Excerpts from readers' letters

LET ADDRESSES BE UPDATED ONLINE

Currently, there are only two ways in which addresses can be updated in Singapore - through the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) or a neighbourhood police post or police centre, with a list of accepted documents.

ICA should consider having an e-service that allows people to update their particulars online, perhaps with the use of their SingPass.

When I was at a neighbourhood police centre recently, I observed that at least five people had walked in to update their residential address. Shouldn't the time of our policemen be freed up from such mundane tasks so that they can focus on more important duties?

Venus Tan (Ms)


BLIND SPOT IN SINGPASS 2FA

I would like to highlight a potential blind spot in using SingPass 2FA.

When I was trying to update my new mobile number on SingPass, I found that could not do so as the system showed that my number was already registered.

After calling the helpline, I was informed that I had, most likely, inherited a recycled number that was still registered to its previous owner on SingPass.

Given that the default option for logging in with SingPass 2FA and receiving one-time passwords (OTPs) is through SMS, SingPass users using the OneKey token to log in may not realise that an OTP is still being sent to their old, recycled number every time they log in if their new number is not updated on the system.

Furthermore, any changes made to one's profile or transactions using SingPass will still trigger a notification to the registered mobile number. Such information could be exploited by unauthorised persons to access others' SingPass accounts directly or to entrap people in a scam.

The liberalisation of the telco market and intensifying competition among operators will likely lead to a proliferation of recycled numbers.

Seah Charn Ching


GROOM LOCALS TO BENEFIT S'PORE

The contention that foreigners are taking away jobs from our locals is a bread-and-butter issue that has been aired over the years.

Hence, it is heartening that the Government is looking into tighter foreign manpower policies (Firms have some leeway to bring in foreigners: Lim Swee Say; March 10).

Big corporations like banks, hotels, insurance companies and restaurants should give our locals jobs alongside foreign talents.

Changi Airport is a very good example of an employer that gives our local university graduates jobs that enable them to learn from foreign experts in fields like business, aviation, hospitality and engineering. They, in turn, can train other locals. This ensures that we do not have a long-term dependency on a foreign workforce.

Foreigners will go home after their contracts end and they will take the tricks of the trade with them.

Therefore, while we may need foreign talents to fill the gap in the short term, it is to our disadvantage to perpetually employ foreigners and not groom locals.

Jeff Tan Hong Liak


BASE PAYMENTS ON TREATMENT CLASS

There are many possible reasons for rising medical insurance claims, such as private versus subsidised treatment and insurance products that encourage maximising claims.

Addressing only one reason would not be effective .

We need a smart, effective and efficient solution that offers choices to people, rather than to penalise everyone through co-payments (New riders for IP plans will include co-pay feature; March 8).

Perhaps we could consider subsidised medical treatment costs as the baseline.

There should be zero co-payment for subsidised medical treatment.

Those who opt for private treatment at a restructured hospital could be made to pay a certain percentage of the cost, while those who are treated at a private hospital would pay a higher percentage.

This way, people will be able to choose the treatment they want.

No-claim bonuses on premiums could also be given to encourage the right behaviour.

Andrew Tan Kok Chua

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on March 16, 2018, with the headline Excerpts from readers' letters. Subscribe