Improving OneService App to Include Reporting of Vaping, Non-Singpass Verification and Automated Translation
Ministry of National DevelopmentSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns MP Mr David Hoe's proposals to add a vaping reporting pathway, non-Singpass verification, and automated translation to the OneService App. Minister of State for National Development Mr Alvin Tan replied that health authorities consider current channels, including an extended HSA hotline and online form, adequate for vaping-related reports. He highlighted that OneService chatbots on platforms like WhatsApp and Telegram already offer non-Singpass access suitable for youths and seniors. Additionally, the Municipal Services Office is studying enhancements to these chatbots to enable the processing of feedback submitted in vernacular languages. These initiatives aim to improve accessibility and reporting uptake by utilizing familiar social messaging platforms and reducing authentication barriers.
Transcript
17 Mr David Hoe asked the Minister for National Development whether the Municipal Services Office can (i) add a dedicated vaping reporting pathway in the OneService App with direct routing and data-sharing to HSA and CNB (ii) offer youth-accessible options, including non-Singpass alternative verification channels for usage of the various reporting features of OneService and (iii) include multilingual prompts in OneService through automated translation to improve reporting uptake.
The Minister of State for National Development (Mr Alvin Tan) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) have assessed that the current reporting channels for vaping-related offences are adequate. Since July 2025, HSA has extended its hotline operating hours for reporting vaping related offences to seven days a week from 9.00 am to 9.00 pm. HSA has also launched an online reporting form to complement its hotline, as was answered earlier on with the preceding Parliamentary Questions.
Where necessary, MOH and HSA will work with relevant agencies, including the Municipal Services Office (MSO), to explore other means to enhance the reach and accessibility of vaping reporting channels.
Separately, MSO's OneService municipal case reporting function is also available as an AI-enabled chatbot on WhatsApp, Telegram and Instagram messenger. These channels complement our OneService app and do not require Singpass authentication. The chatbot is also hosted on social messaging platforms which are familiar to youths and seniors alike, which makes it even more convenient for residents to provide feedback on municipal issues. MSO is also studying how to enhance our chatbot to take in and process feedback given in vernacular languages.