Netizens: Top global-ranked civil service will thrive regardless of PAP rule

Singapore’s civil service was ranked the best in the world in the inaugural Blavatnik Index of Public Administration, published on 3 December by Oxford University’s Blavatnik School of Government.

The index, which evaluated 120 countries across four key domains, praised Singapore for its top rankings in National Delivery and Public Policy.

This ranking sparked praise and critique, with some expressing confidence that the civil service would maintain high standards and continue to ensure Singapore’s prosperity, regardless of which party governs.

Others acknowledged the need to address gaps through collaboration with citizens to further improve governance.

Blavatnik Index of Public Administration

The Blavatnik Index evaluates public administrations using 82 metrics from 17 reputable sources, focusing on comparative performance across four domains while excluding broader governance aspects like judiciary independence or policy outcomes.

Singapore’s civil service emerged as the top performer, with notable strengths in innovation and operational excellence, including leadership in border services.

Norway, Canada, Denmark, and Finland followed closely, each excelling in different areas, reflecting the diverse strengths of global public administrations.

Professor Ngaire Woods described the findings as a call for reform and peer learning, highlighting the Index’s value in fostering global dialogue and improvement.

Singapore’s recognition underscores its advanced governance strategies and provides lessons for nations seeking to enhance public service quality.

The Index is intended as a comparative tool for reform rather than a definitive measure, correlating effective public administration with positive societal outcomes like human capital and economic growth.

“Civil Service Serves Singaporeans, Not Political Parties”

Observing netizens’ comments on CNA’s Facebook post, some praised the resilience and professionalism of Singapore’s civil service, while also emphasising that it could operates independently of the ruling party and serves the people of Singapore.

One comment highlighted that, regardless of whether the incumbent People’s Action Party (PAP) remains in power, the civil service will continue to uphold high standards and function effectively, reinforcing that it serves the government, not any particular political party.

Another netizen echoed a similar view, emphasising that Singapore’s civil service operates for the benefit of its people, not any particular political party.

The netizen suggested that if more opposition parties were to form the government, the civil service would remain effective and committed to running the country.

‘Strong Civil Service Ensures Prosperity Amid Government Change’

A netizen reassured those wary of a potential government change that the country would still prosper due to the competence of its civil service.

However, he contrasted this stability with potential outcomes of a new government, viewing it as a gamble: while it might initially face challenges and require time to improve, it could also bring significant positive change.

Netizen Highlights Gaps in Governance, Calls for Constructive Citizen-Government Collaboration

A comment acknowledged Singapore as one of the world’s best-managed countries but highlighted existing gaps that need addressing.

The FB user urged the government to view citizen feedback as constructive rather than dismissive, advocating collaboration to resolve these shortcomings and improve further.

he comment also noted that Singapore’s excellence stems from being relatively less inefficient compared to other governments, where success often hinges on minimising mistakes.

Concerns Raised Over Policies Burdening Citizens and SMEs with Rising Costs

A netizen praised Singapore’s civil service for its excellence and leadership but criticised the lack of charismatic leaders who can inspire and rally people.

They also expressed frustration over policies that increase the cost of living, which they feel burden citizens and small businesses.

Comment Highlights Need for Improved Communication Skills in Civil Service

A comment mocked the civil service’s need for improvement in communication, particularly in public relations.

While acknowledging the intelligence and capabilities of civil servants, the comment highlighted that a slight improvement in their previously tone-deaf approaches would be beneficial.

The netizen appeared to reference past incidents, such as the government’s embarrassing reversal in January 2024 of its plan to transition entirely to SimplyGo and phase out older public transport payment cards, which sparked significant public outcry.

At the time, Transport Minister Chee Hong Tat apologised on behalf of the Ministry of Transport and LTA for the delays commuters faced when converting their EZ-Link cards, acknowledging that better preparation could have prevented the issue.