Whenever you look at social media feeds (like Facebook, Twitter and etc), you can see Singaporeans complaining about almost everything. Now, there is a new app that allows you to “complain”. Check out the OneService Mobile App.
This app, launched recently, is a one-stop solution to how you can inform the relevant government agencies on matters that need attention. For example, under “Pests”, you can easily report cockroaches, Mosquito Breeding, or rodents activities to the authority.
The app is simplified into categories with options for you to choose. You no longer need to know which agency or agencies is/are involved in this matter. You just need to report the problem based on the category and it will be taken care of (sort of).
I believe a fishball stick might be the start of a chain of effects that leads to the creation of this OneService Mobile app. If you remembered, last year, there was an incident where a fishball stick at the walkway to the Bukit Gombak MRT Station was not cleared even after two days. A resident had to made several calls to agencies to get it done due to the fact that 3 agencies are in charge around that area (see picture below).
This incident was being brought up by Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, during the National Day Rally. He mentioned that a new authority will be formed to coordinate the work of various agencies to serve the public better. Hence, we now have the Municipal Services Office (MSO).
Click Here to Read More about It
And a few months after the announcement, MSO launched the OneService Mobile App. The government agencies participating in the app include AVA, HDB, LTA, NEA, NParks, People’s Association, PUB and the Police.
Click Here to Read the OneService Mobile App Press Release
The app is available for Android and iOS devices.
Click Here for OneService App for Android
or
Click Here for OneService App for iOS
Please go ahead to check out the app. In my opinion, one of the interesting features on this app is the “Others” category. In this category, you can see LTA, NEA and other agencies. Most of them are emails addresses for you to contact them on your issue. Some of them are just feedback forms on the government websites. If you still cannot decide which department to send, there is this option of “Not Sure”. With this option, it is sent to mso_appenquiry@mnd.gov.sg which I believe MSO will decide who to take care of the issue.
In other words, there is always a channel for you to feedback even though you don’t know who is in charge.
I think this is a good start. I do hope that it will not become a way for the agencies to hide behind the public to point fingers at one another on who to take care of the issue(s). There is no indication of response time. I guess we will have to wait to see the effectiveness of the app and the new MSO setup.
For your information, there is also an app, iTown@SG that you can report an issue. As the name of the app implies, it is focused on HDB residents living in different towns (I am not sure if all town councils are in it or not). You can snap a picture and submit with details on the issue in your neighborhood.
I tried out the app (maybe a year ago) to report a faulty lighting along the corridor. Surprisingly, the response was very fast and the issue was rectified before I even knew it. It did sent a response to me to indicate that the problem had been taken care of. It was a good experience.
Back to OneService app. I believe the focus of the OneService app now is public area in general. I wish they could linked all these apps (e.g. iTown@SG) together to become a true one app solution. And I hope that they can improve on the app so that it will not just link to a webpage for you to start filling up particulars on your web browser.
Let me know what you think about the app.