CALL it the five-minute test. If a policy cannot be explained in five minutes, then it's too complicated.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong threw this challenge at policymakers last month during a dialogue with People's Action Party activists.

There may be a lot of detail in the fine print, but it is imperative that people understand the main idea, he said in comments reported in the latest issue of the party newsletter Petir.

'If after five minutes peopple don't understand you, (it) means it's too complicated. That should be the test.'

'In fact, we should make that a norm when the ministries put up proposals.'

He added: 'If you cannot explain your policy, then I think it cannot get through.'

Mr Lee was responding to a question on how the Government can communicate better.

There may be a lot of detail in the fine print, he said, but it is imperative that people understand the main idea.

His challenge comes amid a year of tough, and at times unpopular, government policies such as the Central Provident Fund (CPF) changes and the hike in the goods and services tax (GST).

He singled out the CPF changes, which include a later draw-down age and a compulsory annuity system.

'For the CPF, there is a simple message,' he said.

'The fine print is very complicated but the simple message is: Living longer, must work longer, must draw down later, must save more, and must take care in case you live beyond 85.'

Office-holders contacted by The Straits Times described Mr Lee's challenge as 'a good exercise'.

Said Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Masagos Zulkifli with a laugh: 'I think sometimes, we worry we have to tell them everything, and so we become long-winded!'

But both he and Minister of State for Health Heng Chee How believe the five-minute limit is not meant to be taken literally.

Rather, said Mr Heng, 'whether it takes three or five or six minutes', the idea is to explain the policies in the simplest and most accessible way.

'Can you compact it and make it concise and succinct and easy to understand?' he remarked.

One way is to ensure there is no language barrier, said Mr Masagos.

'For instance, we need to understand there is some nomenclature that we take for granted in the ministry but which may not be understood by the public.'

The message must also be tailored to the specific audience, said Mr Heng.

'What's important to them? What's their language? We may be making the same point but we should use different analogies for different people.'

Asked to take a shot at the test, Mr Heng quickly distilled the philosophy of the 3M system - MediShield, Medisave and Medifund - into these words:

'No matter how rich or poor, you will get proper health care. Save what you can. If you can't, Medifund will come in.'