Page 44 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2019

42 TEOH MENG WEE

REAPING THE BENEFITS ing a Code of Governance for Town Councils that will
During the year-long postgraduate programme, she set out principles of good governance and highlight
had the opportunity to study pressing governmental best practices that can guide the Town Councils
issues alongside passionate course mates who en- in better executing their fiduciary responsibilities.
gaged in lively discussions, challenged norms, and Besides this, as part of ensuring Town Councils’ ac-
afforded her broader perspectives on present issues. countability to the residents, MND issues the Town
Meng Wee also undertook a governance study in Council Management Report annually which cov-
Jakarta on issues related to landfills, their impact on ers Town Councils’ performance in five key areas of
the city, and how to reduce waste. Together with her estate management. We are in the process of review-
course mates, she learned that there are many pos- ing the performance indicators and methodology to
sible creative solutions around challenging situations see how they can be further improved,” Meng Wee
in a different environment from Singapore. The study lays out.
helped her realise that there are more ways to impact
lives in a positive manner. PRESSING ON TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE
With passion and hope, she says that she is looking
APPLYING IT TO DYNAMIC CAREER ROLES forward to further opportunities as her career pro-
In her current role since returning to MND after her gresses. “I returned to the Ministry full of ideas and
postgraduate studies, Meng Wee’s job involves prom- desire to implement improvements. This meant not
ulgating good governance practices among Town getting easily discouraged and waiting for the right
Councils. “It is something close to my heart since I opportunity to contribute. Rushing things through
am a HDB dweller myself with a family. I know the im- is not the solution, and MND is an organisation that
portance of living in a safe, clean and well-maintained supports its staff in achieving career goals and aspira-
estate,” she explains. tions,” she quips.
She goes into deeper details on these objectives. For aspiring scholars who wish to follow in her
Meng Wee and her colleagues in the Town Councils’ footsteps, she encourages them to take advantage of
team are charged with developing, reviewing, and im- every opportunity to learn and be humble in the pro-
plementing policies with respect to Town Councils. cess. She advises diligence, patience, and persever-
“Following the amendments made to the Town Coun- ance as top qualities that will sustain them and help
cils Act that came into force in 2017, we are develop- them to succeed at MND.

Teoh Meng Wee “Pursuing further
MND EDGE Postgraduate
Scholarship education served
Age: 38 to continuously
Attained: challenge my mind-
Master of Public
Administration, Lee Kuan set and remove
Yew School of Public Policy,
National University of mental blocks to
Singapore
be creative and try
Now:
Senior Assistant Director, different things in an
Housing (Town Councils)
environment with
From:
Ngee Ann Polytechnic likeminded people”