Multilingual patrol teams required
SINGAPORE'S population is a multiracial one. The Home Team's mission is to ensure the safety of those who live and work here.
I have witnessed several incidents wherein security officers on patrol encountered difficulties in communicating with elderly residents or foreign workers when carrying out their duties.
For instance, on Sunday, an elderly Chinese resident was stopped for a spot check by three patrol officers at People's Park Complex in Chinatown.
He was asked to show his identity card, but was unable to do so as it was not on him.
As the patrol officers did not speak Chinese, they were unable to communicate with him. At the same time, another office stopped a Chinese national for questioning.
A crowd had gathered before a patrol car arrived with two Chinese-speaking officers to help settle what could have turned into an unmanageable situation.
Patrol teams must comprise members who can speak the necessary languages.
Yeo Choon Seng
Keep IC numbers confidential
I HAVE noticed that many companies which conduct public seminars and courses sometimes require attendees to provide their personal particulars, such as their date of birth and identity card (IC) number.
Such sensitive information is also solicited when people participate in contests or lucky draws.
While the IC number is unique and may be used to identify specific individuals, is it safe and necessary to reveal it to strangers and companies? For non-official matters, it should be sufficient to use other identifiers such as a person's home address and mobile phone number.
IC numbers should remain confidential and used only in official circumstances.
Many government and bank websites require the use of one's IC number to log in to one's personal accounts.
If IC numbers are revealed freely and land in the wrong hands, it may result in a breach of security and private information.
This is an issue that requires the input of the relevant authorities.
Chan Kwang Ping
Gear up to even better HDB living
THE editorial "Importance of public housing satisfaction" (last Saturday) is both timely and forward-looking.
With the greater aspirations of people for private housing, the Housing Board and the town councils should gear up to improve the living environment - even as HDB residents' satisfaction levels are high.
While condominiums boast swimming pools, boundary walls and private carparks, HDB estates could be fitted up with recreational facilities on a ratio per household comparable to or even higher than that of the private estates.
One obvious let-down in public housing is the lack of treatment given to the pavements of the ground floors. Stains and crack lines appear, and they get worse over time.
Whether it is an interim or main upgrading programme, the ground floor should not be overlooked as its state could lead to a lower level of pride in an HDB environment.
MPs need to take up this issue.
Gan Kok Tiong
