associations, academia, government, UN agencies and toilet stakeholders can learn from one another and leverage on media and corporate support to influence governments to promote sound sanitation and public health policies.
In 2004, he was awarded the inaugural Singapore Green Plan Award 2012 by Singapore‘s National Environment Agency for contribution to Environment.
In 2005, Jack founded the World Toilet College to provide high quality training in Toilet Design, Maintenance, Cleanliness and Ecological Sanitation Technologies. The college is a joint venture with Singapore Polytechnic.
Jack won the Social Entrepreneur of the Year in 2006, awarded by The Schwab Foundation For Social Entrepreneurship based in Switzerland.
In 2007, Jack became one of the key members to convene the Sustainable Sanitation Alliance comprised of about 50 organizations active in the field of sanitation. That same year, he also became the first Singaporean elected to be an Ashoka Global Fellow. Ashoka is the largest social entrepreneurship support group in the world.
In January 2008, Jack was appointed a Council Member to the World Economic Forum’s Global Agenda Council for Water Security, a Council that advises WEF on water and sanitation Matters.
Jack is also a guest lecturer and mentor for social entrepreneurship at INSEAD Asia Campus and Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore.
He is also a Global Fellow of Ashoka, the global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs. http://www.ashoka.org/jack
———–
Duh. It really helps that your area of suggestion is non-controversial.
Which government will disagree with clean toilets?
But if you suggest something like a change in the GRC, or by-election, do you think the Singapore Govt will agree?
Most useless article ever.
Come on, humour is always appreciated…;-)
Hi Jack!
Aiyah did’n't meet u on a plane if not get into trouble!
Your style is call “Sayang first then slap”
Before your article this trick can work after this article everyone knows including those in the govt.
Next time don’t reveal to the whole world lah.
You should share how you make your millions and don’t work after 40 years old and still got money. That is real secret everyone wants to know.
Jack, how much does it cost to install a proper toilet system in a hdb toilet?
Suggestions are usually objectively meant for improvements. One offer a suggestion out of sincerity for betterment of a work place, living area etc etc.
But why should the recipient of an intended suggestion ask for it in the first place? There are various reasons I believe. Admittedly normally, in any orgainsiation, if employees dont speak up, bosses at every rung of the structure should and be very worried whats going among her employees for being quiet – either there is no improvements needed to be tweaked or employees are simply BOH CHAP.
But I believe the BOH CHAPs have valid reasons of their own why they dont speak up. They might be wondering my bosses should be the ones smarter than me (as they should be better qualified, experienced, AND DRAW MORE PAY THAN ME), and thus should definitely knows a lot, and know better, THEN why should I offer suggestions?
The moral of the story is – WHY SHOULD I TEACH THE PAPPIES SMARTER and tell them HOW TO CONTROL ME???
Because suggestions to my bosses DO NOT necessarily lead to betterment – could be entirely the OPPOSITE, to keep my bosses in their jobs to keep on drawing their FAT pay.
“We need to make toilets and sanitation sexy.””
Too late to advise a “I know it all” government. Had the government make the due dilligence of making toilet sexy and world-class, Mas Selamat might not have bear to escaped from the toilet.
suggestion for them? what for? earn so much money still don’t want to use their million dollar brain. ask them to visit the toilet after i done my business. all the suggestion are in there.
frankly to me whatever suggestions made is useless
why?
cause they dun listen at all
i appreciate what that have been done but more can be made
how to be a 1st class country when voices are not heard?